US stocks end lower; dollar drops to five-week low


US stocks fell and the US dollar dropped to a five-week low on Thursday after President-elect Donald Trump failed to provide details on fiscal policies that were expected to bolster the economy.


 Investors were hoping for commentary on the new administration's plans for fiscal stimulus and tax cuts. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day down 63.28 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 19,858.87, while the S&P 500 lost 4.88 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,2270.44. 

The Nasdaq Composite, on the other hand, dropped 16.16 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5,547.49, a day after hitting a record high.

The dollar, meanwhile, hit a five-week trough against a basket of major currencies and was on track for its worst week since November. 

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, last traded down 0.4 per cent at 101.38. 

The dollar also slid to a five-week low versus the yen and last traded down 0.7 per cent at 114.64 yen.

Benchmark US Treasury 10-year note prices rose 2/32, with the yield down at 2.361 per cent, although a soft US 30-year bond auction has boosted yields broadly.

In commodity markets, oil was higher, bolstered by news that Saudi Arabia has cut oil output to its lowest in almost two years, according to its energy minister. 

The world's largest oil exporter is leading OPEC's drive to eradicate a global glut and prop up prices.

US crude was trading up 1.5 per cent at $53.05 and Brent crude was up 97 cents, or 1.8 per cent at $56.07 a barrel, following gains of nearly 3.0 per cent on Wednesday.


Gold rose to a seven-week high just shy of $1,200 per ounce while London copper traded up almost 2.0 per cent after electronic trading there was delayed by a five-hour outage, according to Reuters.

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