G-20

Most Wall Street experts are far better equipped to analyze a corporate risk over a political threat. But today, it's political unrest in the Middle East and beyond that's driving world markets. So we asked Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy The Eurasia Group, to break down the major developments and what investors should expect.

Stocks closed broadly if modestly higher Friday on light volume as traders avoided making any big bets ahead of a long holiday weekend. The equity markets closed up for the third straight day and extended their winning ways to a third consecutive week.

Leaders of 20 major economies on Friday refused to back a U.S. push to make China boost its currency's value. Despite some face-saving rhetoric, that will keep alive fears of a global trade and currency war amid criticism that cheap Chinese exports are costing American jobs.

The leaders of the 20 major economies failed to back a U.S. plan intended to push China to let its currency strengthen. The leaders released a statement saying all the countries pledged to avoid "competitive devaluation" of currencies, The Associated Press said. Governments usually institute...

For a host of reasons, other countries would love to free their economies from the stranglehold of the U.S. dollar's influence, especially now, when the Fed's stimulus actions are pushing the dollar lower, and everything else higher. Global finance expert Peter Cohan has a simple answer: The Mondo.

As the G-20 meets in South Korea, many world leaders have stepped up their complaints about the Fed's $600 billion quantitative easing program, as well as the rapid flow of capital into emerging markets. Some countries are installing capital controls in response, but those won't be enough, says global finance expert Peter Cohan.

On the eve of an economic summit in South Korea, disturbing signs of discord are emerging over currency valuations and trade between the U.S. and its major trading partners. Failure to achieve an agreement could set off more "currency wars."

The U.S. finds itself on the wrong side of the currency manipulation argument this week, as many G20 countries criticize the Fed's $600 billion bond buying plan, which could further devalue the dollar. World leaders say the move breaks the vow of unity made during the last G-20 summit.

The G-20 has a second chance to diffuse exchange-rate tensions Friday and Saturday, when finance ministers and central bank governors meet in South Korea. World leaders failed to resolve the currency issue two weeks ago in Washington.

The U.S. will not weaken the dollar in order to boost its exports, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner promised. "It is not going to happen in this country," Geithner told Silicon Valley business leaders of devaluing the dollar.