The Dow Jones Industrial Average cracked 13,000 for the first time since the financial crisis Tuesday. The blue-chip stock index briefly eclipsed that mark in the middle of the day's trading as investors pushed the market tracker to its highest point since May 2008, before the subprime mortgage bubble burst and brought on the financial crisis. It also served as the latest indication that the economic recovery could be gaining steam, potentially buoying President Obama's reelection chances.Stocks dipped after clearing that threshold, but still retained gains by the end of the day, closing at 12,965 points. The Dow reached an all-time high of 14,066 back in October 2007/Peter Schroeder, The Hill. More here.

Question: Are you singing “Happy Days Are Hear Again” yet? Why? Why not?

The Dow Jones industrial average has closed at its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis. The Dow jumped 157 points Friday to close at 12,862. That’s the highest since May 2008. The Nasdaq composite index closed at its highest level since December 2000. Before the market opened, the Labor Department said companies hired 243,000 employees in January. That’s the strongest job growth in nine months. The increase in hiring pushed the unemployment rate down to 8.3 percent/AP. More here.

Also: Hiring surges in January, jobless rate at 8.3%/AP

Question: Are you optimistic that we're finally turning the corner to happy times again?