U.S. stocks closed lower Monday as Wall Street opened the final month of the year with caution ahead of an expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 dipped 0.4%, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 427 points, or 0.9%, despite strong gains across all three major indexes last week. November ended on a positive note for the S&P 500 and Dow, while the Nasdaq slipped 1.51%, reflecting ongoing concerns about elevated tech valuations and heavy spending on artificial intelligence initiatives.
Market sentiment has been largely driven by rising expectations that the Fed will deliver a 0.25% rate cut at its upcoming December 9-10 meeting. The probability of such a move has surged to roughly 88%, up sharply from around 45% just over a week ago. Recent dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials have strengthened these projections, though uncertainty persists due to limited new economic data following the federal government shutdown.
Investors are also preparing for a wave of U.S. economic releases this week, including key reports on manufacturing, services, consumer sentiment, and private payrolls. Retail stocks may also gain attention after strong online spending during Black Friday.
Meanwhile, focus is intensifying on President Donald Trump’s upcoming appointment for the next Federal Reserve chair. Names reportedly on the shortlist include Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh, and current Fed Governor Christopher Waller, with Hassett considered the leading candidate. A leadership shift could significantly influence monetary policy, especially given Trump’s push for rapid rate cuts, which could boost equities, particularly in growth and retail sectors.
Crypto-related stocks faced steep declines as Bitcoin fell 7%. MicroStrategy dropped more than 3% after lowering guidance and raising capital to strengthen its cash reserves, sparking concerns over potential Bitcoin asset sales. Other crypto stocks, including Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, and Coinbase, also traded lower amid cooling network activity and unstable ETF inflows.
