By MarketWatch

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stocks surge in morning trading, extending the previous day’s gains, on confidence that European policy makers are coming closer to a plan to stave off a messy sovereign default. See full story.

The 10 best things government has done for us

All the anti-government rhetoric has made us forget just how much the government has done to improve our lives, writes Rex Nutting. See full story.

Slide Show: What the U.S. government has given us

From the Golden Spike to Little Rock to, literally, the moon, much of what makes America great could never have been delivered solely through private enterprise. See full story.

Few shouts for Operation Twist

The Federal Reserve’s latest gambit to stimulate the economy by twisting long-term interest rates lower will not accomplish its objective, writes MarketWatch’s Irwin Kellner.. See full story.

Senate OKs bills to avert government shutdown

The Senate clears two stop-gap spending measures that will fund the government past Friday and avert a government shutdown, sending the bills to the House for approval. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Debt, in the right amounts and at the right times in our lives, can be very beneficial in helping us get ahead. But if you get into a situation where you can’t pay it back, it can turn out to be one of the ugliest nightmares you’ll ever face. See full story.