There must be limits on how much debt an economy can take. And by all indications, we blew by those limits long ago.

The gold (GLD) pattern carved out off its October 21 low exhibits bullish structure.

If the problem were one of liquidity, then this week's central banks action would be enough. But the problem is solvency.

Psychological studies have shown that human beings feel the pain of loss twice as intensely as the joy of winning.

People are looking for someone to blame for their troubles, and they're not likely to identify the real culprits. That would take too much time and thought.

Some analysts caution that the move by central banks did nothing to provide a permanent fix to the problems facing heavily indebted European nations such as Italy and Greece. It only buys time for political leaders.

All of the crisis and hoopla of the last four years has been just an attempt to avoid facing up to reality.

How bullish is Mike Paulenoff?

When the crisis began in 2007 people thought we might be in for a little setback. They couldn't imagine any fundamental change happening.

Angela Merkel is leading the call for a rule change, a rewiring of the basic treaty that binds the EU. But is it both too much and too late?