Led by a surging Ameriprise Financial (AMP), financial stocks have continued a rally that began in late 2010.  AMP shares, which has had 3 or 4 new 52-week highs over the past 2 weeks, closed Wednesday at 61;  earlier in the trading session, the stock hit 62.  Needless to say, the company and its shares are on a fast track, and several research analysts rate the stock as a "buy." 

Besides this Minneapolis, MN-based company, other firms are within a point of their 52-week highs:

• TD Ameritrade closed Wednesday at 20, just south of its 52-week high of 21. 
• BNY Mellon closed Wednesday at 32;  it's traded as high as 33 over the past 52 weeks.
• Citigroup closed Wednesday at 5;  its 52-week high is 5.
• UBS AG closed Wednesday at 17;  its 52-week high is 18.

These firms are closing in, as well:

• HSBC Holdings, at 56, has a 52-week high of 60.
• JPMorgan, at 45, has a 52-week high of 48.
• Morgan Stanley, at 29, has a 52-week high of 32.
• Chas. Schwab, at 18, has a 52-week high of 20.
• Wells Fargo, at 32, has a 52-week high of 34.

The stocks will hopefully continue to trend upward.