What happens to the relationship between the small-cap investor and the unemployed consumer during a recession? Greg Gunner of Whiskey and Gunpowder has advice, buy low and sell high.

Time magazine has again demonstrated its irrelevance in the Internet age with a fatuous feature called “25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis.”

As Senate Republicans and Democrats continue to bicker over the details of President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner waits in the wings ready to unveil yet another bank bailout bill. 

I know as you read this, you are aware that America and the world are currently experiencing an economic crisis. Many economic experts say we could be heading towards a worsening recession or even a depression.

The economy is now staring eyeball-to-eyeball with an activist U.S. government. It will legislate, reform, supervise, bully, give out money like cotton candy and get concessions in return.

Economic confidence in both the Eurozone and greater European Union (EU) hit a record low in December, adding to an already long list of challenges that face that region. And even though policymakers have an economic stimulus package in place, confusion over future fiscal policy lingers.

President-elect Barack Obama yesterday (Thursday) named Mary L. Schapiro – a strong proponent of protections for individual investors – to head the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission when his administration takes office next month, the biggest of three nominations with potential financial crisis implications.

As the economic crisis continues to unfold, recently a sense of uncertainty has begun to pervade the market. Even dyed-in-the-wool risk takers admit that they don’t know what to think anymore. Inflation, deflation, recession or depression – there are so many vagaries that it appears to be anyone’s guess what will happen next.

In the energy market Friday, oil tumbled, with crude for December delivery closing at $63.91/barrel, down $3.90. December reformulated gasoline arrived as front-month contract by slumping 13.3 cents, to $1.3625/gallon.

Consumer shows spooky signs of weakness… recession now unavoidable? How’s your 401(k)? Some scary stats on the average retirement savings plan. Haunting mortgage data… 10 million Americans suffer “negative equity”. U.S. finance capitalism dead or dying… Byron King on the new paradigm for global economic power. Eric Fry on investing during the post-crash bounce. Plus, one “surefire” sector during these frightening times.