Stocks closed out the week on an uneven note. While the Dow and S&P 500 secured modest wins, the Nasdaq fell into the red by midday and finished lower. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq logged weekly losses, while the Dow finished the week flat, as investors see-saw between panic and optimism over the current state of inflation and the next move from the Federal Reserve. Amid this choppiness, Wall Street's "fear gauge," the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) logged its first weekly win since Oct. 14. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 33,745.69) added 199.4 points or 0.6% for the day. UnitedHealth (UNH) paced the gainers with a 2.9% win. Salesforce (CRM) led the laggards with a 1.1% loss. The blue-chip index ended the week flat.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,965.34) tacked on 18.8 points, or 0.5% for the day, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC - 11,146.06) added 1.1 points. The SPX finished with a 0.7% weekly loss, while the Nasdaq shed 1.6% on the week.

Lastly, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 23.12) shed 0.8 points or 3.4% for the session. it gained 2.7% on the week.

OIL, GOLD PRICES INCH LOWER 

Oil prices plummeted today, settling at their lowest close since late September as sentiment over inflation, Covid-19 cases in China, and a looming recession worsens. December-dated crude lost $1.56, or 1.9% to trade at $80.08 per barrel.

Gold prices also dropped lower after this morning's hawkish Fed comments strengthened the dollar. December-dated gold lost $8.60 or roughly 0.5%, to settle at $1,754.40 an ounce -- a weekly closing low.

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