24/7 Wall St.

Subject: Countries Where People Work The Least

As the global economic recovery grinds to a halt, many workers feel the increased pressure of holding on to their jobs and putting bread on their tables. However, while people in countries like the U.S. and Spain increased their hours worked, the average for developed nations fell by more than 20 hours per year. Based on a new report released by the OECD report, 24/7 Wall St. identified 10 countries where people work the least.

As always, here are the top major media headline summaries from WSJ, FT, Bloomberg and more. Today’s top analyst upgrades and downgrades were in shares of AMT, CAT, F, GM, HSH, EDU, NS, PSX, ROVI, SKS, SFLY, LUV, HOT, TSLA, TIF, VVUS and WFM. Here are the top rumors of the day, and the most important financial news affecting the markets today.

Some of these will have already reported earnings this morning but here are the top 10 previews for Wednesday: ABT, AXP, BAC, DAL, EBAY, HON, IBM, QCOM, USB and YUM.

The top earnings previews for Thursday will hit the website “calendar page” at 11:00 AM EST this morning in tickers as follows: AMD, AN, COF, CMG, ETFC, FCX, GOOG, KEY, MSFT, MS, NNOK, PM, SNDK, LUV, TRV and VZ.

We have been looking at the building dividend bubble for over a week now. The bubble is not just inflating. It it is spreading beyond DJIA components to REITs, Utilities and MLPs.

Sprint shares (NYSE: S) appear to be on their way to doubling.

A blue chip panel published an extensive analysis of state financial problems. The report had no realistic ways to solve them.

Network equipment earnings are off, perhaps because there are so few networks left to build.

Americans are worried about fat people. Is it because obesity costs the economy, or because they don’t like to be fat?

A forecast of 2012 airline earnings.

Have a great day!

JON C. OGG

Receiving this email late? Be sure to add [email protected] to your contacts. Not sure how? Click here for instruction.