The S&P 500 benchmark has cleared the 1,400 level. March 16, 2012- Recently released economic data that was better than what was estimated, has helped the S&P 500 pass the 1,400 mark. The S&P topped 1,400 for the first time in nearly 48 months, as manufacturing data from the New York region increased unexpectedly and unemployment claims dropped. The S&P 500 settled at 1,399.96 after topping the 1,400 plateau earlier in the day. The Dow Jones Average increased to 13,219.99 after its... 

The S&P 500 stayed flat through out 2011. December 31, 2011- The stock market for 2011 has closed. Friday afternoon’s session brought to an end the nerve-racking year that eventually led to nowhere. After all of the difficulties during 2011, Standard & Poor’s 500 ended the year .04 of a point from where it started January 3 of this year. Much of what took place over the course of the year was influenced by the sluggish worldwide economy and the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. Only nine...