5 things it’s best to know before the stock market opens on Friday

Investors are hoping stocks will finish the shortened holiday week strong. While trading has been sparse, the three major U.S. averages are all up this week. The S&P 500 increased by 1.8% Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite increased by 2.3%. This follows a stronger performance from the tech-heavy index over the month. The Nasdaq is up 4.2% to date in December, while the S&P is up 0.1% and the Dow is down 3.5%. Follow live market updates.

Nippon Steel said it has pushed back the deadline for its $14.9 billion takeover of US Steel as President Joe Biden decides whether to proceed with the deal. The Japanese company modified the acquisition completion date to the primary quarter of 2025, from a previous goal of the third or fourth quarters of this yr. A committee that monitors foreign acquisitions within the U.S. referred the choice to dam the deal to President Joe Biden on Monday, giving him 15 days to choose. Biden, the United Steelworkers union and a few politicians have expressed concerns about foreign involvement in the corporate.

Christmas shopping could have long-term consequences for a lot of consumers. According to a LendingTree survey, 36 percent of Americans took on debt this holiday season. The average balance for these people was $1,181, up from $1,028 in 2023. Starting to repay debt early and renegotiating rates of interest are among the many ways to scale back holiday debt.

Airlines began the yr with a torn door panel Boeing airplane during a Alaska Airlines Flight. The headlines didn't let up from there. The JetBlue-Spirit merger was blocked, Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection and a technical breakdown affected travel days. Meanwhile, airlines struggled to indicate that they were the premium carrier. Read more about an eventful yr for airlines in 2024 here.

Advertising executives expect the market to stabilize next yr, particularly amongst firms which have coveted live sports rights. The global promoting industry is anticipated to grow 7.7% and exceed $1 trillion in revenue for the primary time in 2025, excluding U.S. political promoting, in keeping with a study Current report from GroupM, WPP's media investment group. However, advertisers should still be selective with their budgets and prioritize live events resembling sporting events and awards shows.