U.S.

Dollar Slump Persisting as Most Accurate Forecasters See No Bottom in 2010 The most accurate dollar forecasters predict the world’s reserve currency will continue sliding even when the Federal Reserve begins to raise interest rates, which policy makers say is an “extended period” away.

Bank of America May Name Interim CEO to Allow Board More Time for Search Bank of America Corp.’s board may extend its search for a permanent new chief executive officer into 2010 if directors can’t settle on a candidate in the next three days, according to people familiar with the matter.

Bills Yielding Zero as Stocks Soar Give Investors Bernanke Moment of 1938 For the first time in seven decades, Treasury bills are paying no interest while stocks continue to appreciate -- a divergence in U.S. financial markets that might be perilous if Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke didn’t know all about 1938.

Caterpillar Beating Komatsu as Dow Industrials Climbs on Dollar Index Drop For the first time since the equity rally began in March, the biggest U.S. stocks are beating the smallest as the dollar’s descent sends investors to companies with the most business in international markets.

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Advance as Schlumberger, Chevron Climb in Europe U.S. stock-index futures advanced, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index will rebound from its first weekly decline this month, before a report that may show sales of existing homes increased in October.

Aluminum Bubble-in-Making Concerns Mount as Global Surplus Seen Rising 29% Warehouses holding enough aluminum to build 69,000 Boeing 747 jumbo jets are why Peter Sorrentino says the most abundant metallic element in the earth’s crust is too expensive.

Latin America

Argentina's `Policy-Induced' Toll Operator Default to Swell Budget Deficit Argentine highway operator Autopistas del Sol SA’s bond default is adding to concern the budget gap will swell to the widest in nine years as the government takes over unprofitable companies, Moody’s Economy.com says.

Brazilian Banks Expensive on `Absurd' Gain as Lending Grows, Mercatto Says Brazil’s largest banks are too expensive after an “absurd” rally this year spurred by prospects they will accelerate lending to meet rising consumer demand, according to Mercatto Gestao de Recursos.

Dollar Slump Persisting as Most Accurate Forecasters See No Bottom in 2010 The most accurate dollar forecasters predict the world’s reserve currency will continue sliding even when the Federal Reserve begins to raise interest rates, which policy makers say is an “extended period” away.

Ortiz May Keep Mexico Rate at 4.5% as Speculation Grows He Will Leave Bank Banco de Mexico Governor Guillermo Ortiz will probably keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged this week as investors speculate President Felipe Calderon will replace the region’s longest-serving central bank chief.

BHP Reaches Accord With Union Representing Striking Spence Copper Miners BHP Billiton Ltd., the biggest mining company, agreed to raise wages at its Spence copper mine in Chile to end a six-week strike.

Colombia May Keep Rate at 4%, Refrain From More Cuts on Inflation Concern Colombia’s central bank will likely keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low for a second month, refraining from further cuts on concern that a rebounding global economy may spur inflation next year.

Exclusive

Woman Who Sank Galleon Was Beauty-Queen-Turned-Analyst Allegedly With Tips Danielle Chiesi spent a lot of time in hotel ballrooms and bars during the past decade.

Pakistanis Pay Economic Toll as Regrouping Taliban Threaten to Widen War Taliban fleeing a Pakistani offensive are regrouping in the country’s northwest, threatening to spread and prolong a conflict that has strained the nation’s economy and may hamper efforts to attract foreign investment.

Bank of America May Name Stopgap CEO to Allow Board More Time for Search Bank of America Corp.’s board may extend its search for a new, permanent chief executive officer into 2010 if directors can’t settle on a candidate in the next four days, according to people familiar with the matter.

British Would-Be Borrowers Resist Approved Bank Credit as Loan Demand Dips A year ago, as Britain’s property market began to collapse, housebuilder Persimmon Plc owed 960 million pounds ($1.6 billion). Today, Chief Financial Officer Michael Killoran has slashed that debt by 58 percent.

Zynga May Be Valued at $1 Billion as Game Maker Feeds Off Facebook Craze Zynga Inc., maker of the “Mafia Wars” and “FarmVille” games played on Facebook, may be valued at $1 billion based on the sale price of a smaller rival.

China Risks Japan 1980s-Style Bubble With Loose Monetary Policy, BNP Says China is risking a Japan-style bubble unless the country’s regulators start to rein a record lending boom, BNP Paribas said.