Oil hits new low for year as eurozone debt weighs (AFP)

John M. Mason submits: On December 21, 2010, I made the following brash prediction, " ... my view of long term Treasury yields for 2011 is up, with the 10-year Treasury security reaching 4.5-5.0% in the upcoming year, a rise from around 3.3% to 3.5% now." I still believe that this is where the yield on the 10-year Treasury security should be.

The euro fell against other major currencies in Asia on Thursday after a short-lived rally on intervention rumours amid persistent concerns over eurozone debts, analysts said.The euro was quoted at 1.2327 dollars in Tokyo afternoon trade after the single currency rallied to 1.2408 dollars in New York late Wednesday. However, it held off from the four-year lows below 1.22 it hit earlier Wednesday.It also fell to 112.92 yen from 113.90.The dollar was at 91.39 yen, down from 91.70 yen in New York.

The euro fell against other major currencies in Asia on Thursday after a short-lived rally on intervention rumours amid persistent concerns over eurozone debts, analysts said.The euro was quoted at 1.2327 dollars in Tokyo afternoon trade after the single currency rallied to 1.2408 dollars in New York late Wednesday. However, it held off from the four-year lows below 1.22 it hit earlier Wednesday.It also fell to 112.92 yen from 113.90.The dollar was at 91.39 yen, down from 91.70 yen in New York.

Gold opened at a record high of 1,228.00-1,229.00 US dollars an ounce in Hong Kong on Wednesday, as investors sought a safe-haven over deepening concerns about the eurozone debt crisis.The precious metal closed in Asia on Tuesday at 1,208.00-1,209.00 dollars but later climbed as high as 1,224.82 dollars an ounce in European trade.Analysts said the commodity was likely to maintain its safe haven role while other markets remained vulnerable.The previous record for the metal was set on December 3 last year when it reached 1,226.56 dollars.

Oil prices slid on Wednesday, with New York crude hitting the lowest point for more than five months, as the dollar strengthened on eurozone debt strains, analysts said. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in June tumbled to $91.81 a barrel -- the lowest level since early November.It later stood at $92.39 a barrel, down $1.59 compared with Tuesday's close.Brent North Sea crude for June slid $1.11 to $111.13 a barrel in London deals on Wednesday. The contract had hit a near four-month low of $110.04 on Monday.

By Calafia Beach Pundit: Since the end of April, just before the eurozone sovereign debt crisis sta

We are told that eurozone finance ministers meeting on Monday night in Brussels are keen to put the crisis in the single currency behind them. Well, maybe. But you could argue that they shouldn't put it too far behind them. Why? Because across the eurozone, governments are pinning their recovery hopes on a weak euro. And in 2011, most analysts are expecting the euro to go up.