U.S. stock futures rise ahead of ‘cliff’ deadline

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stock futures point to a higher open on Wall Street in the last trading session of 2012, with investors awaiting developments in fiscal-cliff negotiations ahead of Washington�s midnight deadline. See full story.

Obama: Failure to pass deal will hurt markets

President Barack Obama urged lawmakers to reach a scaled-down deal to prevent higher taxes on the middle class, saying the failure to act would damage the economy and hurt financial markets See full story.

Senators race to meet fiscal-cliff deadline

Down-to-the-wire talks to avert the fiscal cliff stall in the Senate, as Democrats and Republicans search for ways to avert the tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect in less than 48 hours. See full story.

Cliff overshadows job, industrial snapshots

The monthly jobs report and a snapshot of manufacturing are usually a big deal, but Washington � and specifically the fiscal cliff � has shown little sign of relinquishing the spotlight See full story.

Who�s to blame for fiscal cliff? You are

Hold up the mirror to find out who�s responsible for taking the nation past a precipice of tax hikes and spending cuts, writes Steve Goldstein. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

The fiscal cliff is a misleading metaphor, writes Rex Nutting. The tax and spending laws will change on that day, it�s true, but the impact will be spread out over many, many months. We�re already feeling the pain. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

These not-so-obvious conditions may mean you�re headed for danger See full story.