*from www.money.cnn.com, Mar. 28, 2013 (To view original article click here.)
Take Away #1: The S&P 500 gained 5 points inching above its record closing high.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The S&P 500 rose as high as 1,568.30 on Thursday to break past its record closing high.
- The S&P 500 reached a record closing high of 1,565.15 October of 2007, a level which has acted as a significant resistance point in recent weeks.
Take Away #2: Despite the new milestone, trading was relatively calm as investors monitored the ongoing crisis in Cyprus and mulled over new economic data in the United States.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were up between 0.2% and 0.3%.
- Volume was low ahead of Good Friday, markets will be closed in the United States and most of Europe Friday.
Take Away #3: Stocks see significant rallies in the first quarter of 2013.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The Dow has been trading at record highs since early March and is up more than 11%.
- The Dow is poised to book its best first quarter since 1998.
- The S&P 500 is up nearly 10%.
- The Nasdaq is up 8%.
Take Away #4: The biggest gains were logged in January, but March has been a solid month for stocks as well.
Key Facts and Figures:
- All three indexes are up more than 3%.
- Stocks continued to rally this week, which is shortened by the holiday, despite Cyprus concerns.
- The Dow is up 0.3% for the week.
- The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are up about 0.6% for the week.
Take Away #5: Despite the big run-up this year, experts argue that valuations remain attractive for U.S. stocks.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The S&P 500 is trading at just 16 times 2012 earnings.
- At its all-time high in October 2007, the S&P 500’s valuation was just above 17 times profits for the past 12 months.
- Based on earnings projections, stocks appear reasonably valued as the S&P 500 is trading at just 14 times 2013 estimates.
*To view original article from www.money.cnn.com click here.