U.S. stocks rise; Dow at highest level since 2007

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stocks advance Tuesday, propelling the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its highest close since late 2007, after a report indicates U.S. manufacturing expanded in April, offsetting concern about the economic recovery. See full story.

Oil futures rise after upbeat manufacturing data

Crude-oil futures settle higher, shooting to their highest in five weeks after data show U.S. manufacturing expanding at a faster pace in April. Natural gas also rallies. See full story.

The VIX in presidential election years

After a spike in volatility prior to the 2008 presidential election, the idea became popular that election years were more volatile than others. Does the data prove that to be true? See full story.

Bears of May have come to play

With a year�s worth of gains already logged in the first quarter and technical deterioration across the board it looks like the bears are poised to take control, writes Michael Kahn. See full story.

Has Apple become the market?

The idea of Apple as a �super stock,� one that is over-owned by institutional investors, and as a result, has an oversized influence on the market as a whole, is both positive and negative, but very real. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Home prices in a majority of the markets covered in Zillow�s Home Value Forecast are set to bottom this year � if they haven�t already, according to a Zillow report released on Wednesday. See full story.