A golden cross occurs when a market’s 50-day moving average crosses above its 200-day moving average. We believe conditions have improved since central banks have cranked up the printing presses, which means the recent “golden cross” in the S&P 500 may turn out to be golden for investors.

It was a tough year for many major corporations, but this neglected bouquet of Fortune 500 companies stood out for particularly poor performance. From a bankrupt airline to an aging camera maker, here are the biggest losers.

In a year when Europe's sovereign debt woes dominated headlines, it's no surprise that financial stocks took a beating.

As some of the uncertainties surrounding the economy lift over the course of the year, attention is bound to turn back to the fundamentals of the private sector, says Katherine Nixon, chief investment officer for the Northeast region at Northern Trust.