The Morning Briefing: A global economy

"The Morning Briefing" is SmartPlanet's daily roundup of must-reads from the web. This morning we're reading about the global economy.

1.) Economy improves, Obama beats Romney? Poll. According to a Washington Post-ABC News survey of 1,000 adults, Obama currently would win an election if it were held now, due to his handling of the U.S.'s economic problems.

2.) Eurocrisis Greece: Live updates on walkouts. Interested in the economic catastrophe which has spurred Greek citizens to strike? They are holding a major strike to voice their opposition against the austerity measures that the country must accept in return for its second rescue package from the European Union, worth €130bn.

3.) Commercial Casino Industry driving force in U.S. economy. With an industry equivalent to 1 percent of of the $14.5 trillion U.S. gross domestic product in 2010, gambling permeates many facets of the American economy.

4.) Corporate America strains for small gains. Take Apple and AIG out of the profit picture painted by the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index, and profits for the remaining 498 companies are expected to grow a minuscule 1.1 percent.

5.) New Zealand economic prospects downturn.
The Treasury Department has said that the country's economic prospects have worsened due to the escalation of Europe's debt crisis. 30 percent of the NZ economy is made from exports sent to Europe. The recovery is reportedly being slowed by restrictions in household spending and a delay in rebuilding after the Christchurch earthquake.

Bonus: London Olympic travel plan: Be patient, drink beer

Image credit: William Warby

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com