All three main U.S. equity indexes opened 2026 in the green, but stocks struggled for direction through most of the first trading day of the new year. Price action was mixed within key sectors and subgroups, such as technology and the Magnificent 7, at what is also the beginning of a new era for financial markets.
It was another low-volume session as investors, traders and speculators remain in holiday mode until next week. Energy stocks led the way higher on Friday, while industrials, materials and utility stocks also posted sector gains of greater than 1%.
