Weekly Wrap-Up and The Week Ahead

Chalk Another One Up for the Bulls

While Friday’s session saw some rather mixed action, the week was another positive one for the Bulls with the major indices ending up.

On Friday stocks initially moved higher after the Department of Labor reported that fewer jobs were lost than expected. But shortly thereafter the market began to slip – and the day ended with the Dow Jones Industrials higher by nearly 13 points, but the Nasdaq lost 0.60 and the S&P 500 lost 2.37 points. Industrials and emerging market stocks fared well. Financials, semiconductors and retail stocks exhibited weakness. And crude oil futures closed down with the stronger $USD.

With the quarter ending in three weeks, it seems likely that the market might enjoy some support as money managers look to add exposure and impress. But it is always prudent to keep a sharp eye on the market – and maintain vigilance.