On the last trading day of the year, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 0.56%, while major stock markets in Japan and South Korea were closed for New Year’s Eve. In South Korea, consumer inflation rose to 1.9% in December, up from 1.5% in November. Investors anticipated China’s manufacturing PMI data, expected to remain steady at 50.3. In the U.S., stocks also declined, with the Dow dropping 418.48 points (0.97%) and closing at 42,573.73. The final trading sessions of 2024 were marked by volatility and light trading activity.
