Market Roundup: What Happened Yesterday and What We Can Expect Today (January 5)

Wall Street opens the year with cautious gains despite the Nasdaq's stumble, and markets await what's next.

Major US stock indices mostly closed higher on Friday as the first trading session of the new year got underway, although the Nasdaq extended its losing streak to a fifth consecutive session.

After markets were closed on Thursday for the New Year holiday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the session up 0.7%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, however, edged slightly lower.

Gains in the Dow were led by Boeing, Caterpillar, and Goldman Sachs, with shares rising approximately 4.7%, 4.5%, and 3.8%, respectively. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 snapped four-session losing streaks that followed a five-day rally extending into Christmas Eve.

In Asian-related trading, shares of China’s Baidu, listed in the United States, surged 15% after its artificial intelligence chip unit, Kunlunshin, announced plans to apply for an initial public offering in Hong Kong.

Shares of Micron Technology jumped 10%, adding to gains of roughly 239% during 2025. Intel rose 6.7%, while Nvidia advanced 1.3%.

In contrast, Tesla shares fell 2.6% after the company reported fourth-quarter delivery figures that missed analysts’ expectations. Meanwhile, shares of RH and Wayfair climbed 8% and 6%, respectively, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone tariffs on imported furniture.

In commodities markets, gold futures settled near $4,330 an ounce at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, extending strong gains recorded during 2025. US crude oil prices, represented by West Texas Intermediate, slipped 0.3% to $57.25 a barrel.

The yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 4.19%, up from roughly 4.17% in the previous session, a move that can influence consumer and commercial borrowing costs.

In cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin traded steadily near $89,800, while the US dollar index rose 0.2% to 98.47.

Market outlook

US markets are expected to show mixed performance, with caution lingering in technology stocks following recent Nasdaq weakness. Industrial and financial shares may continue to attract inflows if bond yields remain elevated. 

The semiconductor sector is likely to stay active on continued optimism around artificial intelligence, while electric vehicle stocks may remain under pressure after Tesla’s latest results. Gold is expected to trade within a narrow range, while oil prices remain volatile amid ongoing concerns over global demand.