Introductory Statement by Chairman Carl Levin – From Senate Committee hearings. The credit rating agencies are; Moody’s, Standard and Poors, and Fitch….QUOTE: “Concluding a two-year bipartisan investigation, Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Senator Tom Coburn MD, R-Okla., Chairman and Ranking Republican on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, today released a 635-page final report (PDF, 6MB) on their inquiry into key causes of the financial crisis. The report catalogs conflicts of interest, heedless risk-taking and failures of federal oversight that helped push the country into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.” levin.senate.gov

Global Financial Markets Tremble As Bad Economic News Continues for US US Offers Foreign Aid to Countries Holding Billions in Treasury Securities The Congressional Research Service released a report last month, a copy of which Fox News exclusively obtained, showing that in fiscal year 2010, the latest year that data was available, the US handed out a total of .4 billion to 16 foreign countries that held at least billion in Treasury securities, including China (.2 million), Brazil ( million), Russia (.5 million), India (6.6 million), Mexico (6.7 million) and Egypt (5.7 million). China is the largest holder of US Treasury bonds with .1 trillion as of March, according to the Treasury Department. Brazil held 3.5 billion, Russia had 7.8 billion, India owned .8 billion, Mexico held .1 billion and Egypt had .3 billion. www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com Dismal Jobs Report Fuels GOP Criticism of Administration on Economy Republicans continued to hammer Obama with an infamous chart pushed by his administration during the 2009 stimulus debate which predicted unemployment would stay below 8 percent and that, by this time, the rate would be below 7 percent. www.foxnews.com Global Financial Markets Tremble As Bad Economic News Continues To Pour In truthiscontagious.com US Growth: Slow and Volatile www.nationaljournal.com As the US economy starts to slow down once again, global financial markets are beginning to tremble. Over the past couple of …

Andy Rooney thinks Americans should know more about their money. Starting with the 0 billion federal bailout plan.

Commodities push higher as UK markets reopen after Christmas break with the key 6000 level for the FTSE 100 remaining in focus.

THE ▀█▀ █▀ █_█ ▀█▀ █▬█ Я Ξ √ Ω LUT ↑ ☼ N There are fresh demonstrations in Madrid against severe budget cuts as the country tries to reduce its massive debt. Spain has been tipped as the next Eurozone economy at risk of needing a bailout, but some say it could be too big to save. RT talks to Jim Corr, a political activist and musician from the Irish band the Corrs. RT on Facebook: www.facebook.com RT on Twitter: twitter.com

Irish downgrade from Moody’s knocks the banks, as markets remain relatively quiet.

European markets edge higher, but investors remain cautious ahead of an EU leaders meeting where the main discussion will be about sovereign debt worries.

“Santa Rally” continues as UK equities climb in morning trading.

Strong Oil and Metals prices drive UK equities higher despite Eurozone tension.

European markets fairly flat this morning as all eyes await US unemployment and payroll figures out this afternoon.