Money Links: Europe stabilizes, but maybe not for long; Geithner says U.S. will be AAA forever; Goldman took pay czar’s advice

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--- Europe’s markets bounce off lows: After last week’s rout stocks mostly closed higher in the euro zone Monday, although Greece -- the epicenter of Europe’s government-debt fears -- saw its market sink about 3.9%. Economist Simon Johnson warns that the European mess risks a global downward spiral. And a reminder: Please don’t call them PIIGS, or PIGS.

--- “That will never happen to this country.” Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner asserts that the U.S. will never lose its AAA credit rating. The debate does raise the question: Would Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have the guts to make that cut?

--- The increasingly dismal employment picture for American males age 25 to 54: This trend has been going on for a long time. (The chart isn’t easy to read, but you’ll get the point.)

--- Goldman took Obama pay czar’s advice: Kenneth Feinberg says Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein consulted with him on the firm’s pay plans and adopted his “prescriptions.”

-- Tom Petruno