TOP STORIES
EU warns 5 major eurozone nations on budgets – AP
Japan Eases Monetary Policy to Fight Deflation – NY Times
Key stumbling block for Senate bank reform: Investors – MarketWatch
Bernanke Will Tell Congress Bank Oversight Aids Monetary Policy – Bloomberg
Moody’s hints at move that could be catastrophic for US debt – CSM
Time for Truth: Three Card Monte is for Suckers – New Deal 2.0
Author Lewis says Wall Street reckoning is coming – Reuters
U.S. states: Running with the PIIGS – Fortune

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil tops $82, OPEC says prices “beautiful” – Reuters
Gold extends gains on dollar, near 1-week high – ninemsn
OPEC Agrees for Fifth Time to Leave Quotas Unchanged – BusinessWeek
Why mutual fund investors shun the bull market – MarketWatch
Central Banks Give Markets a Reason to Rise – NY Times
Jim Rogers Sizes Up Two Global Bubbles – CNBC

ECONOMY
February wholesale prices drop 0.6 percent – AP
Jobs Bill Poised To Clear Senate, Head To Obama – HuffPo
Obama officials: 9.7% jobless rate ‘unacceptable’ – CNN/Money
Siemens to cut 1,000 jobs, restructure IT unit: report – AFP
Do Jobless Benefits Discourage People From Finding Jobs? – NY Times

INTERNATIONAL
S&P takes Greece off credit watch – AP
Strong yuan calls ignore China stability needs – Reuters
U.K. Unemployment fall raises recovery hopes – Guardian
Martin Wolf: China, Germany Committing World to Deflation – Naked Capitalism
The proposed EU Greek bail-out cannot simply bypass German law – Telegraph
China in Midst of ‘Greatest Bubble in History,’ Rickards Says – Bloomberg
China economic growth forecasts raised by World Bank – Guardian
BOJ Doubles Lending Program to Combat Deflation – Bloomberg
Dazzled by housing’s magic rise – National Times

REAL ESTATE
O.C. mortgage defaults up 13.8% – O.C. Register
Miami condo deal nets $200,000 profit in just 20 minutes – McClatchey
One Defaulting Owner’s Free Ride: Three Years and Counting – Irvine Housing Bubble
Southern California home prices rise 10% in February – LA Times

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
Fed stands pat on rates, key wording – MarketWatch
PIMCO: End of mortgage buys form of tightening – Reuters
Fed upshot: Six more months of near-zero short rates? – LA Times
Who Is Assaulting the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation? – Housing Wire

INTERESTING
Study: New immigrants avoiding big cities – CSM
Manuka the micro pig has a day out in London – Metro
Irate Brazil artist adds randy bulls to CowParade art exhibit – AFP
Nigerian prince still wants your money – CNN/Money