Can you believe it? It's already been ten years since the single currency was launched into anxious financial markets amid fears of failure and forex massacre (notes and coins were only introduced two years later to replace respective national currencies). So, what's the verdict after the first decade? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Gold and cash in Swiss francs are the places to be going into 2009, according to Chris Locke from Oystertrade.com Management. He sees a strong uptrend for the precious metal, sending it to $1,250 by 2010. Locke also sees a broad sideways trading range for the S&P 500 index in 2009.

As 2009 begins, investors are hoping for a broad recovery in the global markets. But experts tell CNBC there could be more downside for commodities and sterling.

There is no transparent theme for 2009, but there will be a lot less volatility in the currency markets, Daragh Maher from Calyon said Friday. He sees the euro falling to $1.30 or $1.25 before March. Jeremy Stretch from Rabobank International also sees more downside for the euro-zone currency.

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