Labor market conditions improved in the latter part of 2011 and earlier this year. The unemployment rate has fallen about 1 percentage point since last August; and payroll employment increased 225,000 per month, on average, during the first three months of this year, up from about 150,000 jobs added per month in 2011.
Insider trading and colluding with corporate customers for short term profits on treasuries have down-sized many large financial conglomerates when the regulators catch up with their pace. For example, Investors in petroleum companies can gain attractive shortterm returns from high oil prices. However, carbon emissions will have an impact on the longterm health of the economy as well as the environment.