U.S. stock markets began the holiday-shortened week with mixed signals, as Wall Street's main indexes showed gains, driven largely by technology stocks. The Nasdaq led the upward movement, while the Dow and S&P 500 also recorded increases, marking three consecutive days of gains for these indexes. This uptick comes amid a backdrop of thin trading conditions typical of the Christmas period, with many investors anticipating a 'Santa Claus rally.' The ISEQ index in Ireland remained steady, and the FTSE in the UK experienced slight declines. Consumer confidence data released in the U.S. impacted market sentiment, contributing to a cautious trading environment. As of the latest updates, the Nasdaq approached the 20,000 mark, indicating a positive trend for tech stocks as the holiday trading week progresses.