The S&P 500 index closed the year with four consecutive losing days, marking the longest losing streak to end a year since 1966. The index's performance in the final trading days of the year has been notably poor, with two days experiencing declines of over 1%. This trend culminated in a red day on December 31, 2024, leading to a total of four straight down days. Despite the downturn at the year's close, the S&P 500 recorded its best two-year returns since 1997-98, indicating a strong performance over the longer term.