The more important events, however, were the twin crises confronting the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell.

FORBES: Part I in a CSR Series: Corporate Citizenship in a Global Economy

The twin crises of Europe undercapitalized banks and massive risk premiums on sovereign debt can not be tackled independently.

FORBES: Soros: Euro Summit 'Fiasco' Could Prove 'Fatal'

Meanwhile, the report by Punjab's government encourages farmers to alleviate the twin crises of environmental degradation and falling productivity by returning to traditional practices.

ECONOMIST: Punjabis are poisoning themselves

That's what Federal Reserve watchers are wondering today after it lowered its benchmark interest rate to 2% from 2.25%--its seventh cut since the twin credit and mortgage crises began to unravel last summer.

FORBES: Nowhere To Go

Selling pressure in the precious metals occurred as investor risk appetite has increased this week amid ideas of imminent lawmaker agreements on deals to address the twin U.S. and European Union debt crises.

FORBES: Comex Gold, Silver End Lower as Investor Risk Appetite Upticks on Ideas U.S., EU Debt Agreements Close