The risk is that Mr Snow has not just shifted towards benign neglect of the dollar, but hopes to do a bit of active (downward) prodding.

ECONOMIST: Is the Treasury talking the dollar down?

The long-term chart of the euro shows the steady slide from the 2011 high at 1.4925 and a well-defined downward trading channel (lines c and d) .

FORBES: The Week Ahead: Even Good Earnings Can't Stop a Correction

Indeed, some public pension plans, including the country's largest (the California Public Employee Retirement System) are considering a downward revision of expected returns, which would increase the estimated funding gap.

FORBES

News and downward pressure from Europe has driven Apple ( AAPL) and the major US stock indices sharply lower, but a potential short-covering rally could present select new buying opportunities.

FORBES: Europe Did Spoil Apple's Party

Mr. PETER KAGWANJA (Director, South Africa Program, International Crisis Group): Everything seems to be on a downward spiral, and there seems not to be any solution on the horizons.

NPR: Report Describes a Zimbabwe in Crisis

The revision of the figures is mainly a result of better data-collection methods, particularly in India (which accounts for half the downward revision) and five African countries (which account for another fifth).

ECONOMIST: AIDS

Apart from the high input cost environment, margins have been adversely affected by disproportionate growth in developing markets and mid-tier products, which have lower than segment average selling prices (ASPs) and lower demand for premium-priced products leading to an adverse product mix and a downward pressure on margins.

FORBES: P&G Worth $70 As It Slows Emerging Markets Expansion