Charging Bull - Wikipedia The iconic Charging Bull in Lower Manhattan – a symbol of Wall Street 's relentless optimism, even in tough times. ⏱️ Step 1: Verify Access (15s) Loading... Wait... As the ball dropped in Times Square last night, Wall Street was already popping champagne. The S&P 500 finished 2025 up more than 16%, capping off three straight years of solid gains in a classic bull market run. If you've been invested, congratulations – your portfolio likely had a very merry Christmas. But step away from the trading floors, and the mood feels different. For millions of Americans, 2025 was a year of tight budgets, rising worries about jobs, and that nagging sense that the good times on Wall Street aren't trickling down. I've been covering markets for over 15 years, and this disconnect – the "grinning amid the gloom" that Bloomberg nailed in their year-end briefing – hits harder than most. Let's break it down honestly: w...