Weekly Roundup: MarketWatch's top 10 stories, Jan. 28 - Feb. 1

	Weekly Roundup FEBRUARY 01, 2013 MarketWatch's top 10 stories, Jan. 28 - Feb. 1 By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — As Americans and football fans over the world gather in front of their TVs to watch the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Baltimore Ravens in New Orleans on Sunday, there is one factoid that investors might want to keep in mind. In 1995, when the 49ers won the Super Bowl, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both rallied 34% for the year. The last time Baltimore Ravens took home the trophy was in 2001 when they beat the New York Giants 34 to 7. But alas, the stock market did not fare so well that year in the wake of the terrorist attack on the U.S. and the S&P fell 13% while the Dow shed 7%. Aside from the star-packed halftime show and commercials that cost more to produce than some indy movies, Super Bowl XLVII also features an NFL version of family feud, pitting Coach John Harbaugh of the Ravens against his younger brother Jim, who coaches the 49ers. Pundits so far have given San Francisco an edge over Baltimore and while Ravens fans many not appreciate the reference, the S&P 500 and the Dow both have had a strong start to the year and closed out the week stronger, thanks in part to positive earnings from the likes of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO).  The Dow (DJIA) rose 149.21 points, or 1.1%, to 14,009.79, its first close above 14,000 for the first time in five years on a more optimistic outlook on the economy. The S&P 500 (SPX) index gained 15.06 points, or 1%, to 1,513.17 while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) climbed 36.97 points, or 1.2%, to 3,179.09. Check back with MarketWatch.com this weekend for real-time financial news as well as updates on Harbaugh vs Harbaugh. Meanwhile, here's a quick look ahead on what to expect next week.  MarketWatch Week Ahead: Back to Fiscal Cliff Watch  Europe Week Ahead: Focus on Trade —Sue Chang U.S. economy shrinks 0.1% in fourth quarter The U.S. economy shrank in the fourth quarter for the first time since the recession but there is no reason to panic, economists said. Gross domestic product contracted by 0.1%, compared with 3.1% growth in the third quarter, but the economy remains on path to a mild growth if unusual factors are stripped out. U.S. economy contracts 0.1% Fed to continue pumping funds into economy The Federal Reserve maintained its aggressive bond-buying policy to neutralize downside risks to the economic outlook. In a statement after a two-day meeting, the Fed said it would keep buying $85 billion a month in mortgage bonds and Treasurys. Fed maintains aggressive easing stance Five problems bigger than the national debt We've got all kinds of problems, but debt ain't one, writes MarketWatch columnist Rex Nutting. Instead, the U.S. should turn its collective attention to tackling unemployment, climate change, and the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots among others. U.S. has bigger problems than debt Facebook's spending plan under fire Facebook Inc. (FB) reported gains in fourth-quarter adjusted earnings and revenues on Wednesday that beat Wall Street's expectations but the stock still closed down for the week as the company said it would embark on a spending spree this year. Facebook plans to spend its way to success RIM unveils new BlackBerry 10 smartphones Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM) launched two new smartphones for its BlackBerry 10 platform on Wednesday and announced plans to change its name to that of its flagship brand in an effort to reinvent itself. But neither BlackBerry 10 nor the rebranding seem to have impressed the market with the stock down 26% for the week. On Monday, RIM will trade under its new ticker: BBRY RIM tries to reinvent itself Apple estimates still a problem After a beating that shaved 12% off Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) market value last week, the shares have regained some composure to close above $450 on Friday. But doubts linger over whether the company can continue to emulate its success of the past. Apple's fuzzy math J.P. Morgan and Citibank to rally more than 30% Shares of Bank of America Corp. (BAC), Citigroup Inc. (C) and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) will rise more than 30% in the next 12 months on the back of stronger economic growth, higher asset quality and better liquidity, according to outspoken analyst Dick Bove. The analyst expects strong growth for most of the banking industry and sees many banks significantly increasing their dividends. Bove predicts strong gains by big banks How you can save your Social Security Since its introduction in 1935, Social Security was the one thing Americans could count on when they retired. But that social safety net is now broke — in both figurative and literal sense — from years of mismanagement and unexpected changes in demographics. MarketWatch's Robert Powell looks at ways to tackle the Social Security crisis and fix it. Saving America's Social Security Why Silicon Valley needs immigration reform The Senate this week unveiled a blueprint to overhaul the current immigration process that among other things will pave the way for an estimated 11 million people in the country illegally to apply for citizenship. MarketWatch looks at why immigration reform is critical for a country like the U.S. which was built by immigrants who flocked here for its promise of freedom and prosperity. Why Corporate America needs immigration reform China's manufacturing improves No week is complete without a story on China, given its emerging status as an economic powerhouse. When China sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. So news that the Asian country's manufacturing activity improved last month is a relief for the U.S. which finds its economic performance inextricably linked with China's. China's manufacturing picks up Get the latest news on our mobile site: http://www.marketwatch.com/m MarketWatch has sent you this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. To ensure you receive this newsletter in the future, please add marketwatchmail.com to your list of approved senders. Sent to: kumaresan.selva.blogger@gmail.com Unsubscribe | Subscribe Copyright 2013 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. MarketWatch, the MarketWatch logo, and BigCharts are registered trademarks of MarketWatch, Inc. 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