STORY: From hopes for a "Santa rally," to a first look at third-quarter U.S. economic activity, these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week. :: Hoping for a 'Santa rally'Traders are still hoping for a "Santa rally" despite the S&P 500 falling in the last two weeks.Over the last 100 years, December has been one of the best months of the year for the index, with an average gain of around 1.28%.But in the last five years, the S&P has seen an average loss of 0.2%.That's made December the second-worst month of the year after September.:: Delayed data diveInvestors are eager to see what a new batch of data says about the state of the U.S. economy, after the government shutdown delayed the release of some key numbers. The holiday-shortened trading week will see reports on third-quarter gross domestic product, monthly durable goods and consumer confidence.In November, U.S. consumer confidence sagged as households worried about jobs and their financial situation.Job growth rebounded more than expected in November, but the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, its highest level in more than four years.:: What's driving oil prices?Oil prices have fallen in recent days, but crude markets still face a range of geopolitical risks.A resolution to the war in Ukraine could, eventually, lead to more Russian crude entering global markets, but progress has been elusive. Then there's the supply risks posed by a U.S. blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, as the Trump administration targets President Nicolas Maduro's main source of income.But the real driver of prices in the months ahead might be more mundane: a spike in global crude supplies, both on land and at sea.