stock market outlook

The bad news is that the stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, sits at 1,131, a low point it hasn't traded near consistently since late 2009. The worse news is that there's every reason to believe it will decline further to below 900, back to levels it hit around March 2009.

The S&P 500 was up by only 4% in the first half of 2011, and it fell about 1% in the second quarter. Will it end there? A sell-off may be about to begin that would take the index lower for the full year. Here are half a dozen reasons why one of history's most impressive stock market runs may have ended.

At the start of a new week, all eyes are on Greece. E.U. finance ministers postponed agreement on a bailout until they see proof that its government will follow through on austerity measures. Meanwhile, some big U.S. firms are pushing for a generous tax holiday.

Sky-high oil prices may slow U.S. economic growth in the quarters ahead, so prudent investors may want to put some money into companies with strong international operations that can take advantage of growth elsewhere. Here are three impressive options.

President Obama has officially launched his reelection campaign and when it's time to vote again many may ask themselves whether they are better off than they were four years ago. A close look at the statistics reveals the clear winners and losers so far.

Market turbulence and economic uncertainty create fear and anxiety among investors. Unfortunately, many turn to advice freely dispensed by self-styled investment gurus -- who claim they can predict the direction of the markets or pick outperforming stocks.

The S&P 500 has nearly doubled from its post-crash lows, and small investors are finally getting off the sidelines again. Normally, that would be a danger sign for a correction, but right now, all signs point to the upward stock market trend continuing in 2011. Here's why:

If you look past the calamitous Libyan mess, there's plenty of cause for optimism at home. And investors with a longer-term view of the markets should consider the ongoing uncertainty stemming from the Middle East as a potential entry point for buying stocks.

After a few comatose years following the financial crisis, the IPO market is roaring back. And with names like Facebook and Groupon driving the rumor mill, smaller investors are wondering how to get in on the action. The answer: Carefully, thanks to the many risks.

In the long run, the changes being demanded in the Mideast may prove to be a cornerstone of further global economic growth and political stability. More immediately, though, the uprisings are likely to create exactly the type of uncertainty that investors dread.