Professional system trader Art Collins shares his daily biases in the index, bonds and currency futures markets for January 5.

This week we look at a very interesting, if not altogether encouraging, piece of research on the length and severity of recessions that come during periods of financial crisis, which can apply to not just the US but all countries that are involved in the current crisis.

Kathy Lien looks ahead in the US dollar, euro, British pound, and Japanese yen.

Price Headley writes that successful trading boils down to six critical factors.

What's the bright side of a worldwide financial meltdown?

Boris Schlossberg has three key points for 2009 in the currency markets.

Heading into 2009, the factors that made the dollar appealing last year seem to be fading, replaced by sound reasons to believe the dollar may once again find itself on the chopping block.

The euro ended last week consolidating versus the US dollar within a falling wedge formation, which is typically a bullish reversal pattern, but this can only be confirmed by a break above trendline resistance at 1.3978.

The Japanese currency has been losing ground against most of its liquid counterparts for the past two weeks, though this is likely more a manifestation of the thin liquidity conditions during this that period rather than any true turn in risk appetite.  With the markets expected to once again hit full capacity this week, this theory will be pivotal in defining the strength of the yen and the outlook for general risk trends.

The Bank of England rate decision will be important in setting yield expectations for the British pound.