The S&P 500 has tried its best to make up for lost time recently.  The stock index has gained +11.4% over the last 2 trading weeks, a performance that has been bested only 3 times since 1950.  After dropping to a bear market low on 3/09/09, the S&P 500 has bounced back with a near +45% advance (source: BTN Research).
  
Everyone in Washington had the same question for Ben Bernanke last week as the Fed Chairman testified before Congress: how will he manage the Fed's exit strategy as they ultimately unwind their extraordinary stimulus actions of the last 10 months?  Bernanke acknowledged that his biggest concern is supervising this reversal without inflicting any inflationary side effects on the US economy.  How well Bernanke performs this task may have an impact on President Obama's decision to reappoint him or not for a 2nd 4-year term as chairman.  Bernanke's current term ends on 1/31/10 or 6 months from Friday (source: Federal Reserve).
  
The nation's gross domestic product (GDP) has declined for 3 consecutive quarters through 3/31/09, a negative streak that last occurred 34 years ago.  The initial report on GDP growth or decline for the 2nd quarter will be reported on Friday.  GDP is the annual market value of all goods and services produced domestically by the US (source:  Commerce Department).