Monday, stocks rose 0.5% in Asia but fell 0.5% in Europe and closed slightly lower in the U.S. on very low volume dampened by the Columbus Day holiday. The VXO fell 7% to close at 15.91. Tuesday, stocks rose 0.8% in Asia and 0.9% in Europe and the U.S. on light volume. The VXO fell 11% to close at 14.21. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond yield rose 2% to close at 1.77. Precious metals fell 1% and their miners dropped about three times that amount. The Dow closed above the 27,000 benchmark and the NYSE closed above 13,000.
Wednesday, stocks gained 0.6% in Asia but closed little changed in Europe and the U.S. on light volume. Precious metals miners gained 2%. The NYSE index slipped enough to close just below the 13,000 benchmark. After the bell, IBM reported its dismal quarterly results — despite more creative accounting.
Thursday, stocks closed up slightly in Asia, were little changed in Europe, and gained 0.3% in the U.S. on light volume. The NYSE Index inched up to close back above 13,000. IBM fell 6% to close far below the 140 benchmark.
Friday, stocks fell 0.5% in Asia, 0.4% in Europe, and 0.3% in the U.S. on light volume. The VXO fell 6% to close at 15.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day below the 27,000 benchmark.