Monday, stocks rose 1.1% in Asia, 2.6% in Europe, and 1.2% in the U.S. on 18B shares traded. The VIX plummeted 18% to close at 30.89. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury bond yield fell 3% to end at 4.36. The S&P 500 index ended above its 5400 benchmark. Apple closed above 200.
Tuesday, stocks gained 1.3% in Asia and 1.6% in Europe but ended unchanged in the U.S. on 15B shares traded. Gold logged another record high. The S&P 500 index ended below its 5400 benchmark. IBM closed above 240.
Wednesday, stocks closed little changed in Europe but fell 1.1% in Asia and 1.0% in the U.S. on 16B shares traded. The VIX fell 8% to close at 32.64. Precious metals and their miners gained 3% as gold posted another record high. The Dow and S&P 500 indices closed below their respective 40,000 and 5300 levels. Apple and IBM closed below 200 and 240 respectively. Here’s the latest from Adam Hamilton making the case that despite gains in physical gold, gold miners still have a long way to go.
Thursday, stocks fell slightly in Europe but rose 1.2% in Asia and 0.7% in the U.S. on 15B shares traded. The VIX fell 9% to end at 29.65. Precious metals fell 1% and their miners lost twice that amount.
Friday, stocks rose 1.6% in Asia but fell slightly in Europe. Markets were closed for Good Friday in the U.S. on 10 shares traded. Finally, the Federal Reserve balance sheet was unchanged at 6.73T.