The final session of 2024 marks a successful year for Wall Street, with the S&P 500 rallying over 23% and reaching record highs. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq also achieved new peaks, driven by AI enthusiasm, a robust economy, and easing monetary policy. Notably, the S&P 500 didn’t experience a correction, with its largest drop being just 8.5%. Historically, corrections are typical, but this year saw none, similar to 21 of the last 44 years. However, potential risks for 2025 include possible Federal Reserve rate hikes and less than expected progress on deregulation and tax cuts, leaving the market susceptible to turbulence.
