Major indexes from Japan to the United States and emerging markets are up double-digit percentages for the year, with the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index up 7 percent.CAUTION SIGNSU.S. markets offered caution signs for the new year in the year's final hours of trading on Friday. [MET/L]Gold turned in a banner year, too, despite not being needed for its role as a guard against inflation, which has been tame. At $1,303.22 an ounce, the shiny metal saw its biggest annual gain since 2010. [GOL/]Oil ended the year around its highest prices in 2-1/2 years after data showed strong demand for crude imports in China and a surprise fall in U.S. production.

Source: The Star December 29, 2017 21:22 UTC