Apple CEO Tim Cook Snaps Up $3M in Nike Shares as Markets Ring in Holiday Records; Gold Flirts with $4,500

December 25, 2025 – With U.S. exchanges shuttered for Christmas, traders are unwinding from a pre-holiday session packed with standout moves: Tim Cook’s sizable Nike stock purchase, fresh all-time highs for the S&P 500 and Dow, and precious metals pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a “Santa rally” year.

Light volume and seasonal cheer amplified the action, setting up an intriguing close to 2025.

Tim Cook’s Nike Investment Sends Shares Soaring

Nike stock rallied 4.6% in Wednesday’s abbreviated trading day after disclosures revealed Apple CEO Tim Cook bought 50,000 shares at an average of $58.97—committing approximately $3 million in an open-market transaction.

The purchase stands out as one of the largest insider buys at Nike in recent memory, coming from a board member who’s held his seat since 2005 and served as lead independent director since 2016.

Cook’s total Nike holdings now exceed 105,000 shares, valued at more than $6 million after the post-buy bounce.

Fellow director Robert Swan (ex-Intel CEO) also added to his position this week, picking up ~8,700 shares for around $500,000—reinforcing the insider confidence signal.

The timing carries weight: Nike has faced headwinds from softening demand (especially in China), inventory challenges, and margin pressure, driving a sharp pullback since mid-December earnings. Cook’s move reads as a clear endorsement of CEO Elliott Hill’s ongoing turnaround efforts, centered on product innovation, marketing resets, and stronger wholesale partnerships.

Analysts note Wall Street’s average price target sits near $80—suggesting substantial upside from current levels if execution improves.

Broader Indexes Close at Fresh Peaks

Major benchmarks delivered milestone finishes on December 24:

• S&P 500: up ~0.32% to a record close around 6,932
• Dow Jones: up ~0.60% to ~48,731, another all-time high
• Nasdaq: +0.22% to ~23,613

The advances extended a five-day winning streak, supported by solid labor market data (declining jobless claims) and lingering bets on Federal Reserve easing in 2026.

The official “Santa Claus rally” period—spanning the last five trading days of the year plus the first two of January—kicked off December 24, historically a positive seasonal window.

Holiday-thinned liquidity helped magnify gains, though it also raises the risk of sharp reversals on any shift in sentiment.

Precious Metals Steal the Show: Gold Eyes $4,500 Milestone

Commodities provided the most eye-catching drama:

• Gold briefly breached $4,500 before easing slightly, capping a ~70% year-to-date surge.
• Silver continued its stellar run, up ~150% in 2025.
• Crude oil lagged badly, with benchmarks poised for their worst annual performance in five years (U.S. crude ~$58, Brent ~$62).
• The dollar headed for its largest yearly drop since 2017.

Strong precious metals reflect a blend of inflation hedging, geopolitical caution, and pure momentum—contrasting with equity strength but reminding markets that defensive demand persists.

A Tale of Two Trades: Optimism Meets Caution

The holiday snapshot feels dual-natured:

• Optimistic side: Record index closes, high-profile insider conviction in a beaten-down name like Nike.
• Cautious side: Precious metals at nosebleed levels, signaling some capital still seeks protection.

This dynamic is classic for year-end: rebalancing flows, reduced participation, and positioning bets on 2026’s macro backdrop.

Looking Ahead Post-Holiday

As trading resumes:

• Will Nike’s insider momentum hold, or will China and margin concerns reassert themselves?
• Can the Santa rally carry into early January, or will thin volume invite volatility?
• Do surging metals foreshadow broader risk aversion, or simply cap an extraordinary year?

For now, December 25 leaves a memorable close: leadership backing a legacy brand’s comeback, benchmarks at peaks, and safe havens reminding everyone that not all uncertainty has been priced out.