By MarketWatch MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits jump 26,000 to 436,000. See full story. ECB rates unchanged, focus on Trichet The European Central Bank holds its key lending rate unchanged at a record-low 1%, but the focus remains on ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet’s upcoming news conference amid growing expectations the central bank will attempt to soothe the euro zone’s sovereign-debt crisis. See full story. U.S. stock futures gain ahead of economic data Wall Street looks to extend gains, as investors await housing and labor-market data, while the European Central Bank keeps rates steady as expected. See full story. European bourses gain; ECB meeting in focus European bourses open higher amid speculation that the European Central Bank will take decisive measures to halt the spread of the sovereign-debt crisis in the region when it meets later in the session. See full story. Asian stocks rise; Nikkei ends at 5-month high Asian markets end higher as an overnight surge on Wall Street, and in commodity prices, lifts metal and mining stocks, while exporters extend gains to send Japanese shares to their highest finish in more than five months. See full story. MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY The great bond bull market of recent years has been fueled in no small part by steady streams of new money being invested in bond funds. If the evidence from the last two weeks is any indication, however, the bond bull market may have lost this powerful foundation. See full story. MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE Whether you’re already living in retirement or still planning for it, it’s impossible to ignore the effect your annual tax bill will have on retirement income. And given the current tax-rate uncertainty, the best year-end strategies for 2010 may surprise you. See full story.

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