THE MARKETS
Traders flooded the market with orders as the triple-witching stock and option contracts came due, ringing up record volume of 653.16 million shares. Market analysts also attributed the volume to end-of-the-year portfolio adjustments. The previous volume record -- 608.15 million shares -- was set on October 20, 1987, the day after Black Monday, when the Dow Jones average plunged a sickening 508. Despite today's overwhelming volume, the markets held stable. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the week down slightly, losing 5.42 to close at 5,176.73. The New York Stock Exchange composite index was off 0.44 to 328.66. On the Big Board, decliners led advancers 1,258 to 1,129, with 715 unchanged. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index lost 8.09 to finish the day at 1,030.10. The Standard & Poor's 500 stocks lost 0.58 to 616.34. In London, gold closed at $385.95, up $0.10.
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