The passing of a Greek austerity measure propelled stocks up on Monday, as Apple shares closed above $500/share for the first time ever. On Tuesday, a late day rally that left stocks near the unchanged level masked early-morning disappointment over slowing US retail sales. The Dow fell nearly a percent on Wednesday, its largest loss of 2012 over continuing concern about the Greek bailout plan. Stocks made back Wednesday’s losses and more on Thursday as the Dow hit its highest mark since May 2008, buoyed by a heartening drop in US weekly jobless claims, which fell to their lowest levels since March 2008. On Friday, the Dow took another step toward the 13000 mark on a brightening view of a Greek bailout solution.

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Stocks edged down on Monday on uncertainty about austerity measures in Greece aimed at helping that country avoid a default on their debt. On Tuesday, a potential resolution to those austerity measure issues sent the Dow to its highest point since May 2008. The market was listless on Wednesday with little change, as investors ponder whether the recent rally in stock prices over the last several weeks will continue or not. On Thursday, progress in Greek austerity measures and a positive US initial unemployment claims failed to boost the major indexes beyond a very modest gain for the day. The Dow finished the week on Friday with its worst loss of 2012, an 89-point drop stoked by renewed concern over Greek debt.

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Stocks had modest losses on Monday during a relatively light trading day marked by little economic news beyond the usual Eurozone debt fears. A very profitable month of January closed on Tuesday with another modest loss. Despite the minor setback, both the S&P 500 and Dow experienced their best January since 1997. On Wednesday, news of a 170,000 increase in private sector jobs propelled stocks upward to wipe out the two previous sessions’ losses. The major indexes were mixed on Thursday following a host of both positive and negative earnings reports. On Friday stocks rocketed upward on a report showing that the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.3% from 8.5%, the lowest rate since February 2009. The NASDAQ index finished at its highest level since December 2000, at the end of the great tech bubble.

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On Monday, stocks took a break from their recent rising trend, remaining essentially unchanged as investors waited for Apple’s upcoming earnings report. The S&P 500 suffered its first losing day after six winning sessions on Tuesday, following unexciting quarterly earnings report and a report of Greek debt-relief talks reaching an impasse. After hours Tuesday, Apple released a very positive earnings report, its first since Steve Jobs stepped down. This report coupled with a statement by Fed Chair Ben Bernanke indicating that interest rates would remain low into 2014 fueled a rally on Wednesday. On Thursday, some of these gains were given back as mixed economic indicators offset good earnings reports by Caterpillar and 3M. Stocks closed the week on Friday on a down note when news surfaced that the US GDP from October to December rose at a smaller rate than was expected.

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The holiday-shortened week opened on Tuesday with a moderate gain on positive economic news from China, Germany, and the US that indicates that an economic recovery appears to be progressing, albeit at a slow rate. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 rose above the 1300 level for the first time since July, as investors cheered a rise in confidence among home builders. Stocks made it three-for-three on Thursday after news that weekly initial jobless claims dropped to their lowest levels since 2008 was released. On Friday, mixed earnings reports led to an advance in the Dow but a flat session for the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ.

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On Monday, stocks started off the week with another gain, albeit a modest one, as Alcoa kicked off the earnings season. On Tuesday, the Dow rose to its highest level since July, before the S&P US debt downgrade and debt ceiling fiasco of late summer, as Alcoa’s report of a diminished aluminum supply sparked buying. The major indexes were mixed on Wednesday, as the market failed to gain traction in light of reports indicating that Europe’s economy is slowing. On Thursday, stocks managed a small gain despite disappointing initial jobless claims, December retail sales, and business inventories reports. Threats by the S&P to downgrade several Eurozone countries sovereign debt led to a moderate sell-off on Friday.

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After the market holiday on Monday, stocks rung in the new trading year on Tuesday with a healthy 1.5% gain after news of positive international jobless and manufacturing reports became known. On Wednesday, the major indexes finished largely unchanged as liquidity issues in Europe offset optimism over auto makers reports of improved year-over-year sales. The Dow had its first losing session of 2012 on Thursday, although the losses were modest following an afternoon rally. On Friday, a 200,000 person increase in US nonfarm payrolls in December failed to spark a rally, as the market fell moderately.

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After the long holiday weekend, stocks started off the week on Tuesday by finishing essentially unchanged on low volume trading. On Wednesday, Eurozone fears drove stocks down again, with the S&P 500 dipping negative for the year once again. This flip to the negative side was reversed on Thursday on positive initial jobless claims and housing starts reports. The market ended the 2011 trading year on Friday with a modest loss. For the year, the three major indexes had different outcomes – the Dow gained, the S&P 500 was flat, and the NASDAQ lost.

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On Monday, stocks headed south again on banking worries, both home and abroad. The familiar refrain of European debt woes once again is at the root of the uncertainty in the market. The major indexes soared by 3% on Tuesday on news that US housing starts recorded their largest percentage gain in 19 months, further indicating a healing US economy. However, the strong upward surge was accomplished on thin volume. On Wednesday stocks erased an early morning loss to finish near the unchanged mark. Thursday made it three positive days in a row for the Dow, as weekly initial jobless decreased once again. The markets headed into the long holiday weekend with another solid gain on Friday, as stocks hit a 5-month high and the S&P 500 moved into positive territory for the year.

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Stocks fell sharply on Monday when Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings both stressed that last week’s Euro debt crisis summit did little to diminish the threat of future debt downgrades of several Euro countries. On Tuesday the Fed did not give any hint of upcoming quantitative easing, sending the markets down again moderately. A declining Euro put downward pressure on stocks again on Wednesday, as the Dow absorbed another 1% loss. On Thursday, stocks broke their losing streak on news that the US initial jobless claims is at its lowest since May 2008. While stocks started out high on Friday on a positive US inflation gauge report, these gains were wiped out by the end of the day on news that Fitch ratings put six European countries on debt downgrade alert.

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