Stock Market Update: Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Futures Decline as Wall Street Approaches December 2025

U.S. stock futures experienced a downturn on Sunday night, suggesting that Wall Street's robust recovery in late November might face some challenges as December kicks off. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) decreased by 0.4%, while S&P 500 futures (ES=F) dropped 0.5%, and Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) fell by 0.7%. These declines come after a holiday-shortened week that saw gains for equities, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) climbing 3.7% and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rising nearly 5%, ending a tumultuous November. The Dow (^DJI) also posted a respectable 3.2% increase. As Monday marks the start of December's trading sessions, a month typically known for a positive market performance, analysts are cautious about expectations of a significant holiday season rally due to the unpredictable nature of this year, which has defied seasonal trends. Amy Wu Silverman, head of derivatives strategy at RBC Capital Markets, noted to Yahoo Finance that market behaviors have not aligned with historical seasonal patterns. Last week’s rally around Thanksgiving was propelled primarily by increasing speculation regarding a potential interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve in December, with over 85% of financial bets favoring a quarter-point reduction. In other news, President Trump has revealed that he has identified his preferred candidate to lead the central bank, although he did not disclose the name during a media interaction aboard Air Force One. As economic data begins to return to a more regular schedule following the recent 43-day government shutdown, this week will see the delayed release of the September Personal Consumption Expenditures index, which serves as the Fed's preferred measure of inflation. Investors can also expect reports concerning manufacturing and service sector activity, along with ADP's monthly private payroll data. The week will further feature quarterly earnings from discount retailers Dollar Tree (DLTR), Dollar General (DG), and Five Below (FIVE), as well as tech companies Salesforce (CRM) and CrowdStrike (CRWD). Stay tuned for live coverage commencing on Monday, December 1st, 2025.