"Dow Plunges 500 Points, Just Shy of Record High"

The S&P 500 was on track to hit a record high but tumbled in the afternoon, causing the Dow to drop almost 500 points. The VIX volatility index spiked, and trading volume was low due to the holiday season. Despite the selloff, there was no clear reason for the drop, and market analysts attribute it to year-end slowdown and profit-taking. Similar market fluctuations have occurred in previous years, so investors are advised to expect some bumps in the road towards the end of the year.