Financial stocks had among the biggest gains among the S&P 500 ‘s 11 sectors in afternoon trading Wednesday, as shares of Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. each jumped more than 7%, according to FactSet data,

Citi ( C, Financial) Research analysts released a list of their Top 20 large-cap stocks outperforming the S&P 500, with the index ending December 5.2% down from the index. This carefully curated selection showcases Citi's belief in continued growth despite the market volatility we anticipate in 2025.

Citigroup said its board of directors authorized a new multiyear $20 billion stock buyback program that will begin in the first quarter of 2025, helping to trigger a surge in the share price. CFO Mark Mason said the planned buyback reflects confidence in the bank’s strategy.

Stocks surged on Wednesday after the latest consumer price index report showed core inflation unexpectedly slowed in December.

Citi Research analysts shared their top 20 large-cap stocks that currently outperform the S&P 500 (SP500). As of the end of December, this list outperformed the S&P 500 (SP500) by about 5.2%.

The S&P 500 index’s biggest sector, information technology, was rising sharply Friday afternoon, but the gains were not quite large enough to lift it into positive territory so far in 2025. The tech sector was up 1.

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U.S. stock indexes are rallying as they head toward the close of their best week in two months. The S&P 500 rose 1.2% Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday, following a rally on Wall Street driven by encouraging update on U.S. inflation. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.2% to 38,532.18.

IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 336.78 points or 0.44% to 77,060.86. The Nifty 50 index added 108.90 points or 0.47% to 23,322.10.

U.S. stocks ripped higher Wednesday following a shot of adrenaline from an encouraging update on U.S. inflation. Strong profit reports from Wells Fargo and other big U.S. banks also helped launch indexes to their best day in two months.

Financial stocks had among the biggest gains among the S&P 500 ‘s 11 sectors in afternoon trading Wednesday, as shares of Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. each jumped more than 7%, according to FactSet data,