The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & poor's 500 index edged lower on Monday as investors waited on more information about the Federal Reserve's economic stimulus program.

John Whitefoot: Despite the record run of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) and S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX), many investors continue to sit on the sidelines, preferring capital preservation to wealth creation.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) is up 35 points, or 0.2%, to 15,370.76, as investors await Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's Congressional testimony tomorrow.

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) LONDON -- Stock index futures at 7 a.m. EDT indicate that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow Jones Indices:.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is modestly lower ahead of the bell, as stocks take a breather from their quest for new highs.

John Whitefoot: It's been strange watching the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) and S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) continue to march higher for the last few months, moving in direct contrast to the underlying economic indicators.

The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index ended higher for a fourth straight week. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 121.18 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 15,354.40. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 15.65, or 1 ...

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 27 points to 15,091, a decline of 0.2 percent, shortly after the market opened Monday.

Wall Street was one of the biggest cheerleaders back then, with some calling for the Dow to target 20,000. Sounds a bit familiar, don't you agree?

What does all that mean to the average investor? At this point not much, in part because (as the BofA/ML report points out) .... What follows is basically my outline of why I think so far the industry has avoided the pitfalls that it’s being accused ...