On the third anniversary of the stock market's financial crisis low point, investors can look back with a combination of wonder and relief.

The major market indices have recovered all those losses and more, and the economic recovery has finally moved into third gear. and Finally, there may be sufficient grounds for optimism. Guarded optimism, that is.

In the back of our minds, however, there's a nagging feeling that better times are not really good times, and that progress can disappear quickly with the turn of the global economy.

The European debt crisis, though in remission, can threaten again. Petroleum prices could soar to new record highs if the political stalemate with Iran leads to closing of the Strait of Hormuz, or, even worse, war with Israel.

Later in the year, there's the leadership change in China and the U.S. debt ceiling time bomb.

More down to earth for most Americans is whether the housing malaise is finally over after six miserable years and whether Washington's extraordinary fiscal and monetary stimuluswill unleash income-destructive inflation.

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