How long will the stock market crisis and alarming signals from the global financial system last?
Stock reviews
• Strong gains lifted Japan's Nikkei and Asian stock markets, with European and US stock futures indicating they too would follow suit. Given the confluence of factors that led to the sell-off—Japanese interest rate hikes, the winding down of yen-financed global trade, declining U.S. employment, and tensions in the Middle East—ironically, all it took was a reassuring message from central bank officials.
• The Nikkei index is up 9%, nearly reversing Monday's 12.4% fall that sent it into bear market territory. Wall Street looks more resilient, with S&P 500 futures...