Stock Market

The stock market's spectacular rally since August has powered past every potential obstacle. But now the bulls' path may be blocked by an old enemy: the gas pump. Middle East revolt and the side effect of surging oil prices are threatening to finally give investors a reason to turn cautious, after share prices have spent nearly six months gliding up to multiyear highs. "If you were looking for a pullback in stocks, this certainly would be a great excuse," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank in Chicago.