Currencies
The dollar headed higher for the third week against the euro after evidence mounted that the U.S. economy is strengthening. At the same time, growth is weakening in Europe and is stagnating in Japan. Demand for dollars has risen as some investors moved money into the U.S. to buy stocks and corporate bonds, betting the economic recovery will boost companies' profits. The rally marks the first time in nine months that the dollar has gained for more than two weeks against the euro. A European consumer confidence index fell to a five-year low this month, the latest sign growth is faltering. Trading petered out mid-week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. With U.S. markets closed on Thursday and only open for a half-session on Friday, many investors took advantage of the long weekend.

Disappointing Japanese data helped push the yen to a week-low against the dollar on Friday. A series of economic releases showed that Japan's industrial production unexpectedly fell last month. Consumer spending also weakened and unemployment returned to its post-war high of 5.5 percent. While the data were not entirely negative, the economy appears to have weakened once more.

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