Weekly Roundup: MarketWatch's top 10 stories, May 27 - 31

	Weekly Roundup MAY 31, 2013 MarketWatch's top 10 stories, May 27 - 31 By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — U.S. stock markets hiccupped this week, but still finished the month with healthy gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell 208.96 points or 1.4% to close on Friday at 15,115.57. For the week the index is down 1.2%. The Nasdaq Composite Index (COMP) dropped 35.38 points or 1% to close at 3,455.91, while notching a 0.1% loss for the week. Meanwhile the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index (SPX) fell 23.67 or 1.4% on Friday to close at 1,630.74. For the week the benchmark index lost 1.1%. Stay tuned to MarketWatch all through the weekend as we cover the news and give you all the information you need to organize your portfolio and your life. You should also check out our comprehensive retirement section for all the latest on how to set up your post-work life. Meanwhile, please take a moment to view our Week Ahead video.  Europe's Week Ahead: ECB rates, U.S. payrolls — Christopher Noble , assistant managing editor. Are we there yet? Gasoline prices at the pump may have already reached their highest for the summer driving season, but they might not have peaked for the year, finds Myra P. Saefong. Gasoline's price peak: Are we there yet? Better than it looks After years of sluggish growth, financial markets have been selling off in recent days on fears that the economy may be strengthening too quickly. That may shock those of us who were raised to think that a prosperous economy is an unalloyed good thing, says Rex Nutting. 3 parts of the economy doing better than you think. Index funds Hedge funds — traditionally the province of wealthy investors — are increasingly available to the public via mutual funds that invest in hedge funds or follow hedge-fund-like strategies. If history is any guide, however, you will be better off investing in low-cost index funds, says Mark Hulbert. Everyman's hedge funds aren't worth it. What you'll need Retirement saving is hard to do. It's made even harder by the fact that most people cannot earn enough over a lifetime to retire safely without taking on at least some investment risk, says Mitchell Tuchman. What you need to retire and how to get there. Safety net Medicare's finances got an upgrade but the long-term prognosis for Social Security stayed the same, in the latest snapshots of the politically sensitive entitlement programs that are certain to play into Washington's coming fiscal battles. Social Security Trust Fund to run dry in 2033. GMO blues Wheat importers around the world were spooked after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it found unapproved, genetically-modified wheat in Oregon, but the U.S. market isn't showing any signs of panic yet. Who's afraid of genetically-modified wheat? Zzzzzzzzzzzz Sleep-deprived employees are increasingly likely to nod off at work. But when it comes to addressing this potential productivity and safety issue, experts say, most employers have been caught napping. More workers fall asleep on the job. Steeper is better Financial stocks were the best-performing sector in the S&P 500 in May, data shows. Along with that move, the U.S. Treasury yield curve has steepened, which analysts say is a good sign for bank profits. Nothing bankers like more than a steepening yield curve. Getting good at getting old Gerontologists increasingly like to talk about "successful aging." A skeptic could be forgiven for reacting negatively to that terminology and thinking, "I work hard all my life and now you tell me I have to excel at growing old?" 'Successful aging' protects health and wealth. Race over Another week, another round of favorable housing news. So let's stop dithering and call this race. Housing has won. The real estate bears have lost. Of course, whether you're a skeptic who hates this Federal Reserve-driven recovery or simply one of those cautious types who don't like to act hastily, it's easy to scoff at this notion, says Jeff Reeves. It's official: Housing has recovered. 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. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (updated 6/26/07). MarketWatch - Attn: Customer Service, 201 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111