Cases like Roper and Lawrence fit squarely into that area of overseas law most sought after for borrowing by the more liberal justices of the court -- that is, the realms of moral or social policy.

WSJ: Sotomayor and International Law

Because asset sales are one-off, that will make it harder for Germany to get below the ceiling on borrowing in 2005 set by the euro area's stability pact.

ECONOMIST: German reforms

In the euro area, it is much harder to turn capital gains into cash by borrowing more as home prices rise or to benefit from falling interest rates by refinancing fixed-rate mortgages, both of which have given a big boost to American household spending.

ECONOMIST: The European Central Bank

Spain's borrowing costs have been rising as investors in the bond market fear it could become the next euro area nation to fall victim to the debt crisis.

CNN: Spain faces bank concerns after downgrade

Yet without a firmer offer of financial assistance from other euro-area countries and perhaps the IMF, the gain from belt-tightening measures could easily be swallowed in higher borrowing costs.

ECONOMIST: Gloom today may turn into anger tomorrow