The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to an all-time high as oil prices eased and U.S. stocks outside of the AI sector experienced broad gains.
Asian stock markets moved higher as investors weighed ongoing military activity involving Iran against growing optimism surrounding a possible temporary diplomatic agreement between the United States and Iran.
U.S. stocks finished the final trading session of 2025 slightly lower, but major indexes still recorded strong gains for the year amid economic resilience and easing inflation.
Federal Reserve bond purchases and record usage of its overnight repo facility helped keep U.S. funding markets stable through year-end pressures.
After a record number of $10 billion-plus transactions in 2025, Wall Street bankers and investors are preparing for another potential surge in mega-deals in 2026.
