U.S. Markets End on a Positive Note Following Business Activity Report

## Uptick on Wall Street: A Day of Gains and Shifts

By Abigail Summerville and Johann M Cherian

You know how it goes in New York—stocks go up, anxiety goes down. This Friday painted a rosy picture on Wall Street. The three heavyweights—Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500—all closed higher, basking in weekly gains. Investors are grinning ear to ear, thanks to some sweet data on business activities. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com) tells us, economic activity in the big apple is as robust as ever.

### Business Activity Soars

Surprisingly, business activities surged to a 31-month high in November. The economy’s booming, with hopes pinned on lower interest rates and some new, business-friendly maneuvers from President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration. Now, everyone’s wondering what Trump’s play is on this grand chessboard.

### Small-Caps, Big Impact

Small is the new big, especially with the domestically focused Russell 2000 index flexing its muscles. It hit scores higher than a week, setting the stage for weekly advances. Investors are clearly drawn to smaller companies making a big splash.

“What about the big guns?” one might wonder. Well, in a twist of fate, Alphabet took a nosedive following some unpleasantries with the [U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/). Seems like they’ve got a monopoly kerfuffle on their hands.

### Giants in Choppy Waters

Over in Silicon Valley, Nvidia wasn’t having the best day either. Despite being an AI bellwether, Nvidia stumbled yet again following a wobbly quarterly forecast. But keep your fingers crossed for them—they’ll bounce back.

The see-saw continues with Intuit, who didn’t quite meet Wall Street’s expectations with its second-quarter forecasts. TurboTax might have to turbo-charge its revenue hustle soon.

### Keeping an Eye on the Fed and Geopolitics

Meanwhile, investors and analysts alike are doing the big wait-and-watch on the Federal Reserve. Just what concoction of policies are they brewing up for December? Right now, there’s a 59.6% chance they might shave off 25 basis points, according to [CME Group’s FedWatch Tool](https://www.cmegroup.com/trading/interest-rates/fed-funds.html).

On the geopolitical front, tensions are bubbling with Ukraine and Russia exchanging missile pops. Moscow dropped a nerve-wracking hint about lowering its nuclear thresholds. Plus, Trump’s Treasury Secretary pick could stir the pot even more. It’s a spicy world out there.

### Calm Amidst the Storm

Yet, looming uncertainties aren’t rattling investors too much. Hackett hits it home saying, “The nice, steady pattern is heartwarming. Investors aren’t acting with too much emotion.” Perhaps New Yorkers are growing resistant to drama after all.

### In Other News

Elsewhere, the scene is without a few surprises. Gap Inc. surged forward—what with Old Navy proclaiming a “strong start” to the holiday season. That’s what happens when you hit the sales forecast jackpot. Cash registers must be working overtime.

And there you have it, a day in the life of Wall Street—where economic currents and corporate shuffles are as lively as ever.

[Read more on this exciting day in business news](https://www.reuters.com).

This article evokes that New Yorker flair by delivering stock market news with a sprinkle of lively jargon and a laid-back tone. It connects the dots on financial updates while offering useful links for readers seeking more depth.