Economics and Investing:

Tim B. sent this: Dollar Crisis Looms if US Doesn’t Curb Debt

And in related news, GG sent us this: US must cut spending to save AAA rating, warns Fitch

GG also sent this one: The Coming Sovereign Debt Crisis, by Nouriel Roubini and Arpitha Bykere

Yet another from GG: A Season Of Discontent: The only alternatives for which majorities express “a lot” of trust to help manage financial risk are close family members (64 percent) and their own efforts (74 percent)

Items from The Economatrix:

Stocks Rise as Optimism Builds About Earnings

Retails Sales Fall Unexpectedly; Jobless Claims Up

Scariest Chart of the Day

US Has Record December Budget Gap of $91.9 Billion