Despite turmoil in European markets and growing concerns about a Chinese real estate bubble, the U.S. economic recovery continues to gather steam. Although payrolls in May rose by a disappointing 41,000 new jobs, the Labor Department this week reported that job openings hit a 16-month high in April...

The U.S. economic recovery is underway with a 3.2% increase to GDP in the first quarter, according to new data from the Commerce Department. The increase, which was in line with economists' forecasts, marked the third straight quarter of growth following the worst recession the U.S. has faced since the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve repeated its vow last week to keep interest rates low, despite the stronger economy...

Welcome back to 1997. Tiger Woods won his first green jacket at the Masters at age 21, Steve Jobs returned to the corner office at Apple, and the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 7,000 for the first time...

Recent corporate earnings announcements from companies such as General Electric (47% decline in Q4 earnings) and State Street ($800 million in earnings charges in Q4, and $9.1 billion in unrealized losses on its books) have roiled the markets and helped usher in a return of the market volatility that peaked in late November...

Economic uncertainty continues to rule the day, with the continuing market volatility and last weeks sell-off dropping major indices to five-year lows. The markets are expected to continue to fall, due to ongoing credit concerns and the anxiety surrounding the auto industry and broader economy...