Despite the pullback that spanned from the end of September to beginning of October, the S&P 500 posted another year of double digit returns. In fact, the total return for the index was 14.02%. That makes for 3 years in a row of double digit returns and 5 of the last 6, with the only break in that streak being the 2.11% total return posted in 2011.
To me, the most significant thing concerning the markets is the fact that U.S. Consumer Sentiment has broken out of the doldrums and is now registering positive readings. This says to me the U.S. consumer is now optimistic. Historically, this has meant good things for stocks.
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