(CNBC) U.S. equities closed mostly flat on Friday ahead of the Christmas holiday, as the Dow Jones industrial average failed again to reach the psychologically important level of 20,000.
The Dow closed about 15 points higher, with UnitedHealth contributing the most gains. “This is the last full trading week of the year. The Dow has been flirting with 20,000 and what I think is happening is a pause to digest a massive move higher,” said Adam Sarhan, CEO at 50 Park Investments. “The market doesn’t go straight up. I think this market action is healthy.”
Entering Friday’s session, the blue-chips index was about 0.4 percent away from hitting 20,000, having come within 13 points of the level earlier this week.
