by Calculated Risk on 12/31/2010 08:24:00 PM

• From the WSJ: Euro-Zone Bonds to Start New Year With Old Problems

Portugal is the biggest question mark right now, and its borrowing costs have been soaring. Yields on its 10-year bonds jumped to 6.682% at the end of 2010, from 4.065% at the end of 2009.

• From Reuters: Estonia joins crisis-hit euro club, others wary. Good luck to Estonia!

• From Catherine Rampell at the NY Times: Career Shift Often Means Drop in Living Standards (ht Ann)

A new study of American workers displaced by the recession sheds light on the sacrifices a large number have made to find work. Many, it turns out, had to switch careers and significantly reduce their living standards.

• From Doug Short: Current Market Snapshot: S&P 500 Up 12.78% for the Year

The S&P 500 closed the day down 0.02%, the week up 0.07%, the month up 6.53%, and the year up an impressive 12.78%.

The index is 85.9% above the March 9 2009 closing low, which puts it 19.6% below the nominal all-time high of October 2007.

And a couple previous posts:
• Question #1 for 2011: House Prices

• A Summary of 2010 in Graphs