A Cautious Thanksgiving for Investors.

The article analyzes the trends in the U.S. stock market. On November 17, 2006, the Dow Jones industrial average rose to 12,342.5, its 18th all-time closing high since the start of October. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index hit a six-year high of 1,401.2. Both market benchmarks pulled back modestly on November 20, though the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index advanced. Stocks made their recent gains in the wake of the Federal Reserve's decision to put its 24-month interest-rate hike campaign on hold.