Markets on Wall Street inched modestly lower before the opening bell on Monday as they kicked off the final month of 2024 hoping to match November’s robust gains.

U.S. stocks finished off their best month in a year on Friday, with the Dow and S&P 500 clinching fresh record closing highs to cap off a blockbuster November. The Russell 2000 finished Friday just shy of what would have been its first record close since November 2021.

The market’s record year may have more room to run, with sentiment buoyed by recent outperformance and historical trends.

Stocks closed with solid gains as Wall Street put the finishing touches on one of its best months of the year.

The markets posted solid gains to turn November into the best-performing month of 2024. All three major indexes – S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones – witnessed substantial monthly upswings. Donald Trump’s win in the presidential election was the primary factor driving investor optimism.

U.S. stocks are kicking off December by drifting around their record heights on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in early trading after closing its best month of the year at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 85 points,