Joseph Lazzaro

A divided Republican Party ends its debate marathon during its 2012 nomination process by beginning another marathon: the primaries. However, Mitt Romney will try to make the race a short one by winning big Tuesday night in the New Hampshire primary.

U.S. stocks ended slightly higher on Monday in a light-volume session, as investors stayed cautious ahead of corporate earnings and key auctions for European debt this week.

European shares fell on Monday in thin trade, with banking stocks among the worst movers led by UniCredit as it commenced its rights issue, while worries about the start of the U.S.earnings season also weighed.

Can natural gas become the United States' cheap, primary energy source of the early 21st century? It’s possible, under the right conditions.

A new poll by American Research Group showed that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, had 40 percent support in the survey of 600 likely Republican primary voters done on Friday and Saturday. That was up from 35 percent in the group's previous poll in mid-December.

European stocks were essentially flat on Monday at mid-day in choppy trade, bouncing from last week's sharp pull-back, with gains in defensives limited by a drop in banking shares led by Unicredit following its rights issue.

Japan's Nikkei share average slipped more than 1 percent on Friday, backing further away from its 25-day moving average as investors fretted over the euro zone debt crisis and weakness in the single currency.

The Republican debate on Saturday was not intended to give the impression that Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman, and Rick Perry were reluctant to challenge Mitt Romney -- the presumptive nominee to oppose Democratic President Barack Obama next fall -- but the event certainly had that feel.

Apple (AAPL), according to one stock reviewer, is that rare tech stock you can buy for your child's college fund, and in 10 years you'll be glad you did.

Has the U.S. stock market's gyrations left you feeling a little perplexed? Then consider the stocks of large-capitalization companies with demonstrated business models. And here are five.

European shares ended little changed on Friday, with many investors happy to cash in on three weeks of gains ahead of the start of the U.S. fourth-quarter earnings season on Monday.

Despite a large amount of borrowing by the U.S. and its large national debt, the interest rate institutional investors charge the U.S. government remains low. What’s going on here?

European shares were higher early Friday afternoon, as the U.S. non-farm payroll data for December indicated improving job market conditions in the world's largest economy.

Japan's Nikkei share average slipped more than 1 percent on Friday, backing further away from its 25-day moving average as investors fretted over the euro zone debt crisis and weakness in the single currency.

While several monthly and quarterly economic data points indicate the U.S. economic recovery is gaining some momentum, investors/readers should also keep in mind several long-term factors that will continue to work against the recovery, and policy makers' effort to lower the U.S. unemployment rate.

Europe's market slid on Thursday, with banks the biggest fallers on worries that some of them will have to follow UniCredit and offer deep share price discounts when they recapitalize to shore up ravaged balance sheets.

President Barack Obama unveiled a defense strategy on Thursday that calls for greater U.S. military presence in Asia and envisions cutting troops in Europe as the Pentagon seeks to reduce spending by nearly half a trillion dollars after a decade of war.

With his strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, Ron Paul demonstrated that he can appeal to a segment of the electorate outside of his base, but is his message broad enough to secure a major party nomination?

Richard Cordray,President Barack Obama's nominee to head a new financial watchdog agency, said on Wednesday he was ready to get to work, and would not be distracted by challenges to his appointment.

European shares fell in low volume on Wednesday, halting four days of gains, led by banks after Italian lender UniCredit priced a rights issue at a massive discount, highlighting the struggle the sector faces to raise funds.

European shares slipped from five-month highs on Wednesday, with Italy's UniCredit leading banks lower after it priced a capital increase at a deep discount, suggesting a weak appetite at a time when several lenders face capital increases.

Japan's leading share average rose to a three-week closing high on Wednesday after better-than-expected economic data from the United States and China, although strategists said the rally could stall if the euro holds below 100 yen.

One useful barometer to gauge stock market valuation is the S&P 500 price-per-earnings (P/E) ratio, compared to its historical averages, both the mean and median.

Gold rose by nearly 2 percent on Tuesday, fueled by a recovery in the euro against the dollar, after the bullion price neared six-month lows last week in a flurry of year-end selling.

European stocks rose to their highest close in five months on Tuesday after strong manufacturing data from the world's two biggest economies, the United States and China, boosted investor confidence and helped shift attention away from the Eurozone.

The focus of the U.S. political world is on Iowa and its caucuses, as it marks the first, popular-based data point of the 2012 campaign for president of the United States. But that does not mean Iowa is predictive.

European stocks were higher early Tuesday afternoon, hitting a two-month high on sharp gains in cyclical mining shares, while simmering concerns over the Eurozone crisis sent French and Spanish markets lower.

Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday, with risk appetite improving at the start of the new year and as sentiment was boosted by a rally in European stocks and positive Chinese economic data. Japan's market re-opens on Wednesday.

What will the year 2012 bring? Well, it looks like: the Summer Olympics in London. After that, venturing a prediction is a tough task, but here are a few.