Stocks gained more than 1% last week and continue to march to record highs. Some key psychological levels are in sight. But will the market keep climbing? That may depend on more news from the Federal Reserve and how much consumers are spending.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is closing in on 16,000, while the S&P 500 is inching toward 1,800. The tech-heavy Nasdaq is nearing 4,000, a level not seen since September 2000, just months after the tech market collapsed.
Ongoing stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve have fueled the bull market for the past several years, and investors were encouraged last week by comments from Janet Yellen, President Obama's nominee to be the next Fed chair. Yellen, who may be confirmed by the Senate as soon as this week, told the Senate Banking Committee the Fed will continue to support the economic recovery.
She added that the Fed's $85-billion-per-month bond-buying program still has the power to help reduce unemployment.
The Fed will remain in the spotlight this week, as investors parse through minutes from the central bank's last meeting in late October.
Related: The strangest bull market ever
The Dow is up more than 20% this year while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq have gained more than 25% and 30% respectively. That has raised questions about whether stocks are overvalued. But Yellen assured lawmakers that she's not seeing any major bubbles forming.
Data seems to support that. The S&P 500 is trading at 17 times earnings from last year, just slightly above the historical average of 16, according to Bank of America (BAC) Merrill Lynch.
In the bubble days of 2000, the index was trading at nearly 30 times trailing earnings. And analysts expect earnings will continue to grow next year, which should justify further increases in the broader stock market.
Consumers in focus: Investors will be paying particularly close attention to a slew of earnings reports from some of the nation's largest retailers to get a fresh pulse on how consumers are feeling with the holiday shopping season just around the corner.
Last week, investors received a mixed bag of results from three top retailers. Macy's (M) blew away forecasts but Wal-Mart (WMT) and Kohl's (KSS) both issued disappointing guidance.
Best Buy (BBY) and J.C. Penney (JCP), both of which are in the middle of turnaround plans, are among the first to report next week.
Investors are encouraged by the signs of life from Best Buy. They've sent shares of the once ailing electronics retailer up nearly 270% so far this year, making it the second best-performing stock in the S&P 500, just after Netflix (NFLX). It is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday.
And even though J.C. Penney is expected on Wednesday to report a wider loss than a year ago and another drop in sales, the stock has rallied lately on hopes the worst is over. Several hedge funds have also bought stakes in J.C. Penney lately, another sign that the stock may have bottomed.
Related: CNNMoney's Fear & Greed Index
Struggling teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), which is among the worst-performing stocks of the year, is also on tap to report earnings. The company already warned of a big sales decline.
Target (TGT), Gap (GPS) and Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works parent L Brands (LTD) are reporting their latest results this week as well.
Earnings from off-price leaders Ross (ROST) and TJX (TJX), owner of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, as well as discount chain Dollar Tree (DLTR), could show that consumers are continuing to gravitate to retailers that offer the biggest bargains.
Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW) are also scheduled to report earnings. Results from these two home improvement retailers are a key gauge of the housing recovery, which has helped boost the economy this year.
The Census Bureau will release October figures for retail sales on Wednesday.
