Stocks kicked off the week on Monday with renewed fear on European debt and the state of Europe’s economy, as the Dow dropped 100 points. Tuesday was a good day for blue chip stocks, but a poor day for tech stocks, as Apple weighed down the NASDAQ index to give that index its fifth consecutive loss. This downturn in Apple and the NASDAQ was quickly reversed on Wednesday, with an encouraging earnings report by Apple. A reassuring statement by Fed chief Ben Bernanke that interest rates will remain low also gave a boost to the market in general. On Thursday, stocks rose again despite a disappointing US jobs report. Stocks closed the week on Friday with another gain following several solid earnings reports, most notably by Amazon.

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The Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 finished with an unusual 1.4% spread on Monday, as the Dow reacted well to a positive retail sales report, while Apple dragged down tech stocks. On Tuesday all the major indexes soared following a successful Spanish bond sale that indicates that the beleaguered European country will not need a bailout. The market gave back some of these gains on Wednesday after earnings reports from tech giants IBM and Intel disappointed investors. On Thursday the downturn continued when US labor, housing, and manufacturing reports did not meet expectations. Stocks wrapped up the week on Friday with another split decision as good earnings reports from GE and Microsoft propelled the Dow upward, while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 lagged.

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On Monday, stocks experienced a fourth consecutive day of losses as fall-out from the disappointing US jobs report the previous Friday manifested itself after the market holiday. The decline snowballed on Tuesday, with the Dow sliding over 200 points, as investors wonder how much longer the 2012 rally can last. On Wednesday, the slump finally ended on a very good start to the first quarter earnings season by Alcoa. The market roared back on Thursday on renewed expectations that the Fed might try to stimulate the economy with additional quantitative easing. Stocks closed the week on Friday on a down note with another triple digit loss for the Dow, this decline spurred by reports of a slowing economy in China.

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The upward trek of the markets continued on Monday, as the Dow logged its highest close since December 2007 on positive manufacturing and employment news. On Tuesday, stocks fell modestly when Fed Chair Bernanke failed to indicate that any economic stimulus was in the works. The US markets followed the European markets down on Wednesday following a disappointing Spanish bond auction. The major indexes ended the holiday-shortened week on Thursday mixed, with the tech heavy NASDAQ recording a gain while most of the other indexes experienced a modest loss. US markets were closed on Friday in observance of Good Friday.

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The major indexes gained more than one percent on Monday following remarks by Fed Chair Ben Bernanke that low interest rates will most likely remain for the foreseeable future to combat high unemployment. The S&P 500 hit a 4-year high. On Tuesday, the upward momentum could not be maintained despite expected consumer confidence and home price reports, as stock prices slid moderately. The slide continued on Wednesday as a US durable goods report failed to live up to expectations that the US economy is recovering. On Thursday, the indexes finished mixed as a revised US GDP report for the fourth quarter of 2011 failed to inspire buyers. Stocks closed the week and the first quarter of 2012 on Friday on another upnote, as the Dow finished Q1 with an 8.1% gain, its largest first quarter gain of a year since 1998. The tech-heavy NASDAQ recorded a 19% first quarter gain, its highest since 1991. The S&P 500 logged a 12% gain.

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On Monday, the markets finish positive following news that Apple will give a a $2.65/share dividend, as well as buy back $10 billion in shares. US home builders’ confidence also hit a five-year high, signaling that faith in the housing market may be returning. These gains were surrendered on Tuesday on concerns that China’s economy may be slowing. On Wednesday, another modest loss followed from news that existing home sales had dipped unexpectedly. Disappointing European and Chinese manufacturing reports sent the Dow to a third consecutive loss on Thursday. On Friday, the markets rebounded despite US new homes sales falling for the second month in a row. Still, the Dow and S&P 500 finished with their largest weekly loss of 2012.

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Stocks finished largely unchanged on Monday, with little news to push the markets one way or another. On Tuesday, the NASDAQ index closed above the 3000 mark for the first time since late 2000, as good retail, Fed, and banking news simultaneously sent stock prices soaring. The Dow scored its sixth consecutive gain on Wednesday and hit a four-year high on an otherwise uneventful day. Another milestone was passed on Thursday when the S&P 500 closed above 1400 for the first time since June 2008. On Friday the Dow broke its seven session winning streak by closing with a small loss. Still, it was a very good week for stocks.

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Signs of an economic slowdown in China and Europe put a damper on the 2012 rally on Monday, with the three major indexes all finishing down varying degrees. On Tuesday the downturn accelerated, with the Dow losing 200 points on Greek debt concerns. Stocks gained back some of Tuesday’s losses on Wednesday on improving news of Greece’s debt swap and hints from the Fed that they are considering a bond-buying stimulus program. On Thursday, a larger than expected rise in new weekly initial jobless claims failed to hold stocks down, as they registered another solid gain. The market closed the week on Friday with a three day win streak, as the US unemployment rate stayed steady at 8.3%.

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The Dow once again failed to close above the elusive 13000 mark on Monday, despite positive housing and manufacturing reports. On Tuesday, this psychological barrier was broken, as the Dow finished above 13000 for the first time since May 2008. Stocks pulled back on Wednesday following Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke’s comment that the economic rebound in the US was “uneven and modest”, while at the same time not giving any indication of a third round of quantitative easing to stimulate growth. On Thursday, a drop in initial weekly jobless claims gave stocks a boost, although an unconfirmed and ultimately untrue report that an explosion in Saudi Arabia destroyed pipelines detracted from the day’s gain. Stocks finished the week on Friday with modest losses on a slow economic news day.

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Following the market holiday on Monday, stocks opened on Tuesday with minimal gains, with the Dow surpassing the 13000 mark for the first time in four years before finishing the day slightly below this milestone mark. On Wednesday, the major indexes faltered slightly, as the details over the second Greek bailout became known. The Dow flirted with the 13000 mark once again on Thursday, as initial weekly jobless claims remained steady, while its four-week moving average dropped to its lowest level in four years. Stocks finished the week on Friday largely unchanged as the volatility that plagued 2011 seems to to have diminished in 2012. Still, the S&P 500 managed to close at a nearly four year high.

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