The markets in the United States ended the week on a mixed note after a flurry of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) helped offset weakness spurred by a lower than expected fourth quarter GDP reading, with the Russell 2000 jumping 1.11% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.26%. Over the past week, economic indicators saw consumer confidence jumping more than what was expected to 76.3, but business inventories coming in less than expected, signaling a potential disconnect.

Foreign markets were also largely mixed this week. Britain’s FTSE 100 jumped more than 1%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.16% and China’s Xinhua China 25 jumped about 1%. Traders in these markets remain focused on the future monetary policy action in Japan, the central bank policy changes in the Bank of England and the potential improvements in China’s market following an economic pick-up after reaching a 13-year low in ...