High-flying stocks on the Neuer Markt, Germany's version of Nasdaq, spawned two new billionaires this year--Thomas Haffa and Karl Schmidt.

FORBES: 200 Global Billionaires

Just as successful was one of the Egon Schiele gouaches that sold to benefit Ronald Lauder's jewel-like little Neue Galerie in New York, and a roughly hewn head in wood carved in 1916-1917 by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, a German Expressionist sculptor.

ECONOMIST: Sugaring the pill at this week��s auctions

Davis was then replaced -- in reality if not in title -- by Steve Schmidt, part of Karl Rove's operation.

CNN: Commentary: McCain campaign following in Hillary's footsteps