As we near the final hours of the last trading day of the year, the major indices are lower, but the Dow and S&P500 are trying to go green.  Volume is extremely thin as most investors are already sipping champagne...and rightfully so.  It has been a great year.  

Apple (AAPL) said it would never "intentionally shorten the life of any product,” apologizing for slower speeds and lower performance of some older phones in order to improve power management.  The company is offering consumers of an iPhone 6, or above,  a $50 credit towards out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement, which will take the cost down to $29.

Financials are down today on news from Goldman that the cost associated with tax repatriation from the new tax legislation will take a $5 billion bite out of its fourth quarter earnings. 

At midday, six of the eleven S&P sectors are positive.  On the NYSE, advancers outpace decliners 1464/1376 with strength from Consumer Staples, Industrials and Real Estate sectors. On the Nasdaq; however, decliners led advancers 1520/1356 as Information Technology and Technology sectors suffer.

We wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.  Be safe and enjoy.