US-ECONOMY-STOCK-MARKETS-CLOSE

Santa Claus gestures on the floor at the closing bell of the Dow Industrial Average at the New York Stock Exchange on December 5, 2019 in New York. - Wall Street stocks finished slightly higher following a choppy session that avoided the big swings from earlier in the week on trade-oriented headlines. US and Chinese negotiators are working to finalize a preliminary trade deal announced in October that would block new tariffs expected to take effect this month. Officials have sent mixed signals on the talks, sending shares gyrating. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)