Russian gas deal, Gaza ceasefire ease supply concerns… World oil demand expected to fall in 2009… U.S. holiday leads to low trading volumes…

U.S. jobs data likely to reinforce economic gloom… Saudi Arabia to deepen output cuts in February

The dollar rebounds… Home prices collapse! Consumer Confidence finally rings true… And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

Gold rose in the far East, peaking at $890 in early Hong Kong trading, fell back to $875 by the close of the Comex, but rallied through the Globex to finish at $880.60/oz., up $11.90. Overnight, gold has dropped off.

Euro gains, then loses, then gains…  Inflation and Commodities…  The euro turns 10!  Risk Aversion remains but is waning… And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

Profit in 2009:  Think like a Fed governor… A “mere” 25 banks failed in 2008… proof that the FDIC expects many more next year… Retail on the brink… preliminary reports suggest holiday consumption even lower than anticipated… So who will thrive in 2009? An unsavory list of stocks prime to benefit from a lousy economy… Middle East moving markets… why news from Kuwait and Gaza is affecting your portfolio today… Byron King on the $200 billion consumer bailout Congress never passed

Dow Chemical, Kuwait deal collapses… Nasdaq dragged by large-cap tech companies… Oil rises above $38 per barrel on Middle East tensions…  Dow off 1.6 pct, S&P off 1.6 pct, Nasdaq off 2.3 pct