A modicum of confidence returned to markets in July, as U.S. and European stocks erased losses inked in the frenzy of prior months and investors took heart that slow growth is better than none at all, dumping gold and the U.S. dollar in light of this more sanguine view.

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A modicum of confidence returned to markets in July, as U.S. and European stocks erased losses inked in the frenzy of prior months and investors took heart that slow growth is better than none at all, dumping gold and the U.S. dollar in light of this more sanguine view.

U.S. stocks are unlikely to break above a key technical level next week unless monthly jobs data and consumer company results paint a more promising picture of the recovery.

Here's a list of the best and worst performing stocks within the S&P 500 for July.

A modicum of confidence returned to markets in July, as U.S. and European stocks erased losses inked in the frenzy of prior months and investors took heart that slow growth is better than none at all, dumping gold and the U.S. dollar in light of this more sanguine view.

What to look for in this month's edition of Trading Strategies from MarketWatch.

The dollar fell to an eight-month low against the yen on Friday while European and Asian shares slipped on worries U.S. growth data due later in the day may show the world's biggest economy is losing steam.