The U.S. markets were able to shrug off international and domestic political discourse and rose for the third consecutive week.  Fears of inflation continued to haunt the markets, but rising oil and food prices were overlooked.  Commodities rallied Monday and gave a boost to energy giants, Exxon and Chevron which rose 2.5% and 1.3%, respectively.  However, the US markets were mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 5 points and the S&P 500 gaining 3 points.  The S&P 500 closed 97% higher Monday than its low point, two years earlier, in March of 2009.  The NASDAQ Composite Index witnessed its highest close since November of 2006. Globally, a strong trade report out of China lifted Asian markets, while Europe was dragged down by continued banking woes.

The aforementioned inflation fears crept into the market on Tuesday and the Dow Jones Industrials lost 42 points. Economic data showed US import prices rising more than expected …

Global markets remained unsettled with continuing news out of Libya of heightened unrest.  While the market was closed Monday for Presidents Day, that didn’t stop Mideast turmoil which gave traders an excuse to sell into Tuesday. After a day of heavy trading the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 178 points.  While the large oil company components of the Dow rode the oil wave higher, Wal-Mart was the drag with a loss of 3% Tuesday after fourth quarter profits came in lower than expected. Chevron and Exxon both rose over 1% as NYMEX oil prices for March delivery gained 8.6% or $7.37 a barrel over the previous Friday’s close.

Negative sentiment continued to surround equity markets on Wednesday with the Dow falling another 107 points.  US oil prices touched $100 for the first time since October 2008 but ended the day at …

Overall the banks and thrifts outpaced the broader markets in trading this past week.  The S&P 500 rose 1.4% to close at 1,329, while the SNL Bank & Thrift Index rose 2.9%.  With much celebration, Mr. Mubarak resigned as President of Egypt. On the M&A front, NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Borse are in merger discussions; Ensco is purchasing Pride International and Danaher is buying Beckman Coulter.  Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market –A Report to Congress was released on Friday and some argue that there are not enough details, but the overall takeaway is a call for less government involvement in the mortgage market which stood at $5.6T for both Fannie and Freddie, at the end of the 3Q10.  Four banks …

Equity markets had another solid week with all the major indices on the upside.  Monday’s market brought a positive conclusion to January even in the midst of geopolitical turmoil in Egypt.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 11891.93 or a gain of 2.7% for the month which represented the first advance for the month in four years and the best month in 14 years for the DJIA.  The S&P 500 gained 2.3% in January which was the first increase since 2007. 

Most of the strength for Monday came from a strong earnings report from Exxon Mobil.  Alcoa also helped the Dow with a 2.7% increase.  Crude oil prices rose to $92 per barrel on the turmoil in Egypt.  While they are not oil producers, concerns …