Even seemingly small differences in rates of return can produce large effects for a person who has saved a lot of money.

FORBES: The Hidden Taxation of Wealthy Americans

If the war is short and its effects small, optimists hope that buyers will return, encouraged by lack of supply, low interest rates, which make mortgage debts appear relatively cheap to service, and a fairly benign economy.

ECONOMIST: Property prices

The first baseman could return to action, but still feel the effects of the injury for much of the season.

WSJ: Mark Teixeira's Wrist is Worse Than Expected

But still the effects linger, and he says he does not want to return to school.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Don't ignore the effects of inflation - try to put your money where the return is likely to beat inflation.

BBC: There are lots of ways to put some money away for the future.

Those effects, in turn, could allow many desperate companies to return to a semblance of solvency, and so halt the inexorable rise of bad debts swamping the region's banks.

ECONOMIST: Too soon to celebrate | The