Markets back on the edge

A day of precipitous declines on international stock markets was further proof that investors will have to live with dangerous volatility for the foreseeable future despite the promise of politicians and the best hopes of optimistic investors and economists.

Fears that political obstacles will force Greece into a debt default and derail a settlement of the Eurozone financial crisis at a summit of the Group of 20 nations, as well as an unexpected slowdown in Chinese manufacturing and the bankruptcy of US futures broker MF Global, prompted skittish investors to get out of the markets.