Ben Crowe, CFP®, CFA, CPA, and K.C. Smith, CFP®, join hosts Matt Hames, CFTA, and Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, to discuss the market’s performance, news in mergers and acquisitions, and oil prices. Energy stocks weighed heavily on the markets Monday with a dip in crude oil prices. Industrial production also decreased by 0.2% for May. Tuesday brought mixed news from the housing market. U.S. housing starts decreased 11.1% in May to an annual rate of 1.04 million, from a revised 1.17 million in April. Applications for new construction permits jumped 11.8% to a 1.28 million unit rate, marking its highest point since August 2007. Midweek saw the markets advance on Federal Reserve news, although commentary from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting showed little change. The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and said economic activity is expanding moderately. The central bank reduced its GDP forecast for the year to 1.8%—2.0%. On Thursday, the NASDAQ traded up to a new record level. Labor Department data showed a jump in consumer prices for May. The Consumer Price Index ticked up 0.4% versus estimates for an increase of 0.5%. The core CPI, which discounts food and energy, rose 0.1%, shy of forecasts of a 0.2% gain. On Friday, concerns over Greek debt weighed on the markets.