Global Market Briefing: May 5, 2003

U.S. markets moved up toward the end of the week and are approaching the upper limit of their extended trading range. Asia also rose, primarily because North Korea and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) did not seem as horrible this week as last. The Europeans went nowhere, nor did oil. The key to look for this week geopolitically: Will violence in Iraq increase dramatically, stay the same or subside? The latter two are positive; the first is negative. That will set the tone for the U.S. markets geopolitically.