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U.S. STOCKS END GREEN, AWAIT TO SEE IF SANTA WILL DELIVER

The main U.S. indexes posted gains on Monday in holiday-thinned trading after a stopgap government funding bill averted a U.S. government shutdown, aided by gains by many of the so-called Magnificent Seven tech stocks.

Chip stocks .SOX were a stand out, The SOX rose more than 3%, while the NYSE FANG+TM index .NYFANG, which includes six of the Magnificent Seven names, gained more than 1%.

Small caps .RUT and gold stocks .HUI both ended modestly red.

The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield US10YT=RR, hit 4.5990%, or a fresh high back to May 30, 2024.

U.S. markets will be closing early on Tuesday, ahead of the Wednesday Christmas holiday. Nevertheless, markets are excited to see whether Santa will soon shimmy down the chimney and spread good cheer.

Since 1969, the last five trading days of the year combined with the first two of the following year have yielded an average S&P 500 gain of 1.3%, a period known as the "Santa Claus Rally," according to the Stock Trader's Almanac.

Here is Monday's closing snapshot:

(Terence Gabriel)

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FOR MONDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

ELEVATED VALUATIONS AND POTENTIAL MARGIN COMPRESSION TO LIMIT STOCK RETURNS - WCA - CLICK HERE

DEMAND FOR TREASURIES IN 2025 MAY SURPRISE – MORGAN STANLEY - CLICK HERE

MONDAY DATA: DURABLE GOODS, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, NEW HOME SALES - CLICK HERE

U.S. STOCKS MOSTLY RED TO KICK OFF HOLIDAY-SHORTENED WEEK - CLICK HERE

IN WAKE OF THE SOLSTICE, IS SANTA'S SLEIGH ON THE HORIZON? - CLICK HERE

BOOSTING EUROPE'S DEFENCE SPENDING: HOW QUICK WILL IT BE? - CLICK HERE

EUROPE: TIME FOR A CHANGE? - CLICK HERE

CREDIT SPREADS: HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? - CLICK HERE

US RATES: THREE SCENARIOS FOR 2025 - CITI - CLICK HERE

STOXX 600 STEADY - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: QUIET START TO CHRISTMAS WEEK - CLICK HERE