Global Stocks Close Near Record Highs Ahead of New Year, Dollar, and Oil Dip

WASHINGTON/LONDON—Equities around the globe traded little changed on Thursday as oil prices fell and the U.S. dollar dipped against most major currencies although it has had its best year since 2015 with a 6.7 percent rise. With several markets in Asia and Europe closed on Friday, trading volumes were thin and most markets directionless. The MSCI World Index shed 0.07 percent. The index has surged 17 percent in 2021, its third consecutive year of double-digit gains. Analysts say the U.S. economy has proven resilient in the face of pandemic-related challenges, and many expect the global economy will still expand at a well-above-trend pace. After initially tumbling in December, world stocks recovered over the holiday period as investors became reassured economies could handle the surge in Omicron coronavirus cases, and are heading back toward record highs. “As far as COVID is concerned, for now, market participants may stay willing to add …

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