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Time lapse by Gianluca Masi of Manciano,Italy (Virtual Telescope Project) Images from 5 March 2024

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Stocks Crater on Greece Fears

The S&P 500 Index fell 43.85 on Monday,down 2.09%,on worries that Greece might leave the Euro-zone,or might at least cause unfortunate ripple effects throughout the global economy.The country is expected to miss a Tuesday debt payment of 1.84 billion dollars to the IMF.Technically,that would not be a default,since the IMF payment does not have the status of a bond coupon payment,for instance.Still,it is plenty bad for the stock market,as is the unknown endpoint of Greece's tortured negotiations with its creditors,and the Sunday referendum basically on whether Greece should abandon the euro for its old currency,the drachma.
The run on Greek banks could become contagious,spreading to Spain,Portugal and even Italy.If that happens,the US economy,with its close ties to Europe,could suffer as well.
The market was shaken by S&P's opinion that the probability of the so-called Grexit is 50%,and a commercial default is inevitable within six months.Greece's credit rating was also lowered by S&P to CCC-.
Investors sought refuge in gold,which rose 0.52%,while Treasury bonds were basically flat and utility stocks fell less than the broader market.*
Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU),Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX),SPDR Gold Trust (GLD),iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF)

Sochi Winter Olympics:Gold in the Winter Sun

The final medal count is as follows:
1.Russia 33
2.USA 28
3.Norway 26
4.Canada 25
5.Netherlands 24
6.Germany 19
7.Austria 17
8.France 15
8.Sweden 15
9.People's Republic of China 9
Italy won 8 medals,including 6 silver and 2 bronze.Russia won the most gold medals(13).Ukraine,which had been in severe political unrest during the Games,won 2 medals,1 gold and 1 bronze.*
It was a final triumph for Team Russia on Sunday,a full restoration of national pride,when they swept the medals at the last skiing event of the Games,the 50km cross country race.Alexander Legkov won the gold;Maxim Vylegzhanin the silver;and Ilia Chernousov the bronze.This is priceless,Legkov said.It is more valuable than my life.I can't express how I feel.I've been trying for this result for 15 years.*
Likewise,Team Canada went out of the games with a flourish by sweeping the ice hockey gold as the Canadian men blanked Sweden 3-0.Team USA was also pleased to win a bobsled medal on Sunday,taking the four-man bobsled bronze behind Russia and Latvia.
On the whole,Team USA had a very good Games,winning five alpine skiing medals,but was disappointed by taking only one speedskating medal,and having to go home with a men's ice hockey goose egg.*
Overall,the Games were a positive event on the global calendar.This blog congratulates Russia for its excellent athletic and security effort.The Games were definitely a high point in their history.*
As for Sochi itself,it was clearly transformed by the sprirt and success of the Olympic Games.It is looking ahead to the Winter Paralympics March 7-16 and a Formula One Grand Prix motor race in October.
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Gold in the Winter Sun
Where it shines on Sochi town.
For two weeks,the world with its eyes
Absorbed every win,and the sighs
Were gathered in as well.We heard "Kalinka,"
The Russian birch still well,
The swell of the sea and the people
Magnificent Slavic emotion
With soft snow on the mountain.
(C)2014 Andrew K Taylor

Sochi Winter Olympics Medals;Noelle Pikus-Pace

Total medals count as of Thursday night:
1.Norway 13
2.Netherlands 12
2.USA 12
3.Russia 11
4.Canada 10
4.Germany 10
5.Sweden 5
5.Austria 5
6.Switzerland 4
6.Slovenia 4
Germany had the most gold medals(7).*
The USA continued its success in freestyle skiing and snowboarding as the US men swept the slopestyle skiing medals,led by Joss Christensen.Most of the American medals so far were from these freestyle disciplines.This fact may put extra pressure on alpine skiers and gold medalists Ted Ligety and Bode Miller as they compete for the USA in Friday's men's Super Combined event,which couples a downhill race with a slalom.*
Another chance for a USA traditional discipline medal is in the final heats of the women's skeleton Friday,where Noelle Pikus-Pace,31,was in second place behind Great Britain's Lizzy Yarnold,one of the few medal contenders for her country,after the first two heats.Russia's Yelena Nikitina was in third and American Katie Uhlaender
close behind her in fourth.
Pikus-Pace,a mother with a cheerful demeanor,has had a frustrtating Olympics career.In 2006,she had to withdraw when she was sruck by a bobsled during a training run,which broke her leg.At Vancouver 2010,she missed a bronze medal by 0.10 of a second.She says she intends to retire regardless of the results this time.*
Also of note on Thursday,Italy's Arianna Fontana won the silver medal in the women's 500 meter short track speedskating event when Great Britain's Elise Christie was disqualified for an illegal pass that caused a crash.

MF Global:2011 Prospects For Investors

John Brady,Senior Vice-President at MF Global,says you're seeing capital go out of bond funds and into stock funds.He really thinks it's been about a repositioning trade,a rotation trade,getting cash off the balance sheet and back into the market.
The refinancing schedule for Spain and Italy really picks up next year.Investors want to be very concerned then about what takes place in the Euro-zone.
Perhaps inflation and monetary policy in China will affect the market in 2011,increasing global market volatility.
Mr.Brady still thinks it's gonna be a slow,long recovery in the employment market.
MF Global is a brokerage offering customized solutions,providing its clients global access to more than 70 securities and futures exchanges,as well as OTC markets.It has offices worldwide,from New York to London and Dubai.
MF Global Holdings Ltd(MF)