Monday, stocks fell 1.8% in Asia and 0.4% in Europe. They closed little changed in the U.S. on strong volume. Apple slid to close below the 190 benchmark.
Tuesday, stocks gained 0.8% in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. on moderate volume. The VXO fell 7% to close at 16.61. IBM bumped up to again close above the 140 mark. Despite the gain, the bond market inversion should give stock bulls reason for concern.
Wednesday, stocks fell 0.2% in Asia, closed little changed in Europe, and fell 0.4% in the U.S. on moderate volume. IBM dipped below the 140 mark while 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond rate fell 2% to close at 2.37.
Thursday, stocks fell 0.5% in Asia, fell slightly in Europe, and gained 0.3% in the U.S. on moderate volume. The VXO dropped 7% to close at 15.67. IBM continued its oscillation around 140 — this time, closing above it.
Friday, stocks rose 0.6% in Asia and Europe and 0.5% in the U.S. on strong volume. The VXO fell 11% to close at 14.02. For the first quarter, stocks rallied to nearly erase the losses incurred in the fourth quarter 2018.