Friday

U.S. stocks rose today, snapping three days of losses, but benchmark indexes still posted their biggest weekly drops of the year. Today's modest climb shaved off only a portion of the week's losses after anxiety over the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa sent oil prices to their highest levels in more than two years. Stocks got a mild lift from the Thomson/Reuters University of Michigan consumer-sentiment index, which rose to its highest level in three years. DJIA +61.95 Nasdaq +43.15 S&P 500 +13.78.

Thursday

Stocks extended their losses to a third straight session as investors continued to fret over turmoil in Libya and how the resulting surge in oil prices might impact the U.S. economic recovery. However, U.S. stocks pared their declines in the afternoon as crude oil futures fell amid uncertainty surrounding Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's hold on power. U.S. economic data came in mixed. Initial jobless claims fell more than expected, while durable-goods orders rose more than expected in January. DJIA -37.28 Nasdaq +14.91 S&P 500 -1.30.

Tuesday

The stock market plummeted today in its biggest drop of the year as escalating tensions in the Middle East and North Africa sent oil prices soaring. Wal-Mart Stores weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, sliding 3.1%. Even after the retailer's fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 27%, capitalizing on strength in its international business, its U.S. operations continued to struggle. Energy components were among the Dow's few stocks to gain today as oil prices surged. Chevron gained 1.6%, while Exxon Mobil rose 1.1%. DJIA -178.76 Nasdaq -77.53 S&P 500 -27.57.

Friday

Stocks climbed to two-and-a-half-year highs today, extending their winning streak to a third consecutive week, as the market's upward momentum helped outweigh unrest in the Middle East and another round of tightening in China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its ascent, rising .6% for the day and 1% for the week. The Nasdaq Composite climbed .1% to its highest close since October 2007. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 added .2% for its highest close since June 2008. DJIA +73.11 Nasdaq +2.37 S&P 500 +2.58.

Thursday

Stocks finished higher after a white-hot reading from mid-Atlantic manufacturers outweighed higher-than-expected jobless claims and a rise in U.S. consumer prices. A day after investors pushed the S&P 500 to twice its financial-crisis low, the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a fresh two-and-a-half year high as it rose .24%. Energy and materials stocks led the S&P 500 higher, while Coca-Cola and Dupont led the Dow. DJIA +29.97 Nasdaq +6.02 S&P 500 +4.11.

Tuesday

Stocks fell today after the latest round of economic data added to investors' inflation worries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped .34%, its biggest one-day decline since January 28. Exxon Mobil led the Dow's decline with a drop of $1.94. The oil giant said it added 3.5 million barrels of oil equivalent, led by natural-gas projects, to its proved reserves last year, replacing more than 200% of its production for 2010. Because the report showed Exxon finding far less oil than natural gas, it was seen as a sign that the company could be heading towards a less profitable business model. DJIA -41.55 Nasdaq -12.83 S&P 500 -4.31.

Tuesday

For the first time in over two years, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 12,000 as bellwether earnings and encouraging manufacturing data overshadowed fears about the protests in the Middle East. Boosting the Dow, Pfizer rose 5.5% after its fourth-quarter profit more than tripled from a year earlier. The market's climb this week erased the sell-off that came Friday as protests in Egypt intensified. DJIA +148.23 Nasdaq +51.11 S&P 500 +21.47.