TOP STORIES
So Where’s Consumer Protection? – DealBook
China calls US Treasuries important, wary on gold – China Daily
Greece seeks U.S. help regulating speculators – Washington Post
Collapse of the American Empire: swift, silent, certain – MarketWatch
Public Pension Funds Are Adding Risk to Raise Returns – DealBook
GATA appeals to CFTC to act against manipulative shorts – GATA
Deficit a Problem But Don’t Stop Spending: Romer – CNBC
Blame it on the bubble – Baker, Guardian
Then All At Once – Kunstler, CFN

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil futures drop on expected rise in supplies – MarketWatch
Gold Declines in New York on Stronger Dollar, Chinese Reserves – Bloomberg
Managers gain 1% in February: Hennessee – MarketWatch
S&P Rally Slowed by Fastest Cash Depletion Since 1991 – Bloomberg
43% have less than $10k for retirement – CNN/Money
Mr. Market – Saut, Raymond James

ECONOMY
Employers still skittish on hiring – CNN/Money
Jobs outlook may be too optimistic: SF Fed study – Reuters
Unemployment in U.S. Peaked in October, Economist Achuthan Says – BusinessWeek
Offering money to unemployed friends or relatives isn’t always a good idea – MarketWatch
They Saved the Big Banks But Lost The Economy Doing It – Baseline Scenario
A new index of financial conditions – EconBrowser

INTERNATIONAL
Greek PM urges G20 effort to rein in speculators – Reuters
Moody’s may cut U.K. banks as support is withdrawn – MarketWatch
City of London Developers Start Skyscrapers as Rents End Slide – Bloomberg
China’s forex chief not too keen on gold as investment – MarketWatch
Pound Slide to Help U.K. Outpace Europe, Goldman Says – Bloomberg
Europe bars Wall Street banks from government bond sales – Guardian
UAE government backs Dubai; Abu Dhabi help may lag – Reuters
European Monetary Fund being considered by Brussels – BBC

REAL ESTATE
Strategic defaults on homes on the rise – SF Gate
Treasury Getting More Comfortable With Principal Write-Downs – HuffPost
1 million U.S. homes lost to foreclosure since 2008 – O.C. Register
Mortgage Principal Writedown Won’t Save Housing – CNBC

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
Is The Federal Reserve Insolvent? – Zero Hedge
Geithner’s financial plan is working – and making him very unpopular. – New Yorker
Fannie Mae Mortgage-Bond Spreads Fall to Record – Bloomberg
Bloggers @ Treasury – Salmon, Reuters

INTERESTING
Japan town baffled by ‘kangaroo’ sightings – AFP
Chilean Earthquake Moved Entire City 10 Feet West – Science Daily
Canada drops plans for politically correct anthem – Reuters
Humans found to have sixth taste – fat – SMH