MUST READS
New doubt over Greek bailout plan – BBC
Greek death spiral accelerates – Telegraph
Greek political leaders agree on bailout reforms – Reuters
States Negotiate $26 Billion Deal for Homeowners – NY Times
Will $26B Foreclosure Deal Help the Housing Market? – ZillowBlog
BOE Adds 50 Billion Pounds to Stimulus on Euro ‘Concerns’ – Bloomberg
China inflation spike pricks policy easing expectations – Reuters
Standard & Poor’s: U.S. Faces Downgrade If No Plan – Bloomberg
Sarkozy Most Unpopular as Election Nears – Bloomberg
Why Wall Street Should Stop Whining – Taibblog
A nation of moochers – Washington Times
No, America isn’t broke – yet – MSN Money

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil near $99 as investors eye Greece, US demand – AP
Gold holds firm as Greek hopes lift euro – Reuters
The insiders are selling heavily – MarketWatch
Defensive Stocks Lose for First Time Since 1999 – Bloomberg
Wall St. Seeks to Delay CFTC Limits on Speculation – BusinessWeek
Has Order Resumed in the Stock Market? – Political Calculations
Massive rise in China gold imports – policy controlling the price? – Mineweb
Precious metals prices dictated by investment at the margin – Mineweb
Gold too volatile to act as reliable inflation hedge – Reuters
Gold miners need gold above $1,650 to keep nose above water – Mineweb

ECONOMY/WORLD/HOUSING/BANKING
Black Helicopters Hover Over Economic Reality – Bloomberg
Jobless Decline Masks Drop in U.S. Labor Force – Bloomberg
World Food Prices Rose Most in 11 Months on Oilseeds, Grains – Washington Post
ECB leaves benchmark interest rate unchanged at record low 1.0 percent – Washington Post
China’s Unexpected Holiday Inflation Pickup May Limit Easing Room – Bloomberg
The World from Berlin: ‘Could the Germans Survive a Crisis like Greece’s?’ – Spiegel
More QE is barking up the wrong tree – Telegraph
How Big Will the ECB’s Next Liquidity Injection Be? – CNBC
Forecast: Drops in Home Values Less Severe in ‘12 – WSJ
Lenders own $30B in California single-family homes – OC Housing News
The Limits Of Monetary Policy Call For Moral, Sound Money – Forbes
The Fed is NOT a Hedge Fund – BullionVault

MUST READS
Proposed bank settlement dealt a setback – Washington Post
Banks Paying Homeowners to Avoid Foreclosures – Bloomberg
Frustrations soar as Greeks seek elusive bailout deal – Reuters
Eurozone crisis live: Greek bailout talks delayed again – Guardian
Opinion: It’s Time To End the Greek Rescue Farce – Spiegel
Credit-Card Borrowing Surged Over Holiday Period – WSJ
Bernanke-Led Economy Proves Critics Clueless About Fed – BusinessWeek
Why China’s housing market will slow, not collapse – CNN/Money
China releases plan to create 45 million jobs – China Daily
Gold standard believers are anti-government: FBI – Commodity Online
Ron Paul’s Flinty Worldview Was Forged in Early Family Life – NY Times
The Sad Spectacle of Obama’s Super PAC – Robert Reich

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil rises above $99 after US crude supply drop – AP
Gold on solid ground as Greece lifts euro – Reuters
Bottom to Natural Gas at long last – Peter Brandt
Investing for Inflation (and Deflation) – WSJ
Three Phases of the Rally to Watch Out For – CNBC
Brent-WTI spread wider on Iran fears and US supplies – Sober Look
Hong Kong’s 2011 gold exports to China more than triple – Reuters
Yields trump capital gains – Dividend strategies are working – MarketWatch
India,Iran reach oil payment deal without gold – BullionStreet
Silver: The Bastard – Commodity Online

ECONOMY/WORLD/HOUSING/BANKING
Economic Confidence Climbs for Fifth Straight Month – Gallup
Business cycles, interest rates, and NGDP – The Money Illusion
Chinese Electricity Consumption Fell Massively In January – Business Insider
As Growth Slows, India Awakens to Need for Foreign Investment – NY Times
Merkel Approval Climbs to Highest Level Since 2009 Re-Election – Bloomberg
China to help first-time home buyers – MarketWatch
Mortgage mods in 2011 down 40% from prior year – Housing Wire
Fannie Mae: Outlook for Home Prices Rises Again – WSJ
Fed’s REO-to-Rental Experiment Begins – Housing Finance
Sessions Criticizes Fed’s Lack of Foresight – WSJ
The Fed’s Quasi-Fiscal Policies – Mises
Bernanke’s Anti-Stimulus – Cato

MUST READS
The Housing Bottom is Here – Calculated Risk
Forty States Sign On to ‘Robo’ Settlement – CNBC
Debt crisis and Greek debt talks: live – Telegraph
Greece exit would not end euro, says EU commissioner – BBC
Citigroup: Risk of Greek Exit From Euro Has Risen to 50% – WSJ
Bernanke testimoney likely to back low-rate stance – Washington Post
Europe’s Banks Reluctant to Lend to Companies in Need of Cash – DealBook
Study links low intelligence with right-wing beliefs – Globe & Mail
To Rush Limbaugh: A Lesson in Seasonal Adjustments – Bondad Blob
Never Mind the Tax Cheats – Go After the Tax Code – Bloomberg
Illusion of Recovery – Feelings Versus Facts – The Burning Platform
Withholding Consent from the Khan – Mises

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil drops below $97 as traders eye US supplies – AP
Gold eases towards $1,710/oz, all eyes on Greece – Reuters
State media: Iran is ready to ban oil exports to Europe – CNN
Stock gains turn hedge fund losers into winners – Reuters
China gold imports surge 250% in 2011 – Commodity Online
A Closer Look at Bubbles: Natural Gas & Gold – Profitimes
The two sides of the Gold coin – Peter Brandt
Grumpy Old Permabear – Financial Armageddon
It’s 1980 Again – Mises

ECONOMY/WORLD/HOUSING/BANKING
Last word: BLS Decennial Census Adjustment – TBP
Participation rate shows a troubling trend – Sober Look
Fiscal policy: What does ‘Keynesian’ mean? – voxeu
The Downward Mobility of the American Middle Class – Robert Reich
China to Aid Home Buyers to Balance Crackdown on Speculators – Bloomberg
China growth estimate for 2012 cut to 8.25% – China Daily
Greece to Eliminate 15,000 Government Jobs – NY Times
If Greece Doesn’t Reform, ‘It Can’t Expect Solidarity’ – Spiegel
How did Australia avoid the 2009 recession? – The Money Illusion
Japan Adopts Stealth Intervention to Slow Yen Gains – Bloomberg
Mortgage servicers to begin using new HAMP standards in May – Housing Wire
The Federal Reserve’s Explicit Goal: Devalue The Dollar 33% – Forbes
Fed should raise rates in 2013, Bullard says – Reuters

MUST READS
Bailout talks to resume in Greece – BBC
Greece lets another deadline slip in bailout poker – Reuters
Greek Leaders Wrestle With Spending Cuts Demanded for Rescue – Bloomberg
A Few Thoughts on the Employment Situation – The Big Picture
Seasonal Factors & January’s Encouraging Labor Report – Capital Spectator
Larry Summers on the Labor Force Participation Rate – Bruce Krasting
Why the 8.3% jobless rate is phony and what it means for Obama – The American
Another Unemployment Rate Fairy Tale – Real Clear Markets
Cashless Society: BofA Refuses Cash for Mortgage Payment – Activist Post
The Big, Big Business of Super Bowl XLVI – Fiscal Times
Things Are Not O.K. – Krugman, NY Times
Wonder Dog – NY Magazine

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil below $97 as traders eye Greece – AP
Gold slips on Greek bailout talks – Reuters
Kuwait: Oil may hit $160 amid tension – AFP
The End of Wall Street As They Knew It – NY Magazine
Stocks: All eyes on Greece – CNN/Money
Gas Boom Goes Bust – The Oil Drum
Stocks hmmm — gold maybe? – MarketWatch
Central Bank Demand Driving Gold Higher: CEO – CNBC
Gold prices may correct, but trend remains up – Commodity Online
Notes on Risk Management – Warts and All – Hussman Funds

ECONOMY/WORLD/HOUSING/BANKING
Economic conditions improving – Econbrowser
A Bleak Outlook for Long-Term Growth – NY Times
Hussman’s, ECRI’s recession warnings invalidated – Bonddad Blog
French socialists’ Latin revolt against Germany – Telegraph
China’s hard landing odds, updated – FT Alphaville
Yet Another Make-Or-Break Week For Europe – Dollar Collapse
A messy monetary policy suits the world just fine – Telegraph
IMF: China growth could halve if Europe crisis worsens – Reuters
A Lost Decade-Plus for San Diego Home Prices – Piggington
Foreclosure Deal Deadline Arrives as States Must Choose Whether to Sign On – Bloomberg
Apparently the Bank Transfer Day was about moving cash TO large banks – Sober Look
Another Experiment? – Fed Watch

MUST READS
Greece Seeks Second Rescue, Fights for Euro – Bloomberg
Eurozone bail-out funds not enough, warns OECD – Telegraph
Wen Raises Prospect of China Aiding European Rescue – Bloomberg
S.E.C. Is Avoiding Tough Sanctions for Large Banks – NY Times
US moves to restrict Iran financing oil exports through banks – Guardian
Republicans Sharply Question Bernanke for Fed’s Focus on Job Market – NY Times
Bernanke: ‘The Elephant In The Room Is Really Health Care Costs’ – HuffPost
Obama administration to move forward with closing GSEs – Washington Post
Broke California: Give Us The Facebook Manna Now – Testosterone Pit
States seek currencies made of silver and gold – Bloomberg
In a Focus on Gold, History Repeats Itself – Norris, NY Times
Analysis: A sobering look at Facebook – Reuters

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil hovers below $97 ahead of key US jobs report – AP
Gold holds near 11-week high ahead of U.S. data – Reuters
Dividend Stocks Lose Favor As Investors Seek More Risk – CNBC
Wary OPEC Highlights Dangers of Shale Revolution – WSJ
Peter Orszag Destroys The Peak Oil Myth – Decline of the Empire
Investors worry where to put cash as banks wobble – Reuters
Optimism rules among commodities traders – Globe & Mail
Global Gold Production: How Sustainable a Rebound? – Gregor
Gold capitalises on low interest rate environment – Mineweb
Gold’s rally will soon come to an end – MarketWatch

ECONOMY/WORLD/HOUSING/BANKING
Employment gains aren’t attracting believers yet – McClatchy
Winter seasonality, employment report preview – FT Alphaville
Why Most U.S. Manufacturing Jobs Are Gone Forever – Fiscal Times
What Europe might look like without the Eurozone and EU – voxeu
Europe’s “Great Deleveraging” Has Only Just Begun – Zero Hedge
Swiss housing market inching towards bubble – Reuters
Vegas default notices down substantially after new law – Housing Wire
Analyst: Obama housing plans will not help – O.C. Register
Own Vs. Rent Riles Government Housing Policy – CNBC
Will the great interest rate gamble pay off? – Telegraph
Bernanke to Savers: We don’t owe you a living – A Dash of Insight
Fed still divided as Fisher sees no need for QE3 – Reuters

MUST READS
Obama seeks to broaden reach of housing assistance – AP
Bernanke may say more action needed to aid economy – Washington Post
Investors Fret That Portugal Will Ask for Greek Deal – NY Times
Merkel Seeks Euro Zone Investments from Beijing – Spiegel
China’s Wen: May consider bigger role in EU rescue – Reuters
Bundesbank sinks deeper into debt saving Europe – Telegraph
S. Korea, Japan want exemption from Iran oil sanctions – Tehran Times
Private Equity and the Greenspan Put – Macroeconomic Resilience
Just Fill the Darn Potholes, We’ll Do the Rest – Baum, Bloomberg
Wall Street bets big on Romney – CNN/Money
Life – and Death Proposition – Gross, Pimco
Getting back to the gold standard – MarketWatch

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil hovers below $98 amid mixed U.S. demand signs – AP
Gold retreats from 8-week high as dollar strengthens – Reuters
Fracking Boom Could Finally Cap Myth of Peak Oil – Bloomberg
Why I believe the S&Ps will go to 1517 – Peter Brandt
Cheap natural gas jumbles energy markets – Washington Post
Global Strategists Abandoning Bearish Views After Missing Rally – Bloomberg
BofAML expects gold price to hit $2000/oz in Q4 – Commodity Online
China enhances position as world No. 1 gold producer – Mineweb
Silver off to perfect start with 20% gain in January – BullionStreet
Myth of the Gold ETF Mass Exodus – Resource Investor

ECONOMY/WORLD/HOUSING/BANKING
January Downshift Shouldn’t Be Surprise – WSJ
Another shoddy job on employment numbers – NY Post
Planned layoffs surge in January: Challenger – Reuters
Shilling: China Headed for ‘Hard Landing’ This Year – Bloomberg
Italy top gold scrap buyer sees booming business – Reuters
World from Berlin: Germany’s Power ‘Is Causing Fear’ in Europe – Spiegel
Greeks unsettled by demands of a frustrated Europe – Washington Post
Policies, developers’ cuts push housing prices down again – China Daily
Obama Vows to Cut Red Tape on Home Loans – Bloomberg
Plosser Didn’t Back Fed’s Late 2014 Rate Pledge – Businessweek
Fed Needs To Think About Restoring Monetary Normalcy – IBD
Treasury Ponders Negative Interest Rates – NY Times