At the same time, the U.S. debt ceiling had been raised by an agreement with the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke promised to keep U.S. Treasuries at their same low interest rate - nearly 0% return - for the next two years.

FORBES: Bonds Are Just One Of Many Ways To Make Money In Debt

The market made a U-turn Friday, with morning losses becoming gains thanks to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

FORBES: Bernanke Letter Gives Stocks A Lift To Close Rocky Week

The major development of the day for U.S. traders Monday is the late-afternoon speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to a group in Michigan.

FORBES: P.M. Kitco Metals Roundup: Gold Ends Firmer on Short Covering and Some Fresh Speculative Buying Interest

Firpta had led a number of investors to change their strategies to investing in real-estate debt in the U.S. rather than equity, said Ben Sanderson of Hermes Real Estate Investment Management Ltd.

WSJ: Tax Plan May Provide Real-Estate Boost