Crude Soars 5%; Ford and CAW Begin Talks; China Offering 6 Billion Yuan Sale; IBM Reiterates 2009 Earnings; Australia’s Business Confidence Elevates Asian Stocks; France Telecom and Deutsch Telekom Planning U.K. JV; Mobius Warns About Brazil Stock Sale

World stocks slid on Wednesday after a mixed report on U.S. durable goods orders reignited doubts about economic recovery while oil prices fell on news of rising U.S. crude stockpiles.

Risk aversion returned to markets on Thursday, supporting the U.S. dollar and government bonds, after mixed economic data, while concern about the possible failure of a small U.S. lender sparked caution following the week’s robust gains in stocks.

European shares climbed 1 percent on Monday, boosted by upbeat euro zone data, while the dollar steadied after falling late last week on a renewed call by China for a super-sovereign reserve currency.

A Turn Around Tuesday?  BRIC meeting doesn’t get covered by the media?  Are the Bearer Bonds real or fakes?  QTC’s get Gov. backing! And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

The brave new world has already arrived in Ireland, where your co-editor is currently based. Ireland exemplifies the boom-bust economics that has shattered the global economy.

The Treasury is having a tough time hawking US debt these days.  This from today’s Financial Times: The 30-year Treasury yield rose to 4.30 per cent on Thursday from 4.10 per cent the day before after bids at the government auction came at lower prices than expected.

South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, approved an additional $20.7 billion (28.9 trillion won) to the national budget – with $13 billion intended to stem the nation’s economic decline and rising unemployment.

World stocks climbed strongly on Monday for a fifth session running, lifted by hopes that the U.S. economic downturn may be bottoming out as investors sought to take advantage of cheaper equities.