U.S. Stocks Rise for Week on GDP Report; DuPont, Verizon Climb

Stocks in the US rose this week which sparked the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to its first such gain in the month of October. Many event and activities have sparked this growth including companies such as DuPont Co., Verizon Communications Inc., and Merck & Co., due to their better than expected quarterly earnings. October has represented a decline in the market as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The rumor of rising inflation and the rising price of oil, have also been responsible for the slow month. Major events that have had positive effects on the market have come more recently. Politics has influenced the market in a positive manor in recent days, as President Bush recently named Ben Bernanke chief economist. How does long-term and short-term behavior affect the stock market? Why do outside forces alter the market environment? How do those outside forces affect long-term and short-term decisions?