What a Week: Deal-Driven

Private equity jump-started a stalled stock market this week.

A holiday-shortened week began and ended with reminders that deep-pocketed investors stand ready to tow even the market's biggest junkers to higher prices.

Given all the private equity wheeling and dealing this year, traders have come to believe there's a possible bid for any company out there, says Art Hogan, chief market analyst at Jefferies. He says that faith goes a long way to explaining how Wall Street has put the February-March market hiccup in the rearview mirror. ...