In the currency market, the dollar continued to fall against the euro. Late Thursday, the euro was trading at $1.3904 vs. $1.3829 on Wednesday.

You’ve heard the old axiom “Do as I say, not as I do”? Today, the Federal Reserve’s done one better: “Do as we say, not as we forecast.”

The toxic tentacles of recession seem to extend into every imaginable – and unimaginable – pocket of the economy. As these tentacles release their toxins, the resulting distress affects both individuals and industries alike, often in ways we might not have imagined in advance. But so too do recessions impart the occasional surprising benefit. Our advice: Enjoy the benefits when and where you can because this recession is likely to get much worse before it gets better.

Last week, the European Central Bank squared its shoulders and joined ranks of the damned. The Times of London reported that in joining up with the US Federal Reserve Bank and the Bank of England, the European Central Bank “pulled out all the stops” in their drive to revive their economies.

Casino stocks have been more than down on their luck lately. In fact, they’ve been on the ropes more than one of their prizefighting boxers. And it’s no wonder.

In the currency market, the dollar sank against the euro. Late Wednesday, the euro was trading at $1.3341 vs. $1.3319 on Tuesday.

When recessions bite, people turn to cheap comfort foods like macaroni and cheese. And as it turns out, those deliciously cheesy elbows have been a pretty good indicator of difficult times.

In the currency market, the dollar was down against the euro. Late Friday, the euro was trading at $1.3268 vs. $1.3224 on Thursday.

US GDP falls more than expected…FOMC holds course…Canadian dollar has a great week…Oil helps commodity currencies…And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

A late-day rally helped keep the winning streak alive for equities during Wednesday’s session on the Canadian Markets. For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange gained 0.81%, while the TSX Gold Index surged 8.9% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, added 1.48% with the advancers edging out the decliners by a 353 to 349 margin on volume of 114 million shares traded.