YAHOO [BRIEFING.COM]: Weekly Recap - Week ending 04-Dec-09

The major indices logged another winning week -- hitting fresh 2009 highs -- thanks to mostly broad-based buying interest. The week got off to a solid start on decreased concerns over Dubai's debt situation and ended on an upbeat note as the U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped.

Nine of the 10 sectors posted a gain, led by utilities (+3.9%), telecom (+2.4) and financials (+2.3%). Commodity-related stocks underperformed, with energy shedding 1.5% on the week.

With only one S&P 500 company reporting earnings, economic data was in full focus as investors awaited the November employment report.

The employment report was better-than-expected on all the major metrics. Employers shed 11,000 nonfarm payrolls in November, far less than the 125,000 median estimate. In addition, prior months were revised to show smaller drops. In turn, the unemployment rate declined to 10.0%, from a previous reading of 10.2%.

Although corporate news was on the slow side due to the lack of major earnings reports, there were some notable items as retailers reported same-store sales and another major bank moved to repay government bailout loans.

Overall same-store sales disappointed, resulting in retailers logging some of the biggest declines on the week. Of the 27 retailers that Briefing.com follows, 19 missed the consensus estimate and 16 posted negative numbers. Among the biggest losers on the week, Game Stop (GME) shed 15.8%, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) lost 9.7% and Macy's (M) fell 6.0%.

Separately, Bank of America (BAC) announced plans to repay $45 billion in TARP funds as it looks to find a new CEO. In commodity trading, the CRB Index had an active week, with movements exacerbated by sharp moves in the dollar.

Gold prices hit a record nominal high of $1226 per ounce, but ended the week at $1161 per ounce after plunging 4.6% on Friday as the dollar rallied following the better-than-expected jobs report.

Crude prices fell 0.5% on the week, coming under pressure following a bearish inventory reading.

Index	Started Week	Ended Week	Change	% Change	YTD %
DJIA	10309.92	10388.90	78.98	0.8	18.4
Nasdaq	2138.44	2194.35	55.91	2.6	39.1
S&P 500	1091.49	1105.98	14.49	1.3	22.4
Russell 2000	577.21	602.79	25.58	4.4	20.7