Wall Street Journal Top Online Stories: Mon 11/22/10

The Wall Street Journal lead headline online early Monday morning says "FBI Visit Shows Trade-Probe Tactics." The paper says the FBI's attempt to pressure an analyst to record his calls with a client offers a window into how the government is trying to build what could be one of the most far-reaching insider-trading cases ever.

The paper says as states nationwide confront budget shortfalls, the tenure of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour offers a lesson about how governing has a way of clouding the clearest of intentions.

It says Germany is bracing for a possible terrorist attack amid growing signs that Islamic extremists are preparing an assault somewhere in the country in the coming weeks.

The paper says Ireland finally sought tens of billions in bailout money from the EU and the IMF after weeks of bickering that has exposed the limits of Europe's attempt to restore financial markets' confidence in the stability of its single currency.

It says Fed easing plans and Chinese inflation have whipsawed commodity markets this month and the volatility is likely to stick around.

And the most popular story says Federal authorities, capping a three-year investigation, are preparing insider-trading charges that could ensnare consultants, investment bankers, hedge-fund and mutual-fund traders, and analysts across the nation, according to people familiar with the matter.