So here you go..

Dollar has crossed level of 90 rappens (so recovered from 72 which is about 1/4 from the lows)

Stocks down 20% from its peak (DJI)

Gold and Silver have corrected by 10% and 20%

Stocks down today by 3.5 to 5% globally. Most of the Analyst fearing a double dip from here on

Oil too is trading at USD 81

Although if we look at the situation, we are no where close to the lows of 2009. The worry is are going to chase those low sooner. Another rumor doing the round is the whole situation with Switzerland. Currency is not pegged, Banks look weaker than before and because EU is in a much worst shape then 2009, CH might face bigger challenges with Employment and export.

Anyone interested in shedding more light or opinions..

this might explain it...

New lows = new buying opportunities

I agree to desperate. But it feel bad to see stocks down like 8%. I don't have any major positions though but generally it feels gloomy. Silver has corrected like 7+%. Surely some opportunities. But million dollar questions now or wait..

You win both ways.

If the markets rise, you gain value on the stocks you already hold.
If the markets drop, you have more opportunities to buy cheap.

But the win is relative as Joe on the street doesn't know when to enter and when to exit..

Joe in the street just wants to know/be told when to save and when to spend.

damn this sucks. *sour face*

WTF happened? This has to be false growth.

Joe me wants to know what it all means for my CHF savings?

European banks head towards another meltdown

Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I'm getting gloom and doom fatigue over the financial whiplash. Everyday it's a gloomy story followed by something less gloomy which makes me wonder wtf is going on. I kept the vast majority of my money in USD and, well, I'm not easily panicked so...there it sits. I still don't imagine I'll ever see retirement as my parents should have, but didn't, enjoy but...still, all this media whiplash has me on edge. I'm not going to do anything rash, but it makes me cranky as I figure a lot of folks are raking in a lot of cash on those less cranky and more apt to 'optimize' their profit making when they're completely out of their league.

I think we're in for a very rough 2012 and, though I'm no economist, in a country whose wealth is primarily derived from the wealth of foreigners/foreign companies, I wonder where the balance sits.

In such times, the fact that one doesn't have any money is such a comforting thought. No money, no worries of making any losses or losing out on anything. Every cloud has a silver lining!

Agree, and to be honest it feels (with good reason) that there's been several years of strange times already behind us as well... financial meltdown, recession, middle east, etc. - hard to really see a light at the end of the tunnel and i also get a sauna / cold water feeling from following the news.

At work I'm sensing "another downturn" - have rarely seen this much panic at work in my career sofar. CEO, President, etc. terrified that they'll be out of a job in 1.5 month from now... and it paralyzes the rest of the organisation.

hang in there guys... this is just the beginning.

Greece is going to go down the toilet yet.
More than a few banks will then follow.

There will be more bailouts... The bond markets will then pummel Italy ...

oh it's going to get ugly

Yaa, the posts are too gloomy to read on a grey Friday morning but unfortunately I have no arguments which suggests that we might see a rebound soon.

Like Dina suggested there could be a spiraling plummet. There is no silver lining anywhere. Another problem is the relative inflation. Even in an uncertain time like this we are living with 80 dollar oil and most of the food index reasonably high. Thus it should hurt the Joe Guy pretty hard..

Any one with any positive arguments?

Sure, despite what S&P (or whichever of those firms) says, "USA is still a AAA country"

I wouldn't be so pessimistic.

A crisis is just nature's way of redistributing wealth.

So all you've got to do is make sure you're among those who gain and not among those who lose.

If a couple of banks go tits-up, so what? That's Darwin in action, weeding out the bad ones to provide room for the good ones to grow.

To survive this on a personal level, you've got to think long term. Don't try to time the market as you can't see the future. Don't panic if your stocks lose value after you bought them. But buy stuff that is clearly undervalued, ie, companies that are just being dragged down by the general market but that don't have any serious toxic problems so are pretty likely to rebound easily once things ease. Think long term. Don't care if your investment loses 5% today if it could gain 50% or 100% over the next three years or so. Don't be greedy. Don't take unnecessary risks.

I wouldn't mind the USD taking a temporary dive. At least until we return from our trip.

Turns your eyes to China. The sleeping dragon has awakened.

I heard on the hush hush from MeteoSuisse that tomorrow it'll be raining BonBons, so get a few Migros bags from under the sink and be up with the larks. (Ski helmet a good idea).

Or do things the old fashioned way by saving up and paying cash?

I think china is already the next US is making for various reasons not only valuations..