QQQ closes 0.83% lower as labor and chip-policy updates mark year-end trading

QQQ ended down 0.83% and SPY down 0.66%, leaving SPY ahead by 0.18 percentage points. Initial jobless claims came in at 199,000 versus a 220,000 forecast, while continuing claims fell to 1.866 million from 1.913 million. Nvidia demand and investment reports, TSMC production and export-license updates, and energy inventory releases added context during the session. Geopolitical developments and record Standing Repo Facility usage followed after hours and overnight.