US Stock Market Today (Dec. 15, 2025): Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Close Lower as AI Jitters Persist Ahead of Jobs and Inflation Data
The U.S. stock market ended modestly lower Monday after a choppy, headline-driven session that underscored how sensitive investors remain to the “AI trade” and to shifting expectations for interest rates into 2026. By the closing bell (4:00 p.m. ET), the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 48,416.74, down 41.31 points (-0.09%). The S&P 500 closed at 6,816.49, down 10.92 (-0.16%), while the Nasdaq Composite underperformed, ending at 23,062.96, down 132.21 (-0.57%). Small caps also softened, with the Russell 2000 at 2,533.64 (-0.70%). Volatility perked up: the VIX ended at 16.61, up 5.53%. Google The takeaway after the bell: the market’s leadership question is back in focus—and with a packed calendar of delayed U.S. economic releases arriving this week, traders are increasingly