By Ovunc Kutlu
ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed lower Friday, but exchanges managed to finish 2023 with their best performances in years.
The Dow Jones was down 20 points, or 0.05%, to end the day at a new record close of 37,689, but the blue-chip index posted a 13.7% gain in 2023.
The S&P 500 fell 13 points, or 0.28%, to finish at 4,769. The index posted its ninth consecutive weekly gain -- its longest winning streak since 2004 -- as it jumped 24.2% for the year.
The Nasdaq was off 83 points, or 0.56%, to close the day at 15,011. The tech-heavy index soared 43.4% for the year -- its highest annual gain since 2020.
The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, was down 0.16% to 12.45. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 1.1% to 3.891%.
The dollar index increased 0.16% to 101.39, while the euro shed 0.2% to $1.1036 against the greenback.
Despite gains in recent days, precious metals were down with gold losing 0.1% to $2,063 per ounce and silver trimming 0.8% to $23.79.
Oil prices were in negative territory, with global benchmark Brent crude at $77.06 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $71.25.
Both benchmarks shed approximately 10% in 2023, marking their first annual losses since 2020.