Hanging On By A Thread

I'm just reading over some of today's (12-15-2011) headlines. What will be the next shoe to drop? I don't know what it will be, but I do know the euro can not withstand much more; I do know there will are more shoes to drop.

Euro zone nerves boost Swiss franc, gold steadies

(Reuters) - The Swiss franc gained against the euro on Thursday after officials declined to ramp up their campaign to cap its rise, while another safe haven, gold, steadied following recent sharp declines as nervousness over the euro zone debt crisis rises.

By Richard Hubbard

LONDON | Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:07am EST

GLOBAL MARKETS: European Stocks Expected To Open Lower; Asia Weighs

DECEMBER 15, 2011, 2:36 A.M. ET

--Stocks set to open lower; weakness in Asia weighs

--Poor data from Japan and China sour the tone

--Euro-zone debt drama remains at the fore front

--Spanish bond auction eyed after Italy's poor auction

LONDON (Dow Jones)---European stock markets are expected to open lower Thursday amid concerns about Asian economies after grim data from China and Japan, and persistent fears that the European debt crisis is worsening after Italy's poor bond auction on Wednesday.

Sentiment was soured overnight in Asia by a weak business sentiment report in Japan and a contraction in China's manufacturing activity. At 0715 GMT, Japan's Nikkei 

Associated Press 

Russia pledges at least $10 billion to save euro

By SLOBODAN LEKIC,  – 6:50 AM EST Dec. 15, 2011  

BRUSSELS (AP) — Russia, hoping to keep its largest export market from collapsing, will give at least $10 billion to the International Monetary Fund to help support the struggling euro currency, an aide to President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.

Russian officials have said in the past that the country would offer up to $10 billion. But Arkady Dvorkovich, a Medvedev economic adviser, indicated the total may be greater because Russia has a big economic stake in the European Union, where a debt crisis is dragging down economies and the 17-nation eurozone.

  

 AP

Global markets cautious over economic gloom

By CARLO PIOVANO, Business Writer – 7:05 AM Dec. 15, 2011  

LONDON (AP) — Signs of a global economic slowdown and stresses in Europe's financial system kept investors cautious on Thursday, causing losses in Asian markets, limiting gains in Europe and keeping the euro near 11-month lows.

AFP

China manufacturing,i nvestments hurt by global crises

By Allison Jackson (AFP) – 1:15 AM Dec. 15, 2011

BEIJING — China's manufacturing activity contracted in December while foreign direct investment fell for the first time in 28 months, data showed Thursday, as crises in the US and Europe drag on the economy.