Joseph Lazzaro

European shares were flat on Tuesday at mid-day as strategists said they were optimistic policymakers would make progress on a solution for the region's debt crisis, though Standard & Poor's warned it might downgrade top-rated Germany and other Eurozone countries.

Most Southeast Asian stock markets pulled lower on Tuesday as a warning by ratings agency Standard & Poor's of a possible mass downgrade of the Eurozone kept market investors wary ahead of the EU summit late this week.

It was a long time ago -- 70 years ago today -- but it's an event no one should forget: the start of the Battle of Moscow, 1941-42, during World War II. Roughly 1 million heroic Russians lost their lives in the bloodiest land battle in human history -- a battle that marked the beginning of the end for Adolph Hitler and for Nazi Germany.

European stocks rose to a five-week closing high on Monday, after French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on a range of measures to help resolve the Eurozone debt crisis.

Sooner or later, income taxes on upper-income groups in the United States, including the uber-rich, have to be raised to balance the federal budget, and to restore tax fairness.

In the financial crisis-era, with its constrained public revenue from a smaller U.S. workforce, almost every government agency is forced to belt-tighten -- including the U.S. Postal Service, which will implement historic cutbacks starting in the spring of 2012.

You can't blame investors for feeling a bit hesitant regarding deploying new money in the U.S. stock market these days. Lingering concern about Italy's finances, along with below-trend U.S. GDP growth has created an uncertain U.S./Europe economic outlook. Where's the Dow likely to head in the next six months?

European stocks rose early on Monday, adding to last week's 8.5 percent jump on growing hopes of a comprehensive solution to the Eurozone debt crisis as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet ahead of a key summit.

Most Asian stock markets ended steady to slightly firmer on Monday, though gains were capped by profit-taking in banking and commodities-related shares as investors waited to see if European leaders can deliver a solution to the region's debt crisis at a summit later in the week.

If you don't have the time to scrutinize U.S. and Europe/Asia economic data points daily, but you still want to take the pulse of the U.S. economy, use the price of oil as a shorthand. Oil, the world's most vital commodity, also provides a quick-read on the U.S. economy.

Stocks ended flat on Friday but capped the best week for Wall Street bulls in almost three years after data showed the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to a 2-1/2 year low.

European shares rose on Friday, recording their biggest weekly gain since late 2008, on hopes Eurozone leaders were coming together to find a solution to the Eurozone debt crisis.

When combined with upward revisions to the September (210,000) and October (100,000) job totals, November’s 120,000 job gain, and recent, strong manufacturing and auto sales data, the fundamentals show a U.S. economy that is strengthening. But will Europe's credit markets sap the economy's momentum?

European shares rose on Friday at mid-day and were headed for their biggest weekly gain in three years on hopes of a bold solution to the euro zone debt crisis at a summit next week.

The Nikkei average extended gains to log its biggest weekly advance in two years on Friday, though the mood was far from upbeat given uncertainty over whether Europe will next week manage to cobble together steps to counter the debt crisis there.

European equities fell in choppy trade on Thursday, as a key index failed to break an important resistance level and weak macro economic data prompted profit taking after sharp gains in the previous session.

U.S. crude futures fell back on Thursday after government data showed that new filings for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week to their highest level since late October, a bad sign for oil demand. Oil traded down $1.01 to $99.41 per barrel on Thursday at mid-day.

The new head of the European Central Bank signaled on Thursday it was ready to take stronger action to fight Europe's debt crisis if political leaders agree next week on much tighter budget controls in the 17-nation euro zone.

European shares fell in choppy trade on Thursday after data showed new U.S. claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, with some investors booking profits after equities jumped 9 percent in the previous four sessions.

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The Nikkei share average surged above its 25-day moving average to a two-week high on Thursday after the world's central banks took coordinated actionto ease funding strains among banks caused by the debt crisis in Europe.

U.S. stocks rose more than 3 percent on Wednesday as major central banks acted jointly to add liquidity to the global financial system, boosting appetite for risky assets.

Oil jumped above the psychologically-significant $100 level on Wednesday after a coordinated move by central banks to address pressures in global money markets.

European shares extended a rally into a fourth session on Wednesday, with miners reversing earlier losses after resource-hungry China cut the reserve requirement for banks to ease credit strains and bolster its economy.

The Nikkei share average ended lower on Wednesday, reversing two days of gains on profit-taking as investors remained cautious over new developments in the Eurozone debt crisis and looked to data later in the week.

European shares rose on Tuesday as short-term traders helped boost the market following good demand at an Italian bond auction despite soaring borrowing costs, while BASF rose after lifting its sales target.

The Nikkei average climbed more than 2 percent on Tuesday, closing at a two-week high on hopes that euro zone leaders were readying steps to ease the debt crisis and that a robust U.S. holiday shopping season was underway.

The stark truth of the matter is that unless the private sector starts hiring en masse (including non-profit organizations), absent a surge in exports, it will be up to the public sector to provide stimulus to create jobs.

Is the U.S. Federal Reserve likely to purchase more securities as part of a plan to help jump-start U.S. GDP growth? It is, if a survey of key bond dealers is accurate.