i'm bill griffeth in for tyler mathisen. >> i'm susie gharib. what a way to kick off a new week on wall street. stocks rallied with the s&p 500 even setting a new record high. investors were in a bullish mood thanks to optimism over the latest round of corporate deal making including netflix striking a deal with comcast. we'll talk more about that subject in a few minutes. now, here is a look at the closing numbers on wall street today. the dow rose 104 points, up almost 200 points but pulled back. the nasdaq added 29 and s&p gained 11 points to 1847. >>> now that the average is on pace to end the month of february higher, the national association for business economics is wondering whether stocks will climb if economic growth slows down. steve liesman as more on why those experts are worried about a possible slow down in the economy and what could happen next. >> reporter: an economy is like a car engine. when everything works perfectly, there is a speed that can core ream the car down the road. the latest is that something isn't working right.

i'm bill griffeth. tyler mathisen is off again tonight. >> good evening from me as well. i'm susie gharib. american businesses didn't do much hiring in january, only 113,000 new jobs were added to payrolls. the words used to describe today's jobs report, disappointing, anemic, and even awful. but wall street saw a brighter side saying it wasn't so terrible. after all, the unemployment rate fell one notch to 6.6%. surprisingly, stocks rallied, closing positive on a week that started with the dow plunging 300 points on monday. here's a look at today's closing digits. the dow up 165 points, nasdaq surged by 6 and the s & p added 23. hampton pearson takes a closer look at this latest jobs report and some encouraging trends behind the numbers. >> for a second straight month, leading economists and market analysts didn't know what to make of a government report telling two different stories about the job market. employers added fewer workers to payrolls than expected, but the unemployment rate dropped again. >> i think it's a lot of weather still in this number. in the 30,000 d

. >> and i'm bill griffeth. look forward to an interview. >>> meantime soothing words today from janet yellen, new chair of the federal reserve to testified today before the senate banking committee about the strength of the u.s. economy right now. that sent the s&p 500 to a new record closing high today. ms. yellen told lawmakers and wall street that she is staying the course right now. she will continue to taper back on the central bank's asset buying stimulus program and keep record low interest rates right where they are. but she's also keeping an eye on whether the winter unrelenting snow and bitterly cold temperatures have been responsible for the slowdown in job growth and consumer spending that we've seen, or if they're indicate of a larger long-term problem in the economy. the new fed chair is cautious in her long-term forecast for the economy. steve liesman has more on ms. yellen's appearance on capitol hill today, what she said that wall street liked and where she sees the economy heading next. . the

bill griffeth is my partner. >> i'm back. three sectors beeing the weakes. today among the strongest. look at that. consumer discretionaries, and industrials, materials, that kind of volatility this new year in 2014. and now, of course, we've got the jobs report coming out tomorrow. at this point the consensus says we'll get about 189,000 net new jobs created, non-farm payroll jobs in january. jeff "killer ke ke -- what do you think? >> get in that number, we'll see tick up. you hit the nail on the head. volatility is in vogue. we've seen volatility any 2012. today a great rally down here at the nyse. went down the all-time high. blew through on the way up. support. boom, on the money. snis a gift those folks scratching their heads in january, this is a gift to book the profits and own vol taitati >> you think the market could sell off even way big number tomorrow? >> potentially. and tomorrow the truth serum comes out and this market is trending lower. out last night as a "worth" magazine convenient. all advisers had shared sentiment we'll trend lower but a

bill griffeth, what's coming up? >> keep it all in the family for sure, brine.ast and time warner. first, former time warner ceo rarely gives interviews. his take on this merger. then two top former regulators weigh in on whether this deal will be approved, and one of these former regulators thinks it may already be dead on arrival. >>> also, more earnings. aig set to report numbers after the bell. tonight the ceo joins us to break down the numbers in a first on cnbc interview. kelly evans and i look forward to seeing you at the top of the hour for "closing bell." we'll see you then. there are trading opportunities tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 just waiting to be found. tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 at schwab, we're here to help tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 bring what inspires you tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 out there... in here. tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 out there, tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 there are stocks on the move. tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 in here, streetsmart edge has tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 chart pattern recognition tdd#: 1-888-648-6021 which shows you which ones are bullish or bearish. tdd#: 1-888-648-

i'm kelly evans with bill griffeth. >> we're back together again, at least for one day. got something else going on tomorrow. after the bottom really

i'm bill griffeth back here at cnbc global headquarters.seems to have a case of monday blues. the s&p 500 is close, we're not there now, but we're close to an all-time high on a closing basis. the gains have been impressive across

. >> and i'm bill griffeth. again, here we go again.his hour we're on all-time high watch for the standard & poor's 500 index, just like we were yesterday. it wouldn't take much to get it done from the previous closing record of 1,84.

i'm bill griffeth.back all of those gains and then some. we were down 50 for a time. the atlanta fed president one of the reasons, dennis lockhart saying he could see a rate increase, not the tapering, an actual rate increase, by mid-2015, but the blue chips are

. >> i'm bill griffeth here at snowy cnbc global world headquarters. you thought it was going to be over in january, it's not. in fact, it has intensified just in the last few minutes here on what has been a down day

. >> and i'm bill griffeth. we're watching a market searching for direction today.ortened trading week, and these are some of the stories we're watching. the housing data, the home builders sentiment was the worst on record. the biggest decline we've ever seen. i mean, do you think they've got cabin fever or what? is this all about the weather or is there something else brewing in the housing market? we'll look at that and break down some of the numbers and what they

that would make me bill griffeth. today is one of those days we don't have -- look at that.changed. just for a moment there it was -- we were right where we started the day for the dow jones industrial average. no triple digit move as we had last week with all that mega volatility.

. >> i'm bill griffeth. we have some action right now.t we would end the week, the month on a high note but stocks are losing altitude. the talk on the floor is about the situation between russia and ukraine. the acting president of ukraine is imploring

i'm bill griffeth.f a correction seem to be fading by the hour right now, at least in the near term right now. the weather

bill griffeth. bad weather seems to be following him around the country. >> you noticed that did you? >> yeah yeah. not appreciative of that nor the fact that take a look at markets at this juncture. it is an ugly start for the second straight month here. the dow is giving up more than 300 points at the lows of the session. one of the weakest starts for the s&p and the big blue chips, bill in terms of percent since 1982. >>> all right. still to come maybe this horrible market can help young brands if people are eating comfort food like chicken wings and nachos and pizza. that could help companies' body line. we'll have them after the bell. >>> also going to have more on today's dramatic sell-off and where markets are heading next when that final bell rings in 20 minutes. keep it right here. you're watching cnbc, first in business worldwide. in a world that's changing we'll have them after the bell. ining the competition tomorrow requires challenging your business inside and out today. at cognizant w

. >> and i'm bill griffeth here at cnbc global headquarters. here we go again.g with all-time highs. for a time we were two or three points above the old closing high and we have a late day sell-off that seems to be spoiling the party.

. >> i'm bill griffeth. we have some action right now. we thought we would end the week, the month on a high note but stocks are losing altitude. the talk on the floor is about the situation between russia and ukraine. the acting president of ukraine is imploring vladimir putin not to intervene with his country right now and that seems to have taken the wind out of the sails. the dow was up 125 points at its peak today, and now up just 27, and the nasdaq has turned negative. >> the s&p 500 in danger of reversing as well. we'll keep an eye on that closely. yesterday we put in the new closing high for the s&p 500 at 1848. today it looks that could be called into question. of course, the nasdaq, and this, bill, will be the question, was losing some steam even before this round -- >> biotech was pulling back. >> all of that we'll get into. if 2013 was the year of the activist investor, is 2014 the year they're overplaying their hand? there's been pushback against the likes of carl icahn and nelson peltz. sometimes even blistering public criti

i'm bill griffeth back here at cnbc global headquarters. on wall street nobody seems to have a case of monday blues. the s&p 500 is close, we're not there now, but we're close to an all-time high on a closing basis. the gains have been impressive across the board to start this week off. i guess we're reversing some of what we did last week with the expiration. >> bill, the question which we'll get to in one second is why. so here is where we stand in markets right now. the dow is up 161 points. the s&p 500 adding about 18 to 1854. if we hold, there will be a new record closing high. the nasdaq up 40 points above the 4,300 level at this hour, bill. >> let's ask that why question you posed. get to our closing bell exchange. our round table includes patti edwards from u.s. bank, quincy crosby from prudential financial, anthony chen from chase and our own rick santelli in the windy city as well. so, patti, why is the market up as much as -- the dow was up 190 points at the its peak today. why is the s&p near all-time high territory? >> we're ge

that would make me bill griffeth. today is one of those days we don't have -- look at that. look at that. it's unchanged. just for a moment there it was -- we were right where we started the day for the dow jones industrial average. no triple digit move as we had last week with all that mega volatility. things calming down a bit as we get ready for the testimony of janet yellen, her first testimony to congress tomorrow before the house financial services committee. so we're in sort of a wait and see mode today. >> certainly are. meanwhile, what a mess over at aol. the ceo now apologizing for citing the cost of providing insurance for, quote, distressed babies and plan to match 401(k) payments only at the end of the year. who should the ceo be looking out for first, his workers or shareholders? >> we'll make the payments at the end of the year or no. that was easy. also, that report that obamacare is going to cost the equivalent of over 2 million full-time jobs. that just continues to rattle washington right now. it was a big focus of the sunday morning talk showinp morning t

. >> and i'm bill griffeth here at cnbc global headquarters. here we go again. the s&p 500 flirting with all-time highs. for a time we were two or three points above the old closing high and we have a late day sell-off that seems to be spoiling the party. lucy put the football up and charlie brown is ready to kick it again he thinks. >> i thought that's what you meant by here we go again. the fact that every time we come on air it feels like the market has been losing altitude. today does that become the theme or will we be able to retest these highs, maybe break out above it as art cashin put it earlier, we'll need a close above that high for the bulls here. >> you know eventually traders will become impatient enough they will just throw in the towel. we'll see what happens here. >> and we'll also get a read of the market, economy, and banking industry with two heavy hitters on deck. gord nixon will join us exclusively along with investing legend john calamos. >> see where he finds investment opportunities. these shocking photographs from one of the richest tow

i'm kelly evans with bill griffeth. >> we're back together again, at least for one day. we've got something else going on tomorrow. after the bottom really fell out in asia last night, a lot of nerves were on edge heading into the trading day here in the united states today and the gains we got, they're not exactly anything to write home about, but it's a welcome reprieve from the run of triple digit losses that we've been suffering through. it's a cycle. so last night asia was still responding to what we did yesterday. now we're beginning a new cycle today. >> at least that's how it looks right now because take a look across markets. the dow jones industrial average adding 85 points, about a half a percent. interesting to see the s&p up about 15 points to 1757, and the nasdaq back above 4,000 after closing below that level yesterday. it's now up 42 points, 4039, adding 1% today. and, you know, bill, you have to say, if you look at what's happening with, folk, the ten-year interest rate, some headwinds we've seen in currency, not a bad way to kick off this session. >> le

. >> and i'm bill griffeth. again, here we go again. at this hour we're on all-time high watch for the standard & poor's 500 index, just like we were yesterday. it wouldn't take much to get it done from the previous closing record of 1,848.48. we're maybe two points below that. but bias for the last half hour or so has been to the downside slightly, but that could change as we go into the hour. >> and also our own jim cramer is worried. he will join us here in a couple minutes to tell us why he doesn't like some of the patterns he's seeing across the stock market, and it is changing how he's investing. find out to see what he's doing and why. >>> also, in arizona this new law that would allow businesses to deny service to gay people may never be signed by the governor because big companies are now speaking out against this law. sending letters to governor brewer. one of those companies is pushing back against the law and will join us on "the closing bell" today. >>> let's take stock of markets here. we are seeing small declines across a

. >> and i'm bill griffeth. we're watching a market searching for direction today. very mixed sort of a situation. first day of this shortened trading week, and these are some of the stories we're watching. the housing data, the home builders sentiment was the worst on record. the biggest decline we've ever seen. i mean, do you think they've got cabin fever or what? is this all about the weather or is there something else brewing in the housing market? we'll look at that and break down some of the numbers and what they mean for the economy and your money coming up. >> also, is it deja bubble all over again? people are talking about whether a new tech bubble is forming. how many times will we have this discussion? the more, bill, this activity picks up, the more people will question some of the valuations. is it a legitimate worry? is there something different this time? we'll explore this issue. >> have you ever played candy crush? >> no. >> i haven't either. >> we are no candy crush, no "house of cards." >> we're living in our own little bubble at the new york stoc

i'm bill griffeth. as the trading week nears an end, those fears of a correction seem to be fading by the hour right now, at least in the near term right now. the weather frozonomics, stocks are still marching higher. 141 points. >> the question is why do you embrace it? also, more reaction and fall out after the merger between comcast, our parent, and time warner. if that deal will be approved, it has to get past the objections of minnesota senator al franken, and he will be here to tell us why he wants the government to stop comcast from buying another large cable operator. >> forget all the flight delays and the cancellations due to the weather. it may only get worse even when there's not a cloud in the sky. why? well, there's a shortage of pilots here in the united states right now, and that could mean that you'll be paying a lot more to fly. we have a pilot here to tell us why it's happening right now and it could make you angry because it is really avoidable. >> people wondering why we're at a 25-

i'm bill griffeth. the dow rallied out of the gate up 90 points but then gave back all of those gains and then some. we were down 50 for a time. the atlanta fed president one of the reasons, dennis lockhart saying he could see a rate increase, not the tapering, an actual rate increase, by mid-2015, but the blue chips are fighting back right now. we're down 16 points as we head toward the last -- the closing bell here. >> is the fed misreading economic slack? we will hear from one economist who says they are and that it could end up hurting the economy. >> and then there are the geopolitical concerns. you saw president obama responding to the escalating violence in ukraine. there are still other hotspots around the globe, middle east, syria, south america. we're going to look at whether that could end up hurting investors right here in the u.s. >> let's take a look at markets now as we enter this final hour of trade. the dow is off by about 17 points. the s&p 500 shedding 4 or 5, and the nasdaq is negati