S&P

U.S. stocks closed decidedly in the negative territory on Wednesday as high expectations regarding the Eurozone bailout were dimmed.

Gold mining stocks plummeted Wednesday even though the price of the metal slipped only a bit and the broader market, as measured by the S&P 500, declined modestly.

Many factors are converging to create additional risk for owners of California nuclear plants during the relicensing process, according to an article published today on RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal. The Ground Shaking Reality For California's Nuclear Power notes that, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, California is likely to carefully evaluate relicensing its two nuclear power plants.

S&P indicated that due to the higher yields on Italian sovereign government debt, the financial costs for Italian banks will rise appreciably.

Many factors are converging to create additional risk for owners of California nuclear plants during the relicensing process, according to an article published today on RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal. The Ground Shaking Reality For California's Nuclear Power notes that, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, California is likely to carefully evaluate relicensing its two nuclear power plants.

The BSE Sensex fell more than 1.5 percent on Tuesday, dragged down by IT stocks after Tata Consultancy Services reported lower-than-expected quarterly earnings and said the outlook for pricing was tough.

Disappointment out of Europe over the weekend ended the recent rally of U.S. stocks and other global risk assets.

U.S. stocks and global risk assets plunged on Monday as German officials dashed the heightened expectations of investors.

Stocks suffered their worst loss in two weeks on Monday after comments from Germany's finance minister caused investors to fear Europe's solution to its debt crisis may not come fast enough.

The credit agency’s downgrade of Spain follows a similar cut by Fitch Ratings last week.

Gold prices ticked up Friday as market sentiment swung back towards risk and away from safety, but there was little evidence the yellow metal was ready to break out of recent trading limits.

More good news out of Europe continues to provide the fuel to drive the current risk-asset rally.

U.S. stocks and other global risk assets traded higher on Wednesday on more good news out of Europe.

Days before third quarter earnings season began on Tuesday with Alcoa’s (NYSE:AA) earnings report, many analysts were optimistic because expectations have been set so low.

Slovakia, one of the smallest members of the Eurozone, has the Eurozone waiting and global investors sweating.

U.S. stock futures are slightly down as investors await the results of a key Eurozone vote and Alcoa’s (NYSE:AA) earnings report.

U.S. stocks will face the third quarter earnings season next week. Some investors are hoping that U.S. earnings will take center stage, take focus off the European debt crisis and potentially prolong the current mini-rebound in U.S. stocks.

The euro has rallied over 100 pips against the U.S. dollar since the beginning of the New York session. Before the U.S. opening, the European Central Bank (ECB) re-introduced two liquidity measures to support the European financial system: one-year loans and 40 billion euros worth of covered bond purchases.

Gold prices booked two gains in a row Thursday and silver surged after the European Central Bank and Britain's central bank acted to protect the continent's staggering banks.

Gold prices rose nearly 1 percent Thursday on strong physical buying from Europe and Asia and diminished selling pressure that had arisen from the need to cover stock market losses.

Stocks were little changed on Wednesday as European finance ministers appeared ready to prop up struggling banks while reports on the U.S. labor market and services sector came in stronger than expected.