Extreme Trading: Record Foreclosures, Rubles in Rubble … and More!

As Americans learned that foreclosure shenanegans were at all-time highs, foreclosure-data service RealtyTrac said that U.S. home seizures topped 100,000 for the first time ever in September. The U.S. housing market truly is a basket case.

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The ruble hit an eight-month low as traders worried the Russian central bank would loosen its grip on the currency's exchange rate.

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Corn prices hit a two-year high Monday as reports indicated that rough weather in the Midwest would put a dent in this year's crop.

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Shares of King Pharmaceuticals, which makes opioid analgesics and other drugs, jumped 39 percent Tuesday on news that Pfizer would buy the company.

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Chinese exports continued their rise in September, jumping 25 percent, fueling concern that China could soon develop unsightly asset bubbles.

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The amount of gasoline available fell to levels last seen in June, partly because a strike in France hampered crude-oil processing.

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The price of Argentine peso bonds <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-12/peso-bond-yields-tumble-to-three-year-low-argentina-credit.html"hit a three-year high surge on speculation that a huge soybean crop would strengthen the Argentine peso.

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Shares of Apple Computer hit $300 Wednesday for the first time ever, on news that the iPad was selling very well and the company was going to expand its China operations.

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