For the week, the Dow industrials ended higher by 55.83 points or 0.4%. For the week, the S&P index gained 16.57 points or 1.2%. Nasdaq scored a gain of 49.68 points or 1.8% for the week.
On Monday, the major averages registered broad gains during a low-volume session. The S&P 500 followed a modestly higher open with a steady climb to its session high. Shortly before midday, reports out of Washington indicated President Obama and House Speaker Boehner held a 45-minute conversation in an attempt to further the ongoing budget discussions. The developments had little effect on the markets as the key indices continued their upward drift.
During Tuesday's session, stocks registered broad gains as comments from Washington lawmakers indicated the budget debate is intensifying. Though an agreement remained elusive, the markets welcomed the developments and spent the duration of the day in an upward climb. As a result, the S&P 500 advanced 1.2%.
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Wednesday began on a slightly higher note as Tuesday's optimism regarding a fiscal cliff resolution lingered. However, the initial strength quickly faded, and the S&P 500 slipped below its flat line where it spent the remainder of the session. A recurring theme played out in Washington where lawmakers held another round of press conferences with both sides pushing back against the other. Most notably, Speaker Boehner said the House of Representatives will vote on his 'plan B' on Thursday. The remarks kept the S&P 500 near its lows before a final round of selling dropped the benchmark index to a loss of 0.8%. Among major mention, Oracle gained 3.7% after beating on earnings and revenue.
On Thursday, the major averages finished higher despite showing indecision in the early part of the session. The fiscal cliff remained as the focal point, and investors showed optimism in Washington's ability to get a deal done. The S&P 500 gained 0.6% ahead of the scheduled vote. NYSE Euronext surged 34.1% after agreeing to be acquired by IntercontinentalExchange for $33 per share. The transaction price represents a 37.2% premium to NYSE Euronext's Wednesday close.
U.S. stocks fell sharply on Friday, 21 December 2012 denting weekly gains, after a Republican proposal to avert the fiscal cliff did not find support, reducing hopes for a budget deal before 2012 ends. All but two of the Dow's 30 components finished in the red, led by Bank of America, down 2%.
After falling as much as 189 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 120.88 points, or 0.9%, at 13,190.84. The Nasdaq Composite retreated 29.38 points, or 1%, at 3,021. The S&P 500 Index lost 13.54 points, or 0.9%, at 1,430.15, with consumer shares hardest hit among its 10 major sectors.
Equities spent the duration of today's session in the red. The S&P 500 lost 0.9% after House Speaker John Boehner cancelled Thursday's vote on his 'Plan B' due to a lack of support from his party. In a morning press conference, the Speaker said he is not walking away from negotiations with President Obama. However, an agreement remains distant and the House of Representatives has adjourned until December 27.
On Friday, economic data was plentiful and most figures were reported ahead of expectations. November durable goods orders increased by 0.7%, which was better than the 0.2% increase that had been expected. This comes after the prior month's reading was revised up to reflect an increase of 1.1%. Excluding transportation related items, durable goods orders increased in November by 1.6%, which was better than the 0.2% decrease that had been broadly anticipated. Prior month's reading was revised from 1.8% to 1.9%.
Personal income increased by 0.6% in November, which was ahead of the 0.3% increase expected. Personal spending increased by 0.4%, which was ahead of the expected uptick of 0.3%. Core personal consumption expenditures were unchanged, which fell short of the broadly expected reading of 0.1%.
The University of Michigan's final December Consumer Sentiment Survey fell to 72.9 from the 74.5 that was posted in the preliminary Survey. Market had expected the reading to rise to 74.8.
Bullion prices rose at Comex on Friday, 21 December 2012. Gold futures rose on Friday, buoyed by some safe-haven demand after the abrupt cancelation of a House vote stoked worries that talks to avert the so-called fiscal cliff will fail.
Gold for February delivery gained $14.20, or 0.9%, to settle at $1,660.10 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold's gains also came as U.S. stocks slumped in the wake of a decision by House Republican leaders to back away from a proposal that included a tax hike on households earning more than $1 million a year. Gold prices finished the week with a 2.2% decline, marking four straight weeks of losses. March silver futures rose 52 cents, or 1.8%, to end at $30.20 an ounce on Friday. Silver fell 6.2% for the week.
Crude-oil prices at Nymex fell at Nymex on Friday, 21 December 2012 keying off concerns about the U.S. economy slipping into recession as a deadline to avert a package of tax increases and spending cuts approached without a budget deal from Washington. Light and sweet crude for February delivery fell $1.47, or 1.6%, to settle at $88.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil futures for the week, however, closed up 2.2%.
The ICE dollar index, which measures the greenback's performance against a basket of six other major currencies, extended gains after Boehner's Friday remarks, and rose by 0.4% for the day.
For every share rising, more than three fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where nearly 1.9 billion shares traded.
Indian ADRs ended lower on Friday. In the Banking space, HDFC Bank was down 0.9% and ICICI Bank was down 0.6%. In the IT space, Wipro was down 1.1% and Infosys was up 0.5%. In the Telecom space, Tata Communication was down 1.9% and MTNL was up 0.6%. In the other space, Sterlite was down 2.4%, Dr Reddys was down 1.6% and Tata Motors was down 1.6%.
For the year, Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 are trading higher by 8%, 16% and 13.7% respectively.
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