MarketWatch Stock Talk

Wall Street's yearend gains are more than just seasonal says Brent Schutte, senior investment strategist & portfolio manager at BMO Global Asset Management. He says recent economic data offer "a pretty good backdrop" for equity markets.

The stock market is looking good going into 2015, says Brian Peery, co-portfolio manager at Hennessy Funds. He says 2014 exceeded his expectations. Peery sees gains of 8 to 12 per cent for stocks in 2015 with continued volatility.

Stocks are modestly higher as trading slows ahead of Christmas. Chief investment strategist Andy Zimmerman at DT Investment Partners says stocks remain in an "unloved bull market" with investors jumping "from selling panics to buying panics."

Volatility this month has been "breathtaking," says portfolio manager Riad Younes at R Squared Capital Management. He cites a "perfect storm" of uncertainties surrounding the Fed and overseas markets, along with plunging oil prices.

Liz Miller of Summit Place Financial Advisors says Wall Street's been overly emotional these past couple of weeks, and that includes the response to the Federal Reserve this week.