Meredith Whitney on 60 Minutes: Expect 50+ muni bond defaults in 2011

This week brings OPEX, a Bank of Japan rate decision, an FOMC rate decision, and a Bank of England rate announcement. As a result, market mechanics should be on full display.

The real estate market is poised to benefit significantly as inflation cools and the Fed begins cutting interest rates next year, leading to increased building, improved affordability, and a recovering volume of transactions.

An Italian departure from EU would be more traumatic than Brexit