• LDP crushes rivals in Japanese elections
• Merkel defends Eurozone austerity
• US spending up in November despite tax threats
• Monti’s resignation threatens debt reduction plans
• Chinese leaders leave economic policy unchanged
• Spanish bonds rise after debt sale
• IMF’s Lagarde forecasts faster growth in 2013
• Argentina nears IMF deadline
• Pensions group warns EU rules may force schemes to shut
• US stocks fell last week as budget talks drag on
• Asian stocks swing from gains to losses
• European markets set to inch higher today
• Yen tumbles on LDP victory
• Oil rises a second day on likely demand from US & China
• Gold drops for a third day on dollar’s strength
