Silvio Berlusconi

Markets may be closed until Monday, but there is at least one event scheduled to start of the weekend that could have traders feeling skittish over the next 48 hours: Italy's elections. Candidates wrapped up their campaigns in the Eurozone's third-largest economy with most pundits and...

This weekend, Italians will hit the polls in the much anticipated parliamentary elections. The elections will decide the next ruling party in Italy and could very well determine the near-term future of the European debt crisis, thus making it a major trading event for investors. Opinion polls have...

Futures Rise on German Business Confidence U.S. equity futures rose in pre-market trading following the release of the German IFO Business Confidence Survey. The Survey showed that German business leaders were more confident about the future of the Eurozone economy than expected, with the index...

The euro slipped over the weekend and recovered only slightly on Monday morning, trading at 1.3383 at 8:30 GMT. The currency was under heavy pressure after political uncertainty threatened to throw the recent recovery efforts off track in both Spain and Italy, two of the region's most fragile...

Euro strength a problem? Not any more, as the euro reversed weeks of gains against the dollar as the EUR/USD declined back below 1.34 for the first time since January 25. Further, the chart for the pair is anything but rosy and should the fundamentals not change much, the pair looks set to fall...

The euro traded steadily near $1.35 after its rally was quashed early on Tuesday after political scandals in some of the region's weaker economies unfolded. On Wednesday the currency held steady, trading at 1.3536. Political uncertainty in Spain and Italy shook investors' confidence and renewed...

Monday, global financial markets got beat down on what was effectively a repricing of sovereign and political risk in Europe. Bond yields rose, bank stocks fell, and broadly, risk assets traded weakly. Europe just looked pretty ugly Monday. Beginning in Italy, 10-year government bond yields crept...

Futures Flat on Global Fears U.S. equity futures were flat in pre-market trading Monday on global fears as eurozone risks crept higher. Peripheral bond yields rose overnight as former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wants to undo austerity measures just two weeks before elections and also...

Futures Flat on Weak German GDP U.S. equity futures traded fractionally lower in early Tuesday trade following the release of fourth quarter and full year 2012 GDP data for Germany. German GDP contracted 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter bringing the 2012 total rate of growth of +0.7 percent,...

Futures Lower on Debt Ceiling Fears U.S. equity futures traded slightly lower and European shares ticked down in early trade as investors feared the next upcoming cliff, that of the Debt Ceiling. Republicans look set to use the upcoming debate over increasing the debt ceiling to pass spending cuts...

With 2013 just around the corner and most traders already closed up for 2012, it's time to look ahead to 2013. Some of the key events and market drivers next year can be foreseen and some may be somewhat speculative, but in all 2013 looks set to be another whip saw year, filled with continued...

The euro traded at 1.3227 on Thursday morning as confidence in the eurozone continued to bolster the prices. The common currency has been trading above $1.30 consistently since the restructuring and approval of Greece's aid package. Though the trouble in Greece has been temporarily repaired, many...

'Twas the day before Christmas, and all across the Earth, The investors were stirring, to see what markets were worth. The trades were placed by the brokers with care, In hopes their money wouldn't disappear into thin air. The Americans were worried, some filled with dread, As visions of...

The euro found some footing on Tuesday morning following Monday's roller coaster ride after Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti unexpectedly announced that he would be stepping down. Initially, the news rattled markets as the debt ridden nation is already struggling to repair a broken financial...

Futures Rise on Global Growth Bets U.S. equity futures rose in pre-market trading on renewed hopes of global growth following the strong German ZEW Economic Survey release. The survey, a key indicator of German and European growth, rose to 6.9 in December from -15.7 in November and better than...