Reply #6: Bitter end? [View All]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - So much for a Santa Claus rally -- U.S. stock markets are poised for another sour session Friday, putting the Dow industrials at risk of a losing year in 2005's final session.

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Friday's trading is expected to be light with many participants taking an early holiday. But market watchers are going to be keeping a sharp eye on the Dow industrials' close Friday. The blue chip index is up less than 2 points for the year and is at risk of finishing 2005 in negative territory.

Oil prices edged lower, hovering just under $60 a barrel. The February light crude futures contract for NYMEX dipped 47 cents to $59.85 a barrel in electronic trading, while the February contract for Brent crude slipped 40 cents to $57.67.

For the fourth day in a row, the Treasury yield curve inverted, with the yield on the 10-year note falling below that of the 2-year note. An inverted yield curve is often interpreted as a signal for an upcoming recession and is putting pressure on market sentiment, although several economists point out that the connection doesn't always apply.

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