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% 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%. The index has surged 17% 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 ... (full story)