GDP

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits continued to decline last week, even after dropping to a three-and-a-half year low in the previous week. The figure is still below a key threshold for gauging the job market, a sign that the labor market is gaining strength heading into 2012.

European shares were higher early Thursday afternoon in low volume that exaggerated movements, with investors hoping a batch of U.S. data would confirm an improving economic picture.

Weakening economies and falling prices of rival smartphones are hurting sales of Apple iPhones across Europe, data from research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech showed on Thursda

Rising European stocks and a weaker dollar supported gold Thursday, but the yellow metal remained tethered to the previous day's closing price on light volume and a lack of anything that encouraged risk taking.

Europe's banks borrowed nearly €490 billion or $637 billion from the European Central Bank at its first-ever offer of three-year loans on Wednesday, encouraging demand for the euro and stocks on hopes the funding will ease the two-year old debt crisis. On Wednesday at mid-day, London's FTSE 100 was down 25 points to 5,393, Germany's DAX was down 29 points to 5,819, and France's CAC 40 was off 22 points to 3,033.

The outlook for Europe looks gloomy especially after the European Central Bank (ECB) warning that risks to euro area financial stability increased considerably in the second half of 2011, as the sovereign risk crisis and its interplay with the banking sector worsened in an environment of weakening macroeconomic growth prospects.

What will it take to get the U.S. economy growing at a faster rate and to stabilize Europe's economy? Courage. The courage to deploy more fiscal stimulus and stabilization funds.

At a time of daily stock-market seizures, weekly bank and sovereign debt downgrades and monthly central bank interventions, most people are seeing the glass half empty, and have forecasted bearish -- if not downright abysmal -- market conditions for next year. A look at some of the more salient predictions.

Shares of silver mining companies got hammered Monday as the futures price of the metal fell on dimming prospects from China and Europe that next year will bring any improvement in demand.

Prices for silver and palladium, the two precious metals with the most industrial applications, fell Monday on growing evidence of weakening demand from China and a possible recession in Europe.

The economy appears to have slipped into another recession.

European leaders have not done enough to deal with the region's debt crisis and should probably use the International Monetary Fund to more closely monitor countries with the biggest problems, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Sunday.

It's been a year that's been short on good news, but Americans can take heart at one trend that's running in their favor: gasoline prices, which declined another 5 cents last week to an average of $3.23 per gallon for regular unleaded; gas prices are also down about 75 cents since May.

One day after saying he favored the payroll tax reduction extension agreement approved by the U.S. Senate, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he and his caucus will oppose the tax reduction deal. Boehner said House Republicans now want additional budget reductions to finance the extension agreement.

The U.S. housing market, once the epicenter of the global financial collapse that spawned today's European debt crisis, is on the verge of delivering some positive news.

Oil, the lifeblood of the global economy, has plunged more than 10 percent in the past five days, to about $93 per barrel Friday, and the compelling question for investors and motorists alike is -- in early 2012 where does oil head?

Inflation at the consumer level remains moderate -- and that should give the U.S Federal Reserve more time to stimulate the U.S. economy -- something that's good news for investors and job seekers alike.

IHS Global forecasts that Ireland’s GDP will grow by only 0.9 percent next year.

Policy paralysis, corruption scandals and a government fearful of political backlash to any bold moves have worsening domestic finances, and Incredible India is no longer incredible.

This lack of action by central banks has clearly contributed to the pervasive negative mood felt by most investors.

Canadian commercial lending growth accelerated in the third quarter, showing smaller businesses expanded even as Europe's deepening debt crisis rattled investors worldwide, according to a PayNet Inc report.