Six Signs the Recession Is Ending

A number of economists predict that the recession could last into 2010 and unemployment will top 10%. If the crisis does not deepen into an even longer downturn, there will have to be early signs that the credit crisis is ending and that consumer and business confidence are coming back. And, there are a few things to watch for.

Share

European markets close down

European markets closed lower Tuesday, following a global selling spree the day before. Europe’s major exchanges drifted up in morning trading but by the end of the day London’s FTSE 100 was down 3.1 percent, the CAC 40 lost 1 percent and Frankfurt’s Dax 30 sank 0.5 percent.

Share

Thailand: Myanmar to allow refugees

Myanmar will allow Rohingya refugees back into the country if they can prove that they are Bengali, Thailand’s foreign ministry said. The agreement was reached in side talks between the Thai and Myanmese foreign ministers during the 14th ASEAN summit, a meeting of Southeast Asian nations held in Thailand over the weekend, said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thairit Charungwat on Monday.

Share

Stocks Close Below 7000 to a Twelve Year Low

Stocks crashed through a psychological barrier on Monday, falling below 7000 to close down 4.24% for the day, at 6763 — the first market close under 7000 since May 1997. The broader S&P 500 was down sharply as well, falling 4.66% to finish at 700.82. The market opened on a sharp down note after absorbing a weekend of anxiety over AIG, the black hole of an insurance company that is swallowing another $30 billion of government assistance with no assurance that it won’t need more.

Share