Monday, stocks gained 0.5% in Asia and 0.3% in Europe, but fell 0.5% in the U.S. on high volume. The VXO moved up 6% to close at 13.69. That decline pulled the the Dow Jones Industrial Average back below the 26,000 benchmark and the S&P 500 Index below 2800 again.
Tuesday, stocks closed up slightly in Europe, but were little changed in Asia and the U.S. on moderate volume. Wednesday, stocks in Asia and Europe closed little changed. In the U.S., stocks fell 0.7% on strong volume. The VXO rose 7% to end at 15.19. Precious metals miners fell 2%.
Thursday, stocks fell 0.3% in Europe and 0.8% in Asia and the U.S. on high volume. The VXO rose 13% to close at 17.10. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond rate fell 2% to close at 2.64. The news of the day centered around a dovish turn by the European Central Bank.
Friday, stocks fell 1.5% in Asia, 0.9% in Europe, and slightly in the U.S. on strong volume. The VXO fell 6% to close at 16.12. Precious metals and their miners fell 2%. For the week major stock indices fell about 2%.