The Internet bubble had burst in the spring of 2000, and we were in the midst of a bear market in stocks.

FORBES: What To Watch Out For In Treasuries

The Chinese believed that the rising of Arcturus, the fourth-brightest star in the sky, caused spring to burst forth, while the Egyptians thought that the appearance of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, brought about the annual flooding of the Nile.

ECONOMIST: The Star of Bethlehem

The abrupt reversal of mood recalls both 2010 and 2011, when a promising burst of growth in the early months petered out in spring and summer.

ECONOMIST: The economy