Stormy and a lot cooler. Not the weather, the economy.
Analysts see the United States headed for a dramatic slowdown in growth because of troubles in Asia.
And that is the best-case scenario. In the nightmare versions, economists fear the Asian crisis could spiral out of control, bringing down first Japan, then China and in short order engulfing the whole world in a global recession. Tokyo stock prices rallied Friday after the country's prime minister advocated a permanent tax cut to boost the country's sagging economy. European stocks followed Tokyo's lead, but other Asian markets finished generally lower. Gazprom is the country's largest company and top tax debtor.