Risky assets last week again marched higher to the tune of economic data supporting the argument of a global economic recovery. A realization among investors that the economic transition from recessi

It was the final weekend of the year and that can only mean one thing—the NFL playoff schedule is set. The cast includes many teams expected to be in the hunt—the world champion New York

Editor's Note: This article is part of a series monitoring financial sector spreads in order to give an accurate, up-to-date picture of the credit crisis. See the first part here.In order to gauge th

President-Elect Obama’s victory signaled a change in US political direction, but the biggest Election-Day rally ever -- a 4.1% surge in the S&P 500 -- was quickly overshadowed by Wednesday&

Senator Barack Obama is a either a naïf or a ninny. Based on his tax proposals, the key to any economic program, the nincompoop out-points the naïf. Here’s why: Obama proposes to rais

Imagine you’re running a marathon. Against incredible odds, you’re in first place. The finish line is just yards away; as you cross it, triumphant, the feeling of ecstasy immediately vani

Volatile swings and crushing losses in the stock market are enough to drive you crazy. Literally. The phones of psychologists in New York have been ringing off the hook as Wall Street’s executi

While October may be the cruelest month, its final week was even crueler: It gave us false hope. The Dow was up 10%, the S&P was up 11% - their biggest one-week gains since 1974. Even staid blue-

BRIC Stocks Cheap, ScaryEven after a record 20% gain in emerging-market stocks last week, some of the world’s biggest money managers think tougher times lie ahead for the BRIC nations (Bra

The private sector is actively engaging the mortgage crisis with the first broad-based, systemic attempt to prevent foreclosure. Both Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan (JPM) are attempting to h