Gold booms after global strife, Byron King on whether the precious metal is still a buy… Stimulus bill a done deal, details of the final 1,073-page fiasco… States in peril, revenue crash causes budget crisis from California to New Jersey… Wal-Mart surprises Street, Rob Parenteau on retail’s sudden comeback… Stocks dive toward new crisis lows, equity advice from Mayer and Buffett… Plus, have you noticed? One major index quietly up 30% YTD…

Someone sure was excited about Silver Wheaton Corp (NYSE: SLW) Tuesday morning.  It gapped up 2% and kept rising from there.

The news this morning is as grey and damp as the weather.  First, the U.S. stock market did nothing yesterday. The Dow ended down 9 measly points. The Dow is about 10% above its November low; have we seen the rebound already?

Gold held below $900 an ounce on Tuesday, giving up some of the previous sessions’ gains, as easing risk aversion dampened interest in the precious metal. Spot gold was quoted at $898.65/900.25 an ounce at 1403 GMT, against $902.65 in New York late on Monday. Earlier it slipped to a low of $891.60 an ounce.

Firm investment demand outweighs weak jewelery buying… Euro weakens on euro zone outlook… Oil prices tumble nearly 10 percent…

While the masses were piling into low- to no-yield bonds during the market collapse in the fall of 2008, the International Speculator went bargain shopping in a sector that gives investors leverage to a rising gold price: the junior mining sector.

Dollar weakens to two-month low versus euro… Oil climbs nearly 7 percent; OPEC supply cut expected

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

U.S. non-farm payrolls fall 533,000 in November… Oil slips more than 2 percent

Dollar firms vs euro; ECB seen cutting rates by 50 bp… Oil slides as demand woes outweigh U.S. stockpile dip… ZKB platinum ETF holdings rise 27 pct