Market's best start since 1998

For the stock market, the first three months of 2012 delivered its best performance in 14 years. 

The three main indices started the year already at their high points since the recession began in 2008. In 2012 so far, they've kept on climbing.

As of Friday's close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 8.1 percent since Jan. 1. The NASDAQ composite has gained 18.7 percent.  And the S&P 500 is up 12 percent. If kept up for a whole year, which is unlikely, the increases would be 32, 75 and nearly 50 percent.

And these increases have been rather steady day to day. Of the 62 trading days so far, 37 have been gainers, only 25 losers.