European Policy Makers Out of Their Depth

European Policy Makers Don't Understand, But Markets Do 
By Rebecca Wilder
So here we are: the Italian yield curve is flat at above 7%; the government institution is in question; and the ECB is using its SMP purchase program as a carrot to drive austerity implementation in and Berlusconi out. Some would argue that the ‘market is irrational’ – Italy faces a liquidity not solvency crisis. That’s the IMF’s line, and I don’t buy it... READ MORE

Is Spain Preparing Life Rafts?

Analysis: Spain recession more likely on new austerity

Spain's new government will unleash a wave of spending cuts and strengthen economic reforms in the first months of its legislature, moves that will throw the economy back into recession and send unemployment higher before making things better...|READ MORE:

EU Faces 'Deep, Prolonged Recession'

BRUSSELS—The European Union Thursday slashed its growth forecast for the 27-nation bloc in the coming year and said it can't exclude the possibility of a "deep, prolonged" recession.,, READ MORE:

Europe’s Next Nightmare

By Dani Rodrik -

As if the economic ramifications of a full-blown Greek default were not terrifying enough, the...READ MORE :

Europe is Stuck On Not So Merry-Go-Round

Europe's Struggle to Keep Growing

Europe is at risk of a potentially devastating negative feedback loop. The economy is "practically in free fall," says Yves Mersch, a member of the European Central Bank's governing council... Read More.

Possibilities of a Greece Exit from the Euro

A Greek Euro-Zone Exit Would Be Messy

The extraordinary events of the past week in Europe have included the shattering of a taboo that could have profound consequences for the Continent: the public discussion by European leaders that Greece could exit the common currency.

Why Will Europe's Crisis Impact US Markets?

Centurion Holdings CEO Joe Grano on why the debt crisis in Greece and Italy affect the U.S. markets and what is needed to boost the housing market.

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Will the Crisis in Italy Spur Euro Zone Break-up?

Political and economic crisis in Italy spurred fears of a split in the euro zone with borrowing costs for Europe's third biggest economy near unsustainable levels and the bloc unable to afford a bailout..READ MORE.

Is Italy About To Ask For A Bailout?

Is Italy About To Ask For A Bailout?

At some point, it just gets too expensive for a debt-laden country to borrow money buy issuing bonds on the bond markets. That's when they ask for some help from a higher power.

In recent weeks, Italy has seen its bond yields and spreads explode higher. This has markets wondering, "Does Italy need a bailout?"

5 Reasons 'Core Europe' Won't Work - Seeking Alpha

5 Reasons 'Core Europe' Won't Work

There have been rumors in recent days of a “core Euro”. This is the scenario in which we essentially break off into two Euros – a north and south Euro. But would this really fix the problems? No. Joe Weisenthal at Business Insider elaborates. He lists the 5 reasons why rumors of a “core Euro” won’t actually fix Europe

How Government is Impacting Poverty

Economist's View: Poverty With and Without a Safety Net

South Africa's Credit Rating Takes a Bath

Goldman's Jim O'Neill Denied This Country Of BRIC-status And Now Its Credit Outlook Is Negative

U.S. E-Commerce Spending Up 13% In Q3

U.S. E-Commerce Spending Up 13% In Q3

By Leena Rao

E-commerce spending continues to rise as more consumers look to online retail channels to purchase goods. comScore just released its online retail numbers for the third quarter of 2011, and online retail spending in the U.S. reached $36.3 billion for the quarter, up 13 percent versus year ago.

EURUSD Breaks 1.35 (Lowest In A Month) As Data Disappoints

EURUSD Breaks 1.35 (Lowest In A Month) As Data Disappoints

With German Consumer Price inflation coming a little hot, Wholesale Price index deflating MoM (and less than expected YoY), and Finnish Industrial Production turning negative unexpectedly, (and now French Industrial Production and manufacturing dropping significantly), sellers returned in the early European day with EURUSD breaking below 1.35 (for the first time since 10/10) and ES -7pts from the close (and 12pts from overnight highs) at overnight lows.

How I Found My First Big Job

Generation Jobless: How I Found My First Big Job
By MELISSA KORN And LAUREN WEBER

There are at least a few success stories among the masses of unemployed 20-somethings. But those successes are taking a long time to achieve.

Sterling Has Luck of the Irish, For Now

Sterling Has Luck of the Irish, For Now

As the euro zone shudders with stress over Italy, sterling fans (there must be some out there somewhere) may have Ireland to thank for a relatively smooth ride.

Neighbors Feel Euro Zone's Pain

By ALISTAIR MACDONALD

For much of this year, U.K. manufacturing executive Will Tyler has looked at the euro zone and been thankful Britain isn't a part of it. Now, as the currency bloc's troubles increasingly suck in those parts of Europe that don't use the euro, he isn't sure membership matters.

How Italy's Woes May Revuberate

Reading Between the Lines on Italy's Woes

Going by exports to Europe, the Continent's debt crisis seems to pose about as much threat to the U.S. as the giant asteroid that zoomed by this week.

Original Sin And The Euro Crisis

Original Sin And The Euro Crisis

By Paul Krugman

One question that keeps coming up is, how can I reconcile my scorn for warnings about bond vigilantes with what is happening to Italy? This seems especially pointed because I have in the past used Italy’s ability to carry debt exceeding its GDP as an illustration that debt concerns were overblown.

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