U.S. stocks closed lower on Monday, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow all ending in negative territory. The Dow Jones fell 0.5%, the Nasdaq declined 0.5%, and the S&P 500 lost 0.4%. The fear gauge, VIX, increased by 4.4%. November pending home sales data showed a 3.3% increase, the highest since 2023.

The National Association of REALTORS reported a 3.3% increase in pending home sales in November. All major U.S. regions saw growth, leading to the most significant seasonal increase since 2023. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted strong performance, attributing it to better home affordability and expanded property choices. Buyers and sellers are actively participating in the market.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed lower, with Tesla, Inc. falling 3.3%. The S&P 500 also ended in negative territory, with the Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials sectors declining. The Energy sector saw a 2% rise. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) increased by 4.4%. Total shares traded were lower than the 20-session average.

Read more at Nasdaq: Stock Market News for Dec 30, 2025