U.S.-listed shares of Honda ( HMC) jumped in early trading after outlining plans to discuss a merger deal with fellow carmaker Nissan, confirming reports from last week. The deal could close in 2026 and create the world's third-largest automaker.

The S&P 500 and the Dow fell on Monday in holiday-thinned trading after a stopgap government funding bill averted a U.S. government shutdown and investors braced for a slower pace of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve next year.

Wall Street's major market indices have kicked off the holiday-shortened trading week on a mixed note as investors ready themselves for the 2025 trading year. As the trading day progresses, the financial community has seen a downward shift in the blue-chip Dow (DJI) as the index dipped 0.

The S&P 500 posted two new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 26 new highs and 43 new lows.