Stocks slide at the open
Major indexes open lower as critical holiday shopping season kicks off. U.S. markets to close early.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks opened Friday's shortened session on a weak note, as traders remained on the sidelines the day after Thanksgiving.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) and the Standard & Poor's 500 (SPX) index both lost 0.35% shortly after the opening bell. The Nasdaq composite (COMP) slid 0.9%.
U.S. financial markets were closed Thursday for Thanksgiving and will close early Friday.
Black Friday: Retailers were in focus on "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving, the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
Discounts are the deepest they've ever been this year, but many Americans have tightened their grip on their wallets and fewer shoppers are expected to hit the stores this year.
World markets: Most Asian markets finished the session higher. Indian shares rallied to close higher as trading resumed after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai that left at least 146 people dead. European shares were lower in morning trading.
Oil and money: U.S. crude for January delivery tumbled $1.51 to $52.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Trading was closed Thursday in the U.S.
The dollar was little changed versus the euro and down slightly against the yen. 
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