Tuesday, stocks fell 0.8% in Asia and 0.6% in Europe but closed unchanged in the U.S. on 13B shares traded. The S&P 500 index closed above its 6000 benchmark. The Dow Jones Industrials and S&P 500 index registered record closing highs. The FOMC minutes indicated that perhaps all of this recent frantic cutting of interest rates needs to slow.
Wednesday, stocks gained 0.4% in Asia, fell slightly in Europe, and ended little changed in the U.S. on 12B shares traded. The S&P 500 index closed below its 6000 benchmark.
Thursday, stocks ended little changed in Asia and rose 0.4% in Europe as markets were closed in the U.S for Thanksgiving Day.
Friday, stocks gained slightly in Asia, rose 0.6% in Europe, and rose 0.3% in the U.S. on 8B shares traded for the holiday-shortened trading day. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond yield fell 2% to end at 4.18. Precious metals and their miners gained about 1%. The S&P 500 index closed above its 6000 benchmark. The Dow, S&P 500, and NYSE logged record closing highs. Finally, the Federal Reserve balance sheet declined 19B to 6.91T.