The S&amp;P 500, tracked by the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:VOO), notched new all-time highs during the shortened Christmas week. The index is now poised for its third straight year of double-digit gains—and its sixth in the last seven years.



<h3>Nvidia Deepens Its AI Moat, Micron Extends Its Blockbuster Rally</h3>



Technology stocks once again led Wall Street's advance. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) surged in its best week since late October, buoyed by a new wave of deals tied to next-generation artificial-intelligence chips.



On Wednesday, AI chip startup Groq unveiled a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Nvidia, reportedly valued at $20 billion for its inference technology, a move analysts say will further reinforce Nvidia's already dominant competitive moat.



Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) continued to rally, extending gains following a blockbuster quarterly earnings report. 



The stock has now posted its fifth consecutive weekly gain — and its tenth in the past eleven weeks. Micron currently ranks as the second-best performer in the S&amp;P 500 this year, with shares up roughly 240% year to date, trailing only Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) among the index's top gainers of 2025.



Chart: Micron Technology Tops 2025’s Chipmaker Leaderboard, Outpacing Nvdia



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="1024" height="543" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26141729/image-482-1024x543.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26141729/image-482-1024x543.png"/></figure>



<h3>Cook Buys The Dip On Nike, GM Eyes Best Year Since New IPO </h3>



Nike Inc. (NASDAQ:NKE) also made headlines after Apple CEO Tim Cook disclosed a $3 million purchase of the company's stock, acquiring 50,000 shares at $58.97 each following the sharp post-earnings selloff. Nike shares reacted positively, rising about 5%.



For Michigan-based automakers, 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year for equity markets. General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) shares are up 55% year to date, while Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) has gained 38%. For GM, this marks its best annual performance since returning to public markets in 2010. 



Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA), by contrast, has lagged peers and is on track to close the year down roughly 13%.



Chart: General Motors Eyes Best Performing Year Since The Return On Public Markets



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="1024" height="543" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26141817/image-483-1024x543.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26141817/image-483-1024x543.png"/></figure>



<h3>Precious Metal Rally Defies Gravity</h3>



On the commodities front, precious metals are closing out a truly exceptional year. 



Silver's rally has shown little sign of slowing, with prices breaking above $75 an ounce amid acute supply constraints in Asian markets. 



The move has pushed silver's year-to-date gain above 150%, marking its strongest annual performance since 1979.



Other metals have also posted extraordinary gains. Platinum – which is tracked by the Aberdeen Physical Platinum Shares ETF (NYSE:PPLT) – has surged roughly 170% this year, on track for its best annual performance on record.



Chart: Silver And Platinum Go Wild



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="1024" height="543" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26141923/image-484-1024x543.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26141923/image-484-1024x543.png"/></figure>



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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

NVDA

The S&P 500 reached new all-time highs during Christmas week, marking its third consecutive year of double-digit gains. Nvidia and Micron led technology stocks, with Nvidia securing a $20 billion AI chip deal and Micron posting significant gains. Tim Cook purchased $3 million in Nike shares, boosting its stock. General Motors is having its best year since its IPO, while silver prices surged over 150%, marking their best performance since 1979.

- The S&P 500 reached new all-time highs during Christmas week, marking its potential for a third consecutive year of double-digit gains.  
- Technology stocks, notably Nvidia and Micron, contributed significantly, with Nvidia securing a $20 billion deal for AI chip technology and Micron achieving a 240% year-to-date gain.  
- Precious metals, particularly silver and platinum, have experienced remarkable rallies, with silver prices exceeding $75 an ounce and annual gains above 150% and 170%, respectively.

S&P 500 Hits New Record Highs, Silver Prices Explode In Best Year Since 1979: This Week On Wall Street