SPAIN JOINS IN EUROPE'S WOES, EU TO WORK OUT A GREEK DEBT DEAL

* SPAIN'S DEBT DOWNGRADED
* EU CHIEF SAYS WORKING ON GREEK DEBT DEAL BAILOUT BUT NO ASSURANCES GIVEN
Astoria, New York
More jitters for Europeans after a downgrade of Spain's debt. The country joins Portugal and Greece in Europe's credit crisis. Today, EU chief Herman Van Rompuy has said that his council is working on solving the Greek financial crisis but cannot assure on that. The deal should close in the next few days. He also is enforcing a 2 month ban restricting short sales on the Athens Stock Exchange. This was good enough to send European shares higher today. US shares have rallied yesterday from a decline on Tuesday that took the Dow below 11,000. Yesterday's close saw the Dow above 11 k again. The euro is a bit higher today above 1.32 against the dollar.

EUROPEAN DEBT JITTERS PUSH DOW BELOW 11000

*PORTUGUAL JOINS GREECE IN DEBT WATCH WORRIES
*EURO SLIDES TO NEW 2010 LOWS
Astoria, New York
The greek debt status cut to junk as Portugual's rating downgrade took aim at the world markets. Markets across the globe saw new fresh 2010 peaks clubbered a bit on Tuesday as the European credit crisis deepens a bit. Even a rescue package for Greece did not seem to save it from junk status. But a Portugual downgrade opened the door to a possibility that other European countries such as Spain could follow Greece. These countries are the southern portion of Europe. Historically Southern Europe has been a weak spot for Western Europe. Italy, another country in the area, has been a bit stronger lately thanks to the center right government of billionaire Silvio Berlusconi. The euro currency has been on a slide lately and
Tuesday's events took it to new 2010 lows near the 1.30 area against the US dollar. The real economist will continue to monitor further developments on the European debt crisis.

GOLDMAN SACHS FRAUD PROBE MAY SEND RIPPLES THROUGH THE FINANCIAL MARKETS

Astoria,New York
Goldman Sachs, the jewel of the financial banking system, is under the gun as allegations of fraud are arising. This blogspot will keep updating the situation.
Initially, shares of the company have fallen a bit, but news of good earnings report have baAslanced this situation. "The ongoing investigation and testimony in Congress may be damaging to a degree and we will need to continue to monitor all of this" finalized FPG.

THE DOW CONQUERS THE 11000 MARK,WILL IT HANG ON TO IT?

*LONG AWAITED 11000 TOOK A WHILE BUT ARRIVES BY MID APRIL
*THE REAL ECONOMIST STILL SEES NEGATIVE ECONOMIC ISSUES
Astoria, New York
The Dow reaching 11,000 was like the Roma soccer team of Italy getting past Inter. It took time and hard work but it was achieved. Even though negative economic data are lurking around, positive signs of stability and decrease in unemployment have helped indices push higher. With interest rates near and at lows of the year, investors have returned to large and small cap companies as flocks of birds do when come back from the winter migrations. The Fed has said that interest rates are historical lows but they expect rates to go back higher sooner than later and real estate is in a dormant stage. In the meantime, hungry investors are sliipping back to risky investments. If you look at them, some investments are less risky than one's eye or immagination may suggest. Low priced stocks with low capitalization and good financials could be some of the ingredients for an investor's recipe.

SPRING BLOOM MAY BRING DOW TO 11K

*The Dow has not seen 11000 since 2008
Astoria, New York
The markets hanging in the 10K range for most of the winter are about to crack at the 11K area for the Dow. April begins as a lamb for the holidays, after a snowy February and a wet March. "Even though we still see problems with the economy, it has stabilized in the short giving investors a vote of confidence. This in turn is giving investors a chance to buy stocks with alternate investments not bearing fruit" finalized FPG.