Banner 2009 in Lost Decade

123jump.com Staff
31 Dec, 2009
New York City

U.S. stocks fell on the last day of trading and closed up in the year. The S&P 500 index added 24% and the Dow increased 19%. European markets gained more than 22%. Russia led the world markets with a surge of 126% followed by gains of more than 80% in Brazil, India and China.

[R]4:00 PM New York, 9:00 PM London, 8:00 AM Sydney – U.S. stocks fell on the last day of trading and closed up in the year. The S&P 500 index added 24% and the Dow increased 19%. European markets gained more than 22%. Russia led the world markets with a surge of 126% followed by gains of more than 80% in Brazil, India and China.[/R]

U.S. stocks declined after the unexpected decline in jobless claims and the dollar continuing its advance against the euro and the yen.

S&P 500 index closed up 24% for the year and the Dow gained 19%. Russia led the world markets with a surge of 126% followed by Brazil with 83% and India with 81% and China with 80%. Norway led the European markets with a rise of 70%.

YRC Worldwide reached a last minute agreement with its bond holders that will dilute shareholders more than expected. Scanning and detection security systems providers surged for the second day in a row on the hopes of higher sales after a failed terrorist attempt.

European markets closed mixed today but close up in the year. The benchmark index in Norway led the region with a rise of 70% and indexes in German gained 25% followed by increase of 22% in France and UK. Toronto judge approved $12 million settlement for Air France accident four years ago.

UK stocks advanced 22% in the year and rebounded 53% from their lows in March. The index lost 31% in 2008 and lost 22% in the decade. Miners, banks and home builders gained in today’s trading. UK home prices increased for the eighth month in a row.

China region stocks closed higher on the last trading day of the year. The benchmark indexes in Shanghai surged 80% and in Hong Kong advanced 53% in the year on a large government stimulus and increase bank lending.

Mumbai stocks close up on the last day of trading surge 81% for the year but the Sensex index is still below its highs of 2007. Foreign investors continue to pour capital in India stocks with flows in the year expected to reach $17.4 billion, a sharp rise from $1 billion at the start of the decade.

The Australian benchmark index increased 31% in the year with a gain of 0.8% on the last day of trading. The Australian dollar advanced after the Reserve Bank of Australia said that bank lending increased 0.1% in November. For the year the Aussie is up 28% against the dollar.

North American Markets

Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 1.51 or 0.01% to a close of 10,466.44, S&P 500 Index edged higher 2.57 or 0.2% to 1,120.59, and Nasdaq Composite Index increased 16.97 or 0.8% to close at 2,269.64. Toronto TSX Composite Index added 30.72 or 0.3% to 11,658.70.

Latin American Markets Indexes

Mexico Bolsa Index increased 209.91 or 0.7% to 32,450.23 and Brazil Bovespa Stock Index added 170.93 or 0.3% to 67,588.86.

Europe Markets Review

In London FTSE 100 Index closed higher 15.02 or 0.3% to 5,412.88, in Paris CAC 40 Index increased 0.83 or 0.02% to close at 3,936.33. The Market in Germany and Switzerland were closed today.

Asian Markets Review

Hang Seng index in Hong Kong increased 375.88 or 1.75% to 21,872.50, ASX 200 index in Australia increased 37.30 or 0.77% to 4,870.60. The FTSE Bursa KL Composite index in Malaysia was higher 1.66 or 0.13% to 1,272.78. The Sensex index in India increased 120.99 or 0.70% to 17,464.81.

The Markets in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia were closed today.

Commodities, Metals, and Currencies

Crude oil increased $0.35 to $79.63 a barrel for a front month contract, natural gas edged down 13 cent to $5.58 per mBtu and gasoline increased 1.19 cents to 205.25 cents.

Soybean future closed up 4.00 cents to $10.48 a bushel. Wheat futures closed down 3.25 cent in Chicago trading to $5.41 a bushel. Sugar closed down 1 cent at 26.95 cents.

Gold increased $3.80 in New York trading to close at $1,096.30 per ounce, silver closed up $0.04 to $16.85 per ounce and copper for the front month delivery increased 1.15 cent to $3.35 per pound.

Dollar closed higher against euro to $1.432 and edged higher against the Japanese yen to 93.08.

Yield on 10-year U.S. bonds increased to 3.83% and with 30-year maturities closed higher at 4.63%.