Oil touched $110 a barrel, another record, before ending just below that figure. The dollar fell to a new low against the euro. One euro now buys $1.55 dollars.

The Perverse Penny

Finally, we like this Chicago Tribune look at the perverse economics of (literally) making money.

These days, your thoughts are worth 1.7 cents.

That’s what it costs the government to forge a penny, thanks to the rising price of metal. A nickel costs 10 cents. Congress, in its infinite wisdom, has concluded that’s a pretty bad deal.

The Trib says pennies may be made of steel by the end of the year. Here’s a better idea: Get rid of the stupid things.