Stocks end the year up a solid 16% as AI hype powers gains

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• 2025 was a volatile year for stocks, crypto, and other asset classes.
• The S&P 500 ended the year up 16%, a far cry from the near-bear-market it fell into several months ago.
• Detailed below are the 10 wildest moments that defined 2025 for investors.

2025 was a wild year for markets of all kinds.

Everything from stocks to crypto to commodities experienced a rollercoaster ride that amounted to what felt like an especially volatile year.