The market’s pattern year to date in 2012 resembles the market’s action in 2011 as shown in the chart to this article. A number of the issues impacting the market this year are similar to those that impacted the markets in 2011. Last year investors had to digest the impact of the debt ceiling debate in Washington and S&P placing the government’s debt on negative watch (and subsequently issuing a one notch downgrade), weather related issues influenced commodity markets with flooding in a number of countries around the globe, including in the Midwest of the U.S. and wildfire and droughts impacted the southwestern and southeastern parts of the U.S. These events are again top of mind for investors this year.