Big banks are showing profits again... the impressive numbers included a $3 billion second-quarter profit announced Friday by Citigroup and $2.4 billion for Bank of America. They followed similarly robust earnings for Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. Housing sales are up too. And the Dow and other stock markets are strengthening. Is it time to start popping corks and celebrating the end to the recession? Well, no. Unemployment continues to increase and is at its highest in 26 years. But maybe, just maybe, the worst of the recession is over.

Michael Santoli, associate editor at Barron's

Chris Thornberg, Principal, Beacon Economics Christopher Thornberg

Albert "Pete" Kyle, professor of Finance at the University of Maryland