Noteworthy Financial Stories for December 16

Global Confidence Holds Near Record as Recovery Gains Momentum
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=apnonIXz1ivk&pos=2

Sentiment on S&P 500 Sinks to Five-Month Low on Debt Concern
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=acX8Gipv5ScM&pos=4

Gold Buying by Central Banks Sends Sell Signal as Past Haunts Future Price
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSmAKY4Wzk7g&pos=6

Federal Reserve’s Bernanke Named Time’s ‘Person of the Year’http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aha7dayF3enc&pos=9

[Outlook 2010] 10 surprises from UBS
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/12/16/113586/10-surprises-from-ubs/

Why Nouriel Roubini's Case Against Gold Is Wrong On Every Count
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-nouriel-roubinis-cae-against-gold-is-wrong-on-every-count-2009-12

The world’s riskiest sovereign borrower 2009
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/12/15/112756/the-worlds-riskiest-sovereign-borrower-2009/

Bernanke says banks stabilized, but lending still weak
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BF2BZ20091216

Will Santa Claus rally the markets this year?
http://www.watoday.com.au/business/cfd/will-santa-claus-rally-the-markets-this-year-20091215-kt19.html

2009 REVIEW & 2010 PREVIEW
http://pragcap.com/2009-review-2010-preview

Monthly Review of 2009
http://www.valueexpectations.com/blogs/november-stock-market-review-retrospect-year-almost-over12082009

Buy anything: 2010 should be a can't-lose year for investors
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/investing/buy-anything-2010-is-forecast-to-be-a-cant-lose-year-for-inves/19276899/

The "Avalanche of Good News" Continues - Even the U.S. Dollar is Up!
http://www.navellier.com/commentary/weekly_marketmail.aspx

The rally may be running out of time
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/ContrarianChronicles/the-rally-may-be-running-out-of-time.aspx

Decidedly Speculative
http://www.hussmanfunds.com/wmc/wmc091214.htm

A Brief Look at Fed Balance Sheet
http://theburningplatform.com/groups/quinns-daily-dose-of-reality/discussions/fed-balance-sheet

Outlook 2010: The Dollar Holds the Key, Todd Harrison Says
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/388906/Outlook-2010-The-Dollar-Holds-the-Key-Todd-Harrison-Says

S&P 500 to Climb to 1,350 Next Year, Prudential’s Praveen Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601084&sid=aXxGbYY2EkDE

Bearish on bonds
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/adviser-remains-bearish-on-treasury-bonds-2009-12-15

Expected Mortgage Rates
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/12/expected-mortgage-rates.html

Morningstar Reports U.S. Mutual Fund and ETF Asset Flows Through November 2009
http://corporate.morningstar.com/US/asp/subject.aspx?xmlfile=174.xml&filter=PR4448

Bad Investment Ideas for 2010
http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=319446

How to Get More "Punch" for Your Dollar?
Consider "Beta" -- a Look at Rino and Chindex
http://www.esignal.com/exchange/12_2009/money_investing.aspx

Rosenberg on Utility Stocks: ‘Where Boring is Sexy’
http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2009/12/14/rosenberg-on-utility-stocks-where-boring-is-sexy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fmarketbeat%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+MarketBeat+Blog%29

A Basel breather heard ’round the world
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/12/16/113836/a-basel-breather-heard-round-the-world/


It's Your Life! No More B(lame) Excuses
http://www.minyanville.com/articles/index/a/25871

Buying bonds? Use caution
http://www.bankrate.com/system/util/print.aspx?p=/finance/investing/buying-bonds-use-caution.aspx&s=dls&c=investing&t=story&e=1&v=1

23 Funds That Comb the Market for Bargains
http://www.smartmoney.com/investing/mutual-funds/23-funds-that-can-comb-the-market-for-bargains/

More Craziness At Value Line: Value Line fires its legendary investment brain
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091207/FREE/912079992/1051

Stocks seen notching up more gains in 2010
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE5BF2TE20091216

Global stock market rally has further to run
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5BF2TZ20091216

America’s debt burden starts to shrink*
http://blogs.reuters.com/rolfe-winkler/2009/12/14/americas-debt-burden-starts-to-shrink/

Rydex Market Timers Very Optimistic
http://thetechnicaltakedotcom.blogspot.com/2009/12/rydex-market-timers-this-is-amazing.html

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SKEPTICISM REGARDING THE RALLY?
http://pragcap.com/why-is-there-so-much-skepticism-regarding-the-rally

Crash Confidence Index
http://www.bespokeinvest.com/bespoke/2009/12/yales-crash-confidence-index.html

New Signs of Life for Collateralized Loans
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2009/pi20091215_097871.htm

An Amazing Presentation from Mary Meeker
http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-mary-meekers-internet-presentation-from-web-20-2009-10