Markets Near Highs as 2026 Begins U.S. stocks enter the first full week of 2026 just off record highs, closing out the Santa Claus rally period with a steady, if unspectacular, performance. Dow Jones led last week, rising 0.66% $S&P 500(.SPX)$ gained 0.2% Nasdaq finished roughly flat, as weakness in some “Magnificent 7” stocks was offset by strength in semiconductors Investors are beginning to shift their focus from year-end momentum to what the 2026 landscape may hold, amid lighter holiday trading volumes. A Big Week for Jobs and the Fed Outlook After months of disrupted data caused by the government shutdown, economic releases are finally back on schedule, and the spotlight is firmly on the labor market. Key expectations: December nonfarm pa