Worries over the economy and corporate earnings weigh… Focus on inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama… S&P 500 futures off 1.5 pct, Dow futures off 1.1 pct, Nasdaq futures off 1.2 pct

MSCI world equity index down 0.85 pct at 212.56… Rally after UK bank rescue package evaporates… S&P ratings downgrade on Spain hits euro

The world markets have begun a correction – and the governments are determined to stop it…the days of ’stuff lust’ are long gone. Replacing private spending with public spending…in the fight against global financial illness the Fed can’t cure the patient. The U.S. empire may be too old and tired to battle this downturn…the 50th anniversary of Cuba’s revolution…tune into the Critic’s Choice Awards on VH1 tonight and cheer for I.O.U.S.A.!…and more!

Within the last year, the true extent of the real estate debacle and ensuing credit crisis in the United States has become blatantly obvious.   But now there is a new phenomenon rearing its ugly head: a credit crisis of the individual that is hitting a large number of Americans straight in the pocketbook. The reason: credit providers have started to batten down the hatches.

Surrounded by global recession, Tokyo-based Sony Corp. (ADR: SNE) said it plans to eliminate 16,000 jobs, the biggest of several moves intended to cut more than $1.1 billion (100 billion yen) from its annual expenses by March 31, 2010.

Gold surge fuelled by inflation fears… Deflation seen short-lived…  Platinum boosted, helped by auto sector optimism

Not too long ago it seemed that everybody loved China.  It was a panacea, a magic bullet, the answer to every question. How can the US avoid recession? China. Why are the stock markets racing higher? China. Why is oil over $140 a barrel? China. You may have noticed that all this cheerleading has gone very quiet, very quickly.

One of the follies of the Bush administration was the notion that the class of money-shufflers who got us into the credit crunch could somehow be trusted to get us out of it.  Which is what makes the Obama administration such a breath of fresh — oh, wait, never mind.

Brazilian stocks have been pummeled in October’s global market rout. But Martin Hutchinson says this has created a great opportunity for investors. South America’s largest economy still has a robust growth outlook and moderate inflation. These six “bargain basement” stocks are now well worth a look.

According to a recent Bloomberg article, financial analysts believe that the year end of 2008 has more trouble in store for the US economy.

The world’s largest economy will slow to a 0.5 percent annualized growth rate from October to December, down from a 1 percent estimate last month, according to the median forecast of 63 economists surveyed from June 30 to July 9. Analysts anticipate consumer spending will rise 0.2 percent next quarter, the smallest gain since 1991.