The problems in China's housing market are more severe than those in the US before the financial crisis because they combine a potential bubble with the risk of social discontent, according to an adviser to the Chinese central bank.

The extraordinary events of last week in Kyrgyzstan, which saw the overthrow of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s administration by a popular uprising and its replacement by a provisional government have been portrayed by many in the "Beltway-istan" (Washington DC) as the latest tussle betwixt Russia and the U.S. in the ‘Great Game” for influence in the post-Soviet space.

Mother Nature's been good to the North American natural gas sector.

Not only did she gift several massive shale gas plays over the last few years. She also delivered a frigid winter this year, helping draw down a mountain of gas inventory.
Last fall, it looked like U.S. inventories were going to be a stiff headwind for prices.

A better than expected U.S. Third Quarter GDP Report is sending the Dollar sharply lower at the mid-session. The Dollar was trading weaker prior to the release of the report as many traders thought this week’s rally was too much, too soon. The Dollar plunged to the downside after the report showed a robust increase of 3.5% compared to pre-report guesses of 3.2%.