Stock market bulls have been mostly lazy and hazy this summer, but the bears have been having a picnic.

Ameriprise Financial Services on Friday agreed to pay more than $17 million to settle federal regulators' charges that it failed to disclose nearly $31 million received for selling certain investments to its brokerage customers.

The uptrend in stock markets which started after they hit their lows in March has ended, Royce Tostrams, technical analyst at Tostrams Groep said Friday.

The yen gained this week as the dollar's status as a global reserve currency came under scrutiny as China called for reform of the reserve currency system at a meeting of world leaders on Thursday. Experts tell CNBC the diversification debate will put pressure on the dollar in the long term.

Global stocks were lower Friday after Chevron's downbeat earnings outlook dragged oil prices and energy stocks down. Concerns about a global economic recovery have also dominated trade this week. Experts tell CNBC that the various stimulus packages have boosted the risk of defaults in developed economies.

Increasing distrust in the stock market has led investors into Treasurys, even as the government floods the market with billions in debt with no end in sight.

Oil traders continue to squeeze past tighter U.S. market rules via a loophole that allows them to bet for bigger stakes on certain fuel futures that are under British regulation, brokers and analysts said.

Global stocks rose on Thursday as the first big U.S. earner out the box, Alcoa posted a smaller-than-expected second-quarter loss, leading basic resource stocks soaring. Experts tell CNBC now's the time to hold some high beta stocks.

A late upturn pushed stocks higher Wednesday as investors rotated into defensive stocks like pharmaceuticals and Alcoa advanced ahead of earnings.

Much like its stock market counterpart, the Oil VIX is showing a high level of uncertainty among investors as efforts intensify for stronger regulation of energy trading.

Stocks turned lower Wednesday as investors got defensive ahead of earnings season, rotating into pharmaceuticals and out of techs.

Stocks rebounded Wednesday after a major selloff in the previous session as earnings season gets into gear.

Healthcare services stocks will remain volatile as reform measures proceed through Congress and the economy struggles, industry analyst Leerink Swan said in a research note.

The S&P 500 appears to be topping out, having broken below a key support level, and could fall below 800 points in the coming months, Christopher Locke, MD of Oystertrade.com Management told CNBC.

Futures indicated a slightly higher open for Wall Street Wednesday on profit taking after the major selloff the previous day.