You thought 2011 was tough? (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Shaky Europe. Political gridlock. Volatile markets.

Familiar themes for those who lived through 2011, and investors should be ready to revisit them next year.

With a spiraling debt crisis in Europe, political upheaval around the world, and crumbling creditworthiness in major industrial nations, 2011 was a tough year to know where to invest. 2012 is unlikely to offer much respite.

The S&P 500, a measure of the biggest U.S. companies' market value, spent much of the year getting pushed up and down, flummoxing shorts and longs - and scaring Moms and Pops away from stocks. It ended the year at 1,257.60, down a mere 0.04 of a point.

But the S&P 500's tepid performance was encouraging, compared with other world equity markets. The United States may still be seen as a safe haven, though even that looks uncertain.

For every rally built on improving economic figures this year, selloffs were never far away on worries the European debt crisis would eventually drag the continent into a recession and perhaps the United States as well. That could continue in 2012.

China and other fast-growing emerging markets can no longer be leaned on as those economies slow. In 2011's last half, the poorest-performing sectors outside of banks were most connected to global growth - materials, energy and industrial companies.

"There is a growing realization that the global economy is in jeopardy," said Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Robert W. Baird & Co in Nashville. "There is uncertainty in every corner of the world."

That uncertainty fed substantial volatility in 2011. Despite the S&P's flat performance this year, there were 66 trading days when stocks moved in a 2 percent range. In 2008, when Lehman Brothers collapsed during a global financial crisis, there were more than 130 trading days when stocks swung that much. But that led to a flight from equities by retail investors.

U.S. equity funds had outflows in every month since May. More than $483 billion left U.S. mutual funds in 2011 through the year's second-to-last week, even though the U.S. market outperformed foreign stocks late in the game.

BEATING GLOBAL RIVALS

The S&P 500 ended the year off a scant 0.003 percent, the closest it has come to unchanged since 1947, according to Standard & Poor's. The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) finished 2011 with a 5.5 percent gain, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) slipped 1.8 percent.

In contrast, the MSCI world stocks index (.MIWD00000PUS) fell 9 percent, while the FTSEurofirst-300 index (.FTEU3) slid nearly 11 percent.

The darlings in the emerging markets fared the worst. China's Shanghai Composite index (.SSEC) lost 22 percent, India's BSE (.BSESN) sank 25 percent, and Brazil's Bovespa (.BVSP) dropped 18 percent.

Strategists say the U.S. stock market may benefit from reasonable economic growth and attractive market valuation. The S&P 500 is expected to rise 6 percent by the end of 2012, according to the most recent poll of Wall Street strategists.

When Wall Street gets back to work on Tuesday, it will face a holiday-shortened week and a slew of economic indicators. The most crucial numbers will come on Friday when the government will release the December non-farm payrolls report. Economists polled by Reuters expect a December gain of 150,000 jobs, compared with an increase of 120,000 jobs in November.

Volatility is likely to persist through early 2012 because of the uncertainty in Europe and rising concern about slowed earnings growth due to recent revisions.

The S&P 500's price-to-earnings ratio - what investors are willing to pay for a dollar of earnings - is under 12, below the 25-year average of 15. In weaker markets like Germany's DAX, the figure is below 9.

"We're building in a massive recession into these numbers," said Marc Pado, U.S. market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. in San Francisco.

U.S. companies cutting earnings' outlooks recently outpaced those raising theirs by the greatest ratio in 10 years. Some sectors, such as materials, have seen a sharp drop in forecasts for the fourth quarter, Thomson Reuters data showed.

Last week, downbeat earnings from Oracle Corp (ORCL.O) shook confidence in the tech sector's health before the quarterly earnings season's start in January. Oracle joined a growing list of companies, including some of technology's biggest names, whose results and outlooks have set off alarm bells.

Next year, S&P 500 earnings are seen rising 9.9 percent, down from an estimate of 13 percent in October.

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Graphics: Global markets in 2011: Volatile and Unpredictable http://r.reuters.com/xut75s

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RECESSION FEARS

Many economists believe the euro zone is already in recession. They forecast that the economies of the 17-nation bloc will stagnate in 2012 after contracting in this year's fourth quarter and the first quarter of the next.

Investors are worried that Italy and Spain will have to keep refinancing borrowings at unsustainable levels early next year, which could escalate the crisis.

The correlation between the U.S. stock market and the euro skyrocketed in 2011 as investors tied bets on risky assets to the euro's moves. That trend ebbed as equities rallied near the end of the year, but it is likely to flare up again.

So far the U.S. economy has stayed on course for moderate growth. Economists expect it to expand by about 2.1 percent next year. But it is unclear how a slowdown in the rest of the world will affect the economy stateside.

The key may be China rather than Europe.

"China is the 800-pound gorilla in the room and is probably the most important country to watch in terms of their contribution to global growth," said Michael Sheldon, chief market strategist at RDM Financial in Westport, Connecticut.

Chinese business confidence is weakening. A survey showed export orders fell for the first time in nearly three years.

The drop in materials shares in 2011's second half reflects worry about declining activity overseas. The S&P Materials Index (.GSPM) lost nearly 14 percent in the last six months.

GRIDLOCK SHOCK

One of the pivotal events of 2011 was the downgrade of the United States' perfect triple-A credit rating. Standard & Poor's cited congressional bickering as the reason for the downgrade.

August's stalemate in Washington over raising the debt ceiling sparked a selloff that accelerated after the downgrade.

Investors expect the gridlock in Congress to get worse as the U.S. presidential election approaches in November. The election is likely to be close, which will not make legislative efforts to tackle high debt levels and weak demand any easier.

Rancor was in view again in December as Congress struggled to pass a two-month extension of U.S. payroll-tax cuts.

"There will be less certainty about taxation and regulation so that will inhibit business formation and business growth," said Brian Battle, a trader at Performance Trust Capital Partners in Chicago.

Goldman Sachs sees global growth highly susceptible in 2012 to even minor shocks - and those shocks may be political.

"Slowing growth (and in places outright contraction), public-sector cuts, and a renegotiation of the social compact between state and society in different parts of the world is an environment ripe for political turmoil," Goldman said in a note to clients.

(Reporting By Edward Krudy; Editing by Jan Paschal)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111230/bs_nm/us_usa_stocks_weekahead

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Kobe: I directed A-Rod to knee therapy in Germany (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Kobe Bryant confirms he recently directed Alex Rodriguez to the German doctor who performed the treatment the Yankees' slugger had on his right knee.

"I gave him the phone number," Bryant said Thursday night before the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the New York Knicks.

Bryant opened up about the steps he has taken to heal his arthritic joints in a rare pregame interview, crediting the therapy with dramatic improvement in his own troublesome right knee and an injured left ankle in recent months.

When Rodriguez inquired about Bryant's treatment, Bryant vouched for the German doctor who developed the course of injections of plasma-rich platelets that supposedly stimulate healing in arthritis-affected areas.

Bryant says his knee is now 95 percent healthy after at least three surgeries in the last eight years. He apparently had the same treatment done in October on his ankle, which also isn't limiting him this season.

"You can't just try something just to try it," Bryant said. "It has to make sense. It has to be something that you can back with research and study and things like that."

And how did Bryant get information about the therapy ? called Orthokine ? being done in Duesseldorf?

"It's my job to know these things," Bryant said with a grin.

The Yankees might benefit from Bryant's knowledge. General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that Rodriguez is "100 percent," with "no red flags" going into spring training.

Rodriguez had surgery on his right knee last July and saw his power drop in the second half and postseason. He played in 99 games and hit 16 homers, struggling to produce at his usual prolific levels.

Bryant is far from fully healthy. He's still playing with a torn ligament in his right wrist, wearing a brace on the joint whenever he isn't on court.

He's no longer wearing a wrap on the oft-injured index finger on his right hand, but that's because the joint is now "bone on bone," according to Bryant.

And Bryant hasn't stopped trying new things to heal more quickly and thoroughly. Several Lakers joined him at a cryotherapy clinic in the Sacramento area on Monday, trying out an extreme cold chamber that's thought to decrease pain and swelling in athletes.

Bryant can't remember when his friendship with A-Rod started, but they've been friendly for years, going out to dinner and talking regularly. He's grateful he could help the 36-year-old slugger get back in top shape.

"As a Yankee fan? Hell yeah," Bryant said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111230/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_bryant_rodriguez_knees

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Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Skin Case for HTC Rezound

Mobi Products Skin Case for HTC Rezound

The ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day for Dec. 28 is the Mobi Products Skin Case for the HTC Rezound. Available in six colors -- black, blue, red, purple, pink or clear -- the case comprises a durable material that feels great in the hand thanks to its anti-slip properties, has an anti-dust coating and has cutouts for all the ports and buttons. And best of all, it's available today only for just $4.95 -- that's 75 percent off! Get yours while supplies last!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/6WtS_pRp4eA/story01.htm

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Japan eases weapons export, collaboration rule

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Buenos Aires News.Net
Tuesday 27th December, 2011

TOKYO -- Japan's Cabinet Tuesday decided to ease a four-decade long self-imposed ban on weapons shipments paving the way for Japanese companies to participate in international weapons development and manufacturing projects.

The decision marks the first major revision since the ban was introduced in 1967 and tightened in 1976 to effectively bar all weapon sales.

"Under the new standards, Japan will be able to transport military equipment for missions of peace-building and international cooperation," Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba told reporters.

"Japan can now address international peace cooperation and global challenges such as terrorism and piracy more proactively and effectively," the minister added.

The move ease restrictions comes as Japan strives to reduce defense spending for developing and manufacturing advanced technology ballistic missile defense and jet fighters.

During the decades of restrictions, Japan was granting permission for collaboration on a case by case basis guided by its own security concerns and participation in peacekeeping programme. One of the few exceptions included the missile defence programme with the United States.

Under the new rules Japanese companies will be able to forge technological alliances with foreign companies for weapons development.

They will be allowed to develop and produce arms jointly with the US, European countries and Australia for exports of military equipment for peaceful and humanitarian purposes such as UN peacekeeping operations.

Companies will be allowed to supply defensive equipment, such as helmets and bullet-proof vests, to specified countries in which Japan's Self Defense Forces are deployed.

?


Source: http://www.buenosairesnews.net/story/202166245

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Mark Wahlberg Pumped For Michael Bay's 'Pain And Gain'

Not everyone can make the transition from early '90s rapper/underwear model to Academy Award-nominated actor. Over the years, Mark Wahlberg proved he could break the mold, and he's hoping to do that again with Michael Bay for "Pain and Gain," the director's small true-life passion project about Miami bodybuilders turned kidnappers. Wahlberg spoke with MTV [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/12/28/mark-wahlberg-michael-bay-pain-and-gain/

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Error Code 0x80070424 with Windows Firewall and "Base Filtering Engine Service" Not available in services database list.

Recently, many customers reported the Windows Firewall issue. This seemed to be caused by a wide spread malicious application.

Symptom:

The error message "Windows Firewall can't change some of your settings. Error code 0x80070424" will pop up when you try to change the Windows Firewall settings. In the meantime, when you restart the system, it might pop up an error saying that "Base Filtering Engine Service" could not be found in the system.

Please note that the same error code could?pop up when?you try doing anything in Windows Defender.

Resolution:

Download the registry files (You can also export HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BFE from another working PC)
1055.BFE.reg

Launch and import them to registry

Restart your PC

Now,open RUN and type

regedit and click ok

go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BFE

Right click on it-permissions

Click on ADD and type

Everyone and click ok

Now Click on Everyone

Below you have permission for users

Select full control and click ok

Now,open RUN and type services.msc and click ok

start base filtering engine service and then windows firewall service

Good luck

Note:Modifying REGISTRY settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of REGISTRY settings can be solved. Modifications of these settings are at your own risk...

?

Threads that you can reference:

Source: http://blogs.technet.com/b/asiasupp/archive/2011/12/27/error-code-0x80070424-with-windows-firewall-and-quot-base-filtering-engine-service-quot-not-available-in-services-database-list.aspx

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Northern Nigerian Christians warn of religious war (Reuters)

ABUJA (Reuters) ? Northern Nigerian Christians said on Tuesday they feared that a spate of Christmas Day bombings by Islamist militants that killed over two dozen people could lead to a religious war in Africa's most populous country.

The warning was made in a statement by the northern branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an umbrella organization comprising various denominations including Catholics, Protestant and Pentecostal churches.

But a powerful Muslim traditional ruler, the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar said after meeting the Nigerian president in Abuja on Tuesday that it was not a conflict between Muslims and Christians or between Islam and Christianity.

The Boko Haram Islamist sect, which aims to impose sharia Islamic law across Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the blasts, the second Christmas in a row it has caused carnage at Christian churches.

Saidu Dogo, secretary general for the CAN in Nigeria's 19 northern provinces called on Muslim leaders to control their faithful, saying Christians will be forced to defend themselves against further attacks.

"We fear that the situation may degenerate to a religious war and Nigeria may not be able to survive one. Once again, 'enough is enough!'," Dogo said.

The attacks risk reviving tit-for-tat sectarian violence between the mostly Muslim north and the largely Christian south, which has claimed thousands of lives in the past decade.

Dogo said the CAN was calling on all Christians to continue respecting the law but to defend themselves when needed.

"We shall henceforth in the midst of these provocations and wanton destruction of innocent lives and property be compelled to make our own efforts and arrangements to protect the lives of innocent Christians and peace-loving citizens of this country," Dogo said.

CHRISTIANS VS MUSLIMS

The most deadly attack killed at least 27 people in the St Theresa Catholic church in Madalla, a town on the edge of the capital Abuja, and devastated surrounding buildings and cars as faithful poured out of the church after Christmas mass.

"What is going on is a conflict between evil people and good people," Sultan Abubakar said after the meeting at the presidential residence. "The good people are more than the evil ones. So the good people must come together to defeat the evil ones and that is the message."

"We want to assure our brother Christians and Christian leaders to stand on the part of truth according to our religion and continue to work for the greatness of this country," the Sultan said.

Security forces also blamed Boko Haram for two explosions in the north targeting their facilities. Officials have confirmed 32 people died in the wave of attacks across Nigeria, though local media have put the number higher.

But the church bombs are more worrying because they raise fears that Boko Haram is trying to ignite a sectarian civil war in the nearly 160 million nation split evenly between Christians and Muslims, who for the most part co-exist in peace.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has come under pressure to do more to fight the growing security threat which risks derailing economic gains in the OPEC member and Africa's top oil-producing nation.

Nigeria's main opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner and former military ruler who lost a presidential election in April to Jonathan, accused the government of incompetence on Monday, saying government was slow to respond and had shown indifference to the bombings.

The CAN said in the statement that it was concerned that the perpetrators and their sponsors "are well-known to government and no serious or decisive actions have been taken to stem their nefarious activities."

(Writing by Bate Felix)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/religion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111227/wl_nm/us_nigeria_blast

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Wall Street investors tread cautiously post-holiday

By The Associated Press

Stock futures are mixed and nearly flat after four straight days of gains.

In the first day of trading following the holiday weekend, futures for the Dow Jones industrial average are up 3 to 12,220. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 is down 1 at 1,259. And the Nasdaq composite is up 4.25 at 2,283.

A run of strong data from the U.S. ahead of the long holiday weekend had buoyed investors around the world but particularly on Wall Street. The Dow Jones index closed last Friday at a five-month high.

European shares eked out modest gains Tuesday despite an earlier retreat in Asia.

Due later Tuesday are reports on home prices on October home prices at 9 a.m. ET and consumer sentiment at 10 a.m. ET.

? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/27/9737708-wall-street-investors-tread-cautiously-post-holiday

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Now this is how you raise a kid to grow up right

 

Android baby's room

It's not often that I'm at a loss for words. But this is just so awesome I'm going to let it stand on its own merits. Congrats to Android Forums member scoty024 for being quite the artiste, and to his wife for being so ... forgiving. Even I couldn't get away with doing this. Pretty sure you just signed up for the first 1,000 diaper changes, dude. (The good news: That's only a two-week sentence.)

Dive on into the forums at the link below and give scoty024 a major high five for pulling this off.

More: My unborn son is an Android fan

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/1PNRSDn8TwM/story01.htm

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Coach Hay secretive about starting goalie for Canada vs Finland

Donna Spencer The Canadian Press

EDMONTON?It would be more comforting for Canada?s fans if it was obvious who their starting goaltender is for the first game of the 2012 world junior hockey championship.

But it isn?t obvious.

Since a 5-3 pre-tournament loss to Sweden on Friday, there?s been a question mark hanging over the host country?s goaltending situation. Canada opens the tournament Monday against Finland.

Head coach Don Hay said prior to the team?s practice Sunday he?d made his choice, but he didn?t reveal it to reporters.

Mark Visentin and Scott Wedgewood practised without knowing, although Hay planned to inform his goalies after a team meeting later which one would get the coveted start in the tournament opener.

?I feel good about which guy I?m going to pick,? Hay declared. ?I know right now who it?s going to be and I?ll let them know later.?

Hay has maintained since selection camp earlier this month that Visentin is his No. 1 goalie because of Visentin?s experience playing in the 2011 tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.

But after Visentin gave up four goals on 17 shots and Wedgewood stopped all 10 shots he faced before the Swedes scored an empty-net goal, questions arose over which goalie was the most ready for the tournament.

Hay did say he plans to play both goalies in the tournament. That?s not unusual.

The backup often gets a game in the preliminary round against the weaker country promoted from the second-tier world championship, which would be Thursday?s game against Denmark.

?Both goalies feel, at least I feel that way right now, is that both goalies feel there?s confidence coming from me to them,? Hay said. ?No matter who we play, no matter what time of the game it is, or against whoever, I think the goalies should have a lot of confidence.?

The U.S. meets Denmark in the later Pool A game in Edmonton. Latvia and Sweden open Pool B games in Calgary on Monday afternoon, followed by defending champion Russia versus Switzerland at night.

The top team in each pool earns byes to the semifinals. The second and third seeds cross over to meet in the quarter-finals.

Canada has won a medal in this tournament 13 straight years, including five gold from 2005 to 2009, and has played in the final every year for the last decade. Canada took silver the last two years.

Securing the bye to the semifinals provides rest and an extra day of preparation to the countries who earn them, but in recent tournaments, the bye hasn?t been that much of an advantage.

Three of the last four winners have come through a quarter-final ? Canada in 2008, the U.S. in 2010 and Russia in 2011.

Canada opens against the Finns after beating them 3-1 in an exhibition game Dec. 19. Finland played hard in that game despite having just recently arrived in Canada.

?We were in that game,? Finnish coach Raimo Helminen said. ?I don?t know if we can be better but I hope so (that) we can compete against the big favourite.?

Helminen, too, was secretive on the subject of his starting goalie. Chris Gibson, who plays for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League?s Chicoutimi Sagueneens, was outstanding his two periods of the exhibition game against Canada.

Sam Aittokallio played the last period and the Colorado Avalanche prospect has the experience of playing one game in the tournament in Buffalo.

The Finns last won this tournament in 1998 and are looking for a bounce-back year after finishing sixth in Buffalo. They have six returning players, as well as a player who is considered the best one outside the NHL this season in Mikael Granlund.

The first-round pick (ninth overall) of the Minnesota Wild is a player Canada must pay attention to, says Hay.

?The Granlund line is a very talented line,? Hay said. ?They?re very explosive and they?re the key I feel to their team and we have to make sure we limit their offensive opportunities.?

Canada went 2-1 in pre-tournament play. Visentin of the Niagara IceDogs made 22 saves in the exhibition games versus the Finns. The first-round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes is more conservative in his movements in net than the acrobatic Wedgewood.

Visentin was handed the starting job for the medal round in Buffalo and backstopped Canada to wins in the quarter-final and semifinal. Canada was leading 3-0 heading into the third period of the gold-medal game, but Russia scored five unanswered goals on Visentin to take the title.

He?s never shirked from addressing his role in the collapse. The maturity and experience he gained through that experience is considered valuable to Canada?s chances in this tournament.

?My mentality is the same as the team?s,? Visentin said Sunday. ?We want to get better each and every day and once the tournament starts we need to bring our ?A? game every day so that?s what I?m going to do.?

Wedgwood, who plays for the Plymouth Whalers, stopped 24 of 25 shots in Canada?s 7-1 victory over Switzerland on Thursday. The third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils was a standout in selection camp.

?The coaches are going to make a decision they feel comfortable with and as a goalie you?ve got to deal with it,? Wedgewood said. ?When you get your opportunity, take it.?

The Canadian team spent Christmas Eve at the home of Edmonton Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe and then received Christmas gifts from Hockey Canada back at their hotel.

?The last week has been fun, we worked on a lot, I think we got a lot better and we became closer as a team, but the tournament is finally here and the atmosphere is going to be great,? Canadian captain Jaden Schwartz said. ?Finland is going to be a first tough contest for us so we?re real excited.?

Source: http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/juniorhockey/article/1106981--coach-hay-secretive-about-starting-goalie-for-canada-vs-finland

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