NEW YORK (MarketWatch) � U.S. stocks on Friday netted their biggest first-quarter rise in more than a decade.
The S&P 500�s SPX �12% rise would represent �a stunning year, and is even more so as a quarter. But I do think it�s a comeback from an underexposed level for institutions; they were so scared they were hiding in defensive issues, and are now looking for opportunities to make money and not just hide. That shift alone has also helped move markets higher,� said Marc Pado, U.S. market strategist at DowBull.com.
Up 8.1% for the quarter, the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA � also sealed its best first-quarter point gain in its history.
The Nasdaq Composite COMP � rose nearly 19% for the first quarter.
Also, please watch our Week Ahead videos:
U.S. Week Ahead: March Jobless Rate
Europe Week Ahead: Air Traffic, PMIs & Payrolls
Greg Morcroft, assistant managing editor
Apple supplier Foxconn! agrees to changes
Apple Inc. AAPL �supplier Foxconn Technology Group has made �ground-breaking commitments� to improve working conditions at three factories where the computing giant�s products are made, an auditor said Thursday. The Fair Labor Association, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group focused on workers� rights, said it found �significant issues with working conditions� at three China factories operated by Foxconn, a major Apple partner. Apple�s popular iPhone and iPad products are manufactured at the facilities. Read about Apple supplier practices on MarketWatch
A quarter to remember for global stocks
You know it�s been a wild quarter for equities when the topper is the public debut of a mac n� cheese specialist that will rival anything Facebook can throw at it. Yet the near doubling in shares of organic food maker Annie�s Inc. BNNY � shares this week helped close out a quarter that defied almost all expectations, from the most bearish of euro skeptics to the most hopeful of easy money disciples. Anyone ready to double down for the second quarter? Didn�t think so. Read Dave Callaway commentary on wild first-quarter for global markets, on MarketWatch
Feeling bearish? Try these 3 ETFs
We all know that old line about climbing the �wall of worry� and how sometimes the market can be resilient to doubters and bad headlines. However, many traders out there right now worry that even if an economic shock isn�t in the works, that the market is just plain overextended � running to far, too fast. If you�! re in th e bearish camp, don�t feel like you have to go to cash and get defensive. The fact is that a number of ETFs can help you easily play the market�s downside. Read MarketWatch to find three ETFs for the bears
Best Buy�s moves meet with investor skepticism
Best Buy Co. BBY �, the largest U.S. electronics chain, swung to a fourth-quarter loss, hurt by charges and lower sales of notebook computers and televisions.In moves to better combat the changing electronics retail market, the company also said on Thursday it plans to shut 50 of its unprofitable big-box stores this year while opening 100 of its smaller Best Buy Mobile locations as it targets $800 million in planned cost reductions by fiscal 2015. In a 90-minute conference call with analysts, Best Buy�s Chief Executive Brian Dunn said he�s disappointed with the company�s performance and unveiled a set of actions that he said will benefit results in a market where traditional electronics sales, still the company�s bread and butter, will likely decline again this year. Read MarketWatch coverage of Best Buy�s fourth-quarter woes
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