Markets can make people do bad things. That's the disturbing -- but sadly not all that shocking -- conclusion of a recent experiment by two German ...

Expect next week's policy meetings to signal that central bank stand ready to step in, once again, to maintain the disconnect between buoyant equity markets and sluggish economic conditions -- not as an end in itself but, given Congressional dysfunction, as virtually the only way today to support economic activity (and it is rather imperfect as the expected benefits come with growing costs and risks). Look for the Federal Reserve to alter the thrust of its policy narrative. Rather than advance its prior emphasis on tapering its monthly $85 billion purchases of market securities, it will seek to reassure markets by iterating its willingness to do more if needed. Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank will face increasing pressure to cut its interest rate (currently at 0.75%) and liberalize the collateral requirements it imposes -- both meant to loosen monetary conditions.

Can't anybody here play this game? The Chicago Board Options Exchange, the biggest U.S. options exchange and one of the most important derivatives markets in the world, was shut down all of Thursday morning by what was apparently a software glitch.

The bond market tried to warn us about March's grim jobs report. And it's still warning us that the economy is not in great shape. Ten-year Tr...

The trading risks of HFT may decimate the HFT operation and at the same time greatly affect other market participants. Particularly, in selected markets, unchecked HFT may quickly incur considerable losses, well in excess of any tolerable limits.

The U.S. equity market had a great finish to a wonderful first three months of 2013. In logging its best first-quarter performance since 1987 (11 percent), the Dow set yet another all-time high. For its part, the S&P surged 10 percent, ending above its previous (2007) record close.

Whatever else is going on in the business world -- sluggish economy, Washington budget battles, Cyprus bank runs -- the stock market doesn't seem to care. Why is this?

With the Fed likely to remain accommodative, bullish market sentiment may continue to overshadow concerns elsewhere. However, Cyprus has highlighted that we're far from an end to the crisis.

It's not a secret that many pension fund, mutual fund and hedge fund managers are concerned about high-frequency traders (HFTs). While their concerns are many, perhaps the biggest uncertainty involves the actual extent of HFT participation in the markets, their identities and their intent.

If you are concerned about how well the people of the United States are doing economically, do not look to the markets and their indexes as barometers.

Japan was like a rich man with a lot of savings, but it has spent too much over the last 20 years. The United States is still a reserve currency country, but its deficits pose a threat as the national debt becomes a serious issue for its economy.

NEW YORK — Stocks closed higher Wednesday, their first gain of the week, as bank shares rose and comments by President Barack Obama made investo...

* Bernanke defends Fed and ultra-loose policy * U.S. manufacturing sector unexpectedly expands * Goldman Sachs shares up...

* S&P 500 ends quarter with gain of nearly 6 percent * Chicago PMI weaker than expected * U.S.-listed shares of RIM rall...

Is it possible that policy makers and investors have already enjoyed all the good news and rising prices they are going to get from recent Central Bank action?