Nasdaq tops 9,000 | How does Trump's market stack up? | Minimum wage rising

The Santa Claus rally pushed the Nasdaq past the 9,000 mark for the first time.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE THU, DEC 26, 2019 EVENING BRIEF AS OF THU, DEC 26, 2019 • 04:01 ET DJIA 28621.79 +0.37% +106.34 S&P 500 3240.00 +0.52% +16.62 NASDAQ 9022.39 +0.78% +69.51   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 289.91 +5.64 +1.98% MSFT 158.67 +1.29 +0.82% CSCO 47.85 +0.07 +0.15% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG AMD 46.63 +0.09 +0.19% BAC 35.52 +0.30 +0.85% GE 11.23 +0.04 +0.36% NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG AMD 46.63 +0.09 +0.19% AAPL 289.91 +5.64 +1.98% MSFT 158.67 +1.29 +0.82% EDITOR'S NOTE Day two of the Santa Claus rally pushed the Nasdaq above the 9,000 mark for the first time, and the S&P to yet another record high.   There are three trading days left for 2019 (although there's an early close on New Year's Eve) and what a year it has been with the S&P up about 29% and the Nasdaq up nearly 36%. Then we'll get two more days in January to mark the end of the classic Santa Claus rally period.   Bespoke analysts recently noted that the market's performance under President Trump has bested the average of all other presidents in their first three years, writes CNBC's Maggie Fitzgerald.   The third year of a president's term tends to be the best, according to Bespoke, so 2019 was in keeping with that trend. Chances are good that year four of Trump's term will bring more gains. Stocks are up in a president's fourth year about 66% of the time.   "Stocks look like they just wont quit. The rally is for real," Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG, said in a note Thursday. "The economy's engines continue to hum."    Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.   Al Lewis | CNBC Markets Editor @tellittoal TOP NEWS  Nasdaq breaks 9,000 for first time as stocks inch higher to new records Trump stock market rally is far outpacing past US presidents Minimum wage hikes hit 21 states in 2019—and more are on the way in 2020 The decade DC turned on Big Tech Trump slams Pelosi and impeachment in a flurry of Christmas tweets Republican senator 'disturbed' by McConnell's work with White House on impeachment trial US airlines are set for a 10th year of profits. More than 120,000 employees want a raise Insurers grow wary of 'high-risk' executives in wake of #MeToo movement China races to build its own Tesla as economy slows and subsidies dry up A lot of people got an Amazon Echo or Fitbit for the holidays, based on App Store rankings     TOP VIDEO Expect markets to do better than the general economy in 2020, strategist says   CNBC PRO These are the energy stocks to buy before New Year's Day, says Goldman   SPECIAL REPORTS Three best-performing S&P 500 stocks this year have something in common The best stock sectors of the last decade will not likely be the best performers for the new decade   Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2019 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS