What you need to know… The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Tuesday closed up +0.42%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.43%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.60%. Stocks on Tuesday settled moderately higher, with the S&P 500 posting a nearly 2-year high and the Nasdaq 100 posting a record high. Stocks rallied Tuesday in thin holiday trading, with markets in Europe and parts of Asia closed for Boxing Day. Stocks are supported by the seasonal Santa Claus rally, where equity prices tend to climb between Christmas and the first few days of the new year. Str…