Stock futures increased on January 2, 2026, the first trading day of the year, as the tech sector aimed to maintain its momentum from 2025.
Tech Sector Leads Stock Gains
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose by 192 points or 0.4%. The S&P 500 futures gained 0.6%, and Nasdaq-100 futures jumped by 1%. This shift contrasts with the previous three years, where the S&P 500 finished lower on the first trading day.
Historically, there has been no clear trend for the first trading day, with wins occurring about 48% of the time since the 1950s, as noted by Bespoke Investment Group.
Notable Moves in Specific Stocks
In premarket trading, Nvidia shares rose over 1%, while Palantir Technologies increased by more than 2%. Both companies performed well in 2025, highlighting a strong interest in AI stocks.
Other tech giants like Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft also experienced gains. Additionally, Wayfair and RH saw jumps of over 3% and around 5%, respectively, after Trump postponed certain tariff increases.
Market Trends and Predictions
Technology was the standout sector in 2025, contributing to significant market gains. The S&P 500 recorded an increase of over 16%, continuing a three-year upward trend. The Nasdaq Composite climbed more than 20%, while the Dow rose about 13%.
Wall Street strategists anticipate further gains for the stock market in 2026, with the CNBC Market Strategist Survey predicting an average S&P 500 target of 7,629, indicating an expected 11.4% increase.