Marginal Record Closing Highs

Monday, stocks gained 2% in Asia and 0.3% in Europe but lost 0.4% in the U.S. on 12B shares traded. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond yield fell 2% to end at 4.40. Precious metals advanced about 1%. Here’s an article that gives perspective on the FDR gold confiscation order.

Tuesday, stocks fell 0.6% in Asia, 0.5% in Europe, and 0.4% in the U.S. on 11B shares traded. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond yield fell 2% to end at 4.34. Precious metals dropped 2% and their miners lost twice that amount.

Wednesday, stocks closed unchanged in Asia but rose 0.9% in Europe and 0.6% in the U.S. on 11B shares traded. Precious metals gained 1% and their miners advanced twice that amount. The NASDAQ and S&P 500 indices  ended above 17,000 and 5300 respectively to each register record closing highs.

Thursday, stocks rose 1.3% in Asia and 0.7% in Europe but ended little changed in the U.S. on 11B shares traded. Precious metals gained 2% and their miners advanced 3%.

Friday, stocks ended slightly lower in Europe and lost 0.5% in Asia and in the U.S. on 11B shares traded. Finally, the Federal Reserve balance sheet declined 28B to 7.26T.