Stocks end good year on slightly down note

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. stocks dropped the curtain on another positive year Friday but the final session of 2004 was a weak one and indexes closed on a down note.

For the year, however, the markets were solidly higher after a broad late advance helped overcome higher oil prices and an almost 8 percent decline in the dollar.

The Dow was up 3.3 percent for the year, while Nasdaq recorded an 8.7 increase and Standard & Poor 9.1.

On Friday, the Dow Jones industrials dropped 17.29 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 10,783.01. Nasdaq was off 2.90, or 0.13 percent to 2,175.44 and Standard & Poor slipped 1.63. or 0.13 percent, to 1,211.92.

Bonds gained. The 10-year Treasury note rose 9/32, or $2.81 for each $1,000 invested. The yield fell to 4.220 percent.

The dollar was mixed, trading at 102.70 yen, down from 103.89, while the euro fell against the dollar to $1.3546 from $1.3601.