Now that 2013 is behind us, let’s take a look at the events that shaped markets last year and consider what may lie ahead in 2014. 2013 was the year that investors finally became confident in the economic recovery and poured their enthusiasm into equities. Despite significant volatility, stocks soared to new heights, giving the S&P 500 its best year since 1997. For the year, the S&P rose 29.6%, the Dow gained 26.5%, and the Nasdaq did best of all, growing an astonishing 38.3%.

Let’s take a look at some of the major events that shaped 2013:

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