Oil And Inflation Become New Bricks In Wall Of Worry

By Sy Harding:It's an old market maxim that the stock market often climbs a wall of worry.In the current rally the S&P 500 has gained 29% since its October low, and the wall of worry it climbed has been impressive. Reports in October showed the economic slowdown in the first half of the year worsened in July and August even as the 2nd half got underway. By November the eurozone debt crisis and fears of a potential default by Greece, and an ugly aftermath, were dominating headlines.

The Pragmatic Capitalist submits: It’s one of the favorite terms used by market commentators – “stocks climb a wall of worry”. You could easily argue that the “wall of worry” has been quite high over the last 12 months as investors appeared convinced that the global economy was imploding last March. Since then investors have steadily climbed back into stocks and out of cash and bonds as worries have slowly begun to subside.

By Keith Springer:Who woulda thunk it. The market is steam rolling forward against all odds climbing that wall of worry. Few thought it was possible, which of course is why it's happening.

I hadn't been watching things very closely the last few days, and so I was shaken to see the market drop amid concerns that the Fed was likely to end its current Quantitative Easing program. But after looking at market fundamentals, I'm reassured that this is nothing more than a "little wall of worry" in the market's long climb to new highs.

Chris Ciovacco submits: As we approach the dawn of 2011, the markets have plenty to worry about: Ongoing budget issues related to Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. Concerns about the survivability of the euro. Rising interest rates. Stubborn levels of unemployment in the U.S. Entitlement and budget issues in developed nations. The Fed’s printing press moving into unchartered waters. Rising commod

By Calafia Beach Pundit: I hadn't been watching things very closely the last few days, and so I was shaken to see the market drop amid concerns that the Fed was likely to end its current Quantitative Easing program. But after looking at market fundamentals, I'm reassured that this is nothing more than a "little wall of worry" in the market's long climb to new highs.