Wall Street marked another session of choppy trading with a mixed finish, while the market's "fear gauge", the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), logged a sixth-straight daily loss and the lowest level since November 2021. This week's mixed earnings processional and lack of company forecasts spiraled investors toward more Fed fears, with interest rates expected to rise within in the next few weeks. 

OIL, GOLD PULL BACK

Black gold marked a two-week low close, moving back below $80 as demand outlook weighed. May-dated crude fell $1.70, or 2.1%, to close at $79.16 per barrel.

A stronger U.S. dollar sent gold prices lower this afternoon, though the precious metal remains above the round $2,000 level. The June-dated commodity lost $12.40 or 0.6%, to settle at $2,007.30 an ounce.

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