Mark DeCambre

Oil prices log highest settlement since July 2015 WTI briefly tops $52 a barrelOil futures on Monday end at a more than one-year high, but off its highest levels of the session, as the industry continues to wrestle with the details surrounding OPEC’s historic agreement to cut production.

Gold prices settle lower as rate hike looms New York Fed President Dudley sees gradual rate hikes in the cardsGold prices settle slightly lower Monday, recovering from sharper losses earlier in the session, as prospects for a rate increase later in the month by the Federal Reserve and the possibility that monetary policy might tighten at an accelerated pace in 2017 weighed on the metal.

Oil logs modest gain to extend OPEC-fueled rallyOil futures settled in the green Monday, but pared a firmer rise, as the industry continues to enjoy a bounce inspired by OPEC's historic agreement to cut production. Crude-oil futures traded in positive territory throughout much of the session after shaking off concerns about Italy's rejection of a vote on existing rules to its constitution that resulted in the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Some energy strategists, however, expressed doubts over the ability of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major oil producers to follow through on plans on complying with and enforcing limits on oil output. West Texas Intermediate crude oil ended up 11 cents, or 0.2%, higher at $51.79 a barrel, but the contract had traded as high as $52.42 a barrel early in New York.

Dow opens at record as oil rally helps Wall Street shake off Italy's referendumThe Dow industrials on Monday opened at an all-time high as crude-oil prices extended last week's OPEC-inspired rally, and as investors dismissed concerns about the outcome of Italy's referendum on Sunday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 85 points, or 0.5%, at 19,260, the S&P 500 index began trade 9 points, or 0.4%, higher at 2,201, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 27 points, or 0.5%, at 5,282. On Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced his resignation after a vote to reform existing rules that might make it easier for euroskeptics to take power in the country was rejected. The rejection of the referendum raises questions about the shared European currency, the euro, which roiled markets earlier in the New York day. But the resumption of crude-oil futures climb, after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reached a pact last week to curb production, has helped to lift appetite for assets perceived as risky, like stocks. On the corporate side, shares of Visa led the Dow industrials in early trade, while UnitedHealth Group Inc. shares were the biggest laggards among blue-chip names.

Trump just unleashed the stock market’s ‘animal spirits’ Crude oil joins the Trump party on Wall Street; Dow industrials and S&P 500 both touched new all-time highs in Wednesday trade, extending a record run for equitiesSteve Barrow, currency and fixed-income analyst at Standard Bank, said in a Wednesday research note “whatever fears might exist in some quarters about Trump’s win, some sort of animal spirits might have been spurred.”

Weekend roundup: Italy’s threat to the EU | Low-paid women | OPEC’s surprise Here are MarketWatch articles to read this weekendHere are MarketWatch articles to read this weekend.

Dow limps to record close, buoyed by Goldman as broader stock rally sputtersThe Dow Jones Industrial Average on Thursday finished at a record to kick of December trade, following upbeat manufacturing data and a continuation of oil's sharp gains, in the wake of a surprise agreement on Wednesday to curb crude-oil production. But the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index ended with its worst daily drop since Oct. 11, according to FactSet data. Some market strategist said tech has been weighed down by a U.S. dollar that has been hovering around its highest levels since 2003, though it pulled back on Thursday, in the aftermath of the Nov. 8 presidential election. A stronger dollar can make goods sold abroad more expensive to buyers using other currencies. The Nasdaq ended off 72 points, or 1.4%, at 5,251, while the S&P 500 index gave up about 7 points, or 0.4%, to close at 2,191. The S&P 500's tech sector, off 2.3%, real-estate, down 1.6%, and utilities, 0.9% lower, were the worst performers among the broad-stock benchmark's 11 sectors. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. contributed about 50 points to the Dow's rise, supporting the blue-chip gauge in an otherwise downbeat day of trade. Goldman is trading at its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis, as bank shares enjoy a lift from the prospect of looser regulations under new leadership in the White House and an interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve in two weeks. The Dow finished up 68 points, or 0.4%, at 19,191, marking a new all-time closing high. On the energy front, crude futures settled at their best level in six-weeks, at $51.06 a barrel, after the OPEC-fueled rally entered a second day. Traders will look ahead to Friday's employment report, which could have some impact on market sentiment, with investors already making big bets that Trump will offer fresh stimulus and tax cuts to the U.S. economy.

Gold early losses hold steady after jobless claims

What President-elect Trump means for the stock, bond, other markets Dow Jones Industrial Average is loving the prospect of a Trump presidency—so farHere are some of the areas within capital markets that are most likely to be influenced or already have seen moves on the heels of Trump’s victory of Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Gold prices register third decline in 4 sessions ICE Dollar Index trades briefly near a 52-week high of 101.71Gold futures finish lower Tuesday, pulling back after tacking on more than 1% a day earlier.

Shares of UnitedHealth rise 2.8% at $156.27 to lead Dow gainers in early trade

Trump, Kanye and 6 other topics to avoid at Thanksgiving dinner Thanksgiving conversation should be light and breezyIf you really want to keep the convo at this annual banquet light and breezy and avoid any blowups between, steer clear of these controversial, and sometimes just plain unsavory, dinner topics.

Tom DeMark now sees 5%-6% retreat for stock market in wake of Trump rally Analyst downgrades predicted drop as Dow industrials, S&P 500 hit recordsProminent technical strategist Tom DeMark is reducing the severity of an earlier prediction of a downturn for equities in the wake of a multisession rally, following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8.

Don’t blame the dollar when the Trump rally gets smashed, in one chart A rapid rise in the U.S. dollar doesn’t always derail stocks over the long termAfter a record run inspired by President-elect Donald Trump, the stock market’s Achilles' heel may be the surge in the U.S. dollar.

Dow hits milestone 19,000 as stocks rise on Trump-induced euphoria The Dow industrials on Tuesday traded above 19,000 for the first time ever--a milestone level for the blue-chip benchmark. The ascent for the Dow Jones Industrial Average which carved out a fresh record close of 18,956.69 less than 24 hours ago, comes as three other major stock-market benchmarks also hit historic highs, including the S&P 500 index , which was trading above 2,200, the Nasdaq Composite Index and the small-cap index Russell 2000 . A multisession rally for equities comes on the heels of President-elect Donald Trump's surprising victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump's proposals to deregulate certain markets, including banking, and rev up investing in the countries worn-out bridges, tunnels and roads has delivered a jolt to the broader equity market. MarketWatch's William Watts touches on some of the stats related to the Dow's historic move in .

S&P 500 rises 0.2% at 2,203; Nasdaq Composite Index gains 0.3% at 5,386

Stocks open higher with 19,000 in sight for the Dow

Dow trades about 60 points shy of 19,000 milestoneThe Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday is about 60 points away from touching the psychologically significant level of 19,000. The ascent for the Dow industrials , which carved out a fresh intraday record of 18,947.44 comes as three other major stock-market benchmarks on the same day, including the S&P 500 index at 2,197.55, the Nasdaq Composite Index at 5,364.93 and the small-cap index Russell 2000 , which touched an all-time intraday high of of 1,323.72. The last time all four stock-market gauges hit records on the same day was Dec. 29, 1999, according to Dow Jones data. MarketWatch's Bill Watts touches on some of the stats related to the Dow's historic move in . A multisession rally for equities comes on the heels of President-elect Donald Trump's surprising victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump's proposals to deregulate certain markets, including banking, and rev up investing in the countries worn-out bridges and tunnels has delivered a jolt to the broader equity market. However, skeptics are concerned about Trump's ability to follow through with his proposals and that valuations for stocks may be elevated, as the bond market is selling off, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury note trading at 2.3% compared with 1.6% at the end of September, according to FactSet data. Bond prices rise as yields fall, and appetite for stocks usually coincides with a slump in bond prices.

Stock market hits fresh records as equities extend gains in Thanksgiving-shortened weekStocks traded at records Monday as Wall Street attempts to extend a multisession trend of gains as President-elect Donald Trump sets up his cabinet. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5% at 18,920, the S&P 500 index picked up 0.5% at 2,191, briefly trading above its closing record, the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.4% at 5,351, hitting a fresh all-time high. Trump's policy proposals, including those around infrastructure investments, are being viewed as supportive to stock advances. On Monday, the gains for major equity benchmarks came as crude-oil prices climbed sharply amid mounting hope that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and oil-producers like Russia can strike an agreement to shrink the overflow of crude being pumped out of the world's largest producers.

Carnage in bond market after Trump victory spells trouble for stocks Analysts say the stock market faces a reckoning as Treasury yields swing higherStocks have raced to record levels on the back of hope that President-elect Donald Trump can make—not just America great again—but the stock market. But a jarring selloff in bonds is a bad sign for Wall Street and could mean problems for equities, at least in the short term.

Trump is the black—make that orange—swan that Wall Street was bracing for Markets still adjusting to unexpected victoryThe billionaire real-estate developer is rocking markets around the globe. Few believed he had a chance at beating Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in a head-to-head race for the Oval Office—and that is a black swan event.