The stock market ended last week in positive territory. All three major indexes showed gains on Thursday, the holiday week’s last day of trading. For the day, the Dow and S&P 500 each rose 0.5 percent and the Nasdaq rose 0.7 percent.

For the year, the Dow is up 19.9 percent and the Nasdaq is up 45 percent. The S&P 500, up 66 percent since posting a 12-year low in March, is showing a 24.7 percent gain for the year. Analysts expect this upward trend to carry through to the end of the year.

The four-day trading week sandwiched between two holidays most likely will mean low volume and the possibility of high volatility on Wall Street next week. Some profit-taking is to be expected in the upcoming week as portfolio managers sell their losing stocks and replace them with more profitable stocks, and that would help to maintain the market’s momentum.

Investors are counting on economic indicators to continue to reveal signs of an improving economy. On Tuesday, the index of consumer confidence for December will be released. It is expected to read at 52.3, up from November’s figure of 49.5.

On Wednesday, the Institute of Supply Management-Chicago will release its December figures for the Midwest. Analysts expect an index reading of 55, down from November’s reading of 56.1. Still, any number above 50 is indicative of economic expansion.

Thursday will bring the weekly unemployment claims figure. Last week showed a decrease in initial claims, and the unemployment rate has fallen to 10 percent from its high of 10.2 percent. Investors now are waiting anxiously for signs that job growth is resuming.

7 Stocks to Watch

AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
American Express Company (AXP)
Ball Corporation (BLL)
Intuit Inc. (INTU)
KLA-Tencor Corporation (KLAC)
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW)
Tyco Electronics Ltd. (TEL)

Dave Mecklenburg is the Editor-in-Chief of TigerSharkTrading.com.