Interesting Items - 12/8

Understanding the historical attractiveness of gold – Is it really all about Chemistry?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25255957

Stock rally may fizzle next year

http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/12/08/heady-2013-rally-unlikely-to-repeat-next-year/

Harvard economist SENDHIL MULLAINATHAN observes:

“When you stop and think about it, modern life is filled with snags. Enticing free-trial periods for magazines and services often become automatic renewals that prey on our forgetfulness. These small irritants can add up to big dollars.”

Mexico likely to break up oil industry monopoly

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-07/mexico-new-bill-to-open-oil-fields-surpasses-pena-nieto-plan.html

Doha Round - After 12 years of negotiations, a multilateral trade agreement is reached:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/07/trade-wto-cuba-idINDEE9B602720131207