Chinese investors expect the government to step in to reverse any sharp decline, either in individual stocks or in the overall market, and so there is little reason to link a company's performance to fundamental figures.

ECONOMIST: Big-five audits are no longer the standard to aspire to

The pressure will be on to get Mr Netanyahu to reverse this step, though with a general election due in Israel on 22 January and his own Likud Party moving decisively to the right, the next Israeli government's true policy may not be clear until well into next year.

BBC: Israeli settlement move risks diplomatic fallout

But its capture in an offensive that has been telegraphed for weeks could help sway Afghan and Western public opinion and is considered an important step in a broader push to reverse the Taliban's battlefield momentum.

WSJ: U.S. Starts Afghan Surge

Now, no single step is the silver bullet that will reverse the damage done by the bubble-and-bust cycles that caused our economy into this slide.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Speaks on the Economy

In order to return America to opportunity, responsibility, and success, we must reverse course and the Repeal Amendment is a step in that direction.

FORBES: The Lobbyist Retirement & Security Act of 2011

The move prompted speculation that telecoms shares have become so cheap that investors are now ready to step in with opportunistic bids, a move which may reverse the recent trend of plunging telecoms stock.

BBC: Soros and O'Reilly stalk Eircom

To reverse the downturn in growth, Chinese leaders have decided to step up their investment in the economy, especially infrastructure.

FORBES: The second in a four-part series. See Part One.