Global Markets End Mixed as U.S. Observes Thanksgiving – Strong U.S. Data Fuels Optimism Heading into December

Global markets end mixed as U.S. observes Thanksgiving on November 27, 2025, with a complete Thanksgiving stock market closure on the NYSE and Nasdaq. Trading activity thinned dramatically, yet underlying sentiment remained constructive after a week packed with better-than-expected U.S. economic releases. These figures reinforced the “soft landing” narrative and kept December Federal Reserve rate-cut probabilities firmly above 60%, shaping current market trends 2025 after strong U.S. GDP and PCE data while supporting selective risk-taking across international financial markets overview.

This Week’s Standout U.S. Economic Data

Wednesday’s data deluge provided the backbone for the week’s performance:

S. Q3 GDP (second estimate) printed at +2.8% annualized, unchanged from the advance reading but still comfortably above recessionary levels.
Core PCE Price Index – the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge – cooled to 2.6% YoY, the lowest since early 2021.
Initial Jobless Claims surprised lower at 213k, underlining ongoing labor-market strength.
Durable Goods Orders rose 0.8% MoM (ex-transport +0.4%), while the Conference Board Consumer Confidence index jumped to 111.7.
New Home Sales and Personal Spending also topped forecasts, confirming resilient household demand.

The combination of cooling inflation and robust growth triggered a sharp drop in U.S. Treasury yields and bolstered equity markets earlier in the week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting their best pre-Thanksgiving stretch in years. These releases continue to dominate global stock market updates and world markets update 2025 discussions.

Regional Breakdown on Thanksgiving Eve

Asia-Pacific led the charge: Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.2%, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.9%, and Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.6% as a softer dollar lifted regional exporters.
Europe saw modest gains: the Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.3%, Germany’s DAX +0.4%, and France’s CAC 40 +0.2%, supported by upbeat Eurozone services PMI and easing geopolitical noise.
S. Futures & Commodities: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures hovered flat-to-positive in after-hours trading. Gold held firm above $2,650, copper rebounded, and Bitcoin briefly surpassed $96,000 before settling near $95,500.

The Thanksgiving trading hours impact created classic low-volume conditions – perfect for forex trading platforms with economic calendar alerts and CFD trading brokers to capture swings in currencies, indices, and commodities without U.S. equity noise, enabling smart CFD trading strategies during Thanksgiving trading hours impact.

How XTB Helps Traders Capitalize on Mixed and Holiday Sessions

As a leader in XTB online investing during U.S. holidays, XTB—consistently ranked among the best forex brokers 2025 for holiday and low-volume sessions and XTB CFD brokers for beginners—offers uninterrupted 24/5 access to over 7,000 global instruments even when Wall Street is dark. The multi-award-winning xStation 5 trading platform stands out with:

Built-in economic calendar with real-time impact alerts for releases like Core PCE and GDP
Advanced charting, heatmaps, and trader sentiment tools
Commission-free stocks and ETFs on XTB up to €100,000 monthly turnover
Ultra-tight spreads on major forex pairs and indices
Crypto CFDs trading on XTB for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and 50+ altcoins
Up to 4.25% interest p.a. on uninvested cash (GBP accounts)
Free, unlimited XTB demo account with virtual funds starting at £100,000

Regulated by FCA, CySEC, and KNF, XTB provides negative balance protection, segregated client funds, and lightning-fast execution – critical advantages during thin holiday liquidity. As a trusted XTB brokerage for global markets, clients also benefit from daily professional XTB market analysis tools, educational webinars, and personalized investment plans that turn low-volume days into strategic positioning opportunities.

As European stock markets today digest the latest U.S. data and Asia rides export momentum, traders using XTB trading platform review-proven tools stay steps ahead. Whether scaling into Asian index CFDs, hedging forex exposure, or building long-term stock portfolios commission-free, XTB removes barriers and keeps costs minimal.

With Black Friday’s shortened U.S. session ahead and the pivotal December FOMC meeting looming, the current setup Favors agile, well-informed traders. Platforms like XTB transform holiday-thinned markets from obstacles into advantages, making it easier than ever to navigate global markets today and beyond.