Stocks finish lower, but Dow books best monthly performance for Dow in three decades

U.S. stocks finished lower on Friday as investors took profits from the biggest winners during November's impressive rally, which has seen the most-shunned stocks this year stage a rebound. The S&P 500 fell 0.5% to 3,622. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 272 points, or 0.9%, to 29,639. The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.1% to end around 12,199. The blue-chip Dow booked a 12% gain in November, its largest gain since 1987. Some deal news was also in focus, with IHS Markit saying it agreed to be acquired by S&P Global Inc. Shares of both companies saw strong gains.

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