After a month of impressive gains that brought the Dow within 200 points of a record, the markets have paused this week.

Passing another milestone on the nation's long journey back from the Great Recession, the Standard and Poor's 500 index closed above 1,500 for the first time in more than five years Friday after a wave of good earnings reports.

Goldman Sachs went some way to restoring its reputation as a Wall Street powerhouse after its earnings almost tripled in the fourth quarter, handily beating analysts' estimates, as investment banking revenues surged.

Stocks edged lower for a fifth day on concern that Washington lawmakers will fail to reach a budget deal before a year-end deadline. If stocks end the day lower, it will mark the longest losing streak in three months.