September 15,2011 - 7 AM EDT Report

KEY:   blogs   global coverage   US news   local

Sovereign Debt Crisis

Banks worried about situation in Greece, Italy and Spain  Balkans.com   EWQ Gyrates After French-Bank Downgrades  IndexUniverse   French Bank Credit Ratings Latest Euro Debt Victim  Forex - OANDA   French bank shares on the slide after agency downgrades their credit ratings in face of exposure to Greek debt  thisismoney.co.uk   US municipal debt: Muni market double-dip worries build  Euromoney   Europe's debt worries cause for concern for New Zealand  Television New Zealand   The great Greek bond bazaar (II)  Latin America in Movement   Dutch parliament considers scenarios of Greek debt crisis  China Economic Net   Investors: Avoiding Debt in China and in the USA Means Trouble  The Business Insider   Defaulting On Student Debt  WILX

Sovereign Debt Rating

Russia Scores 88% Approval Rating in Bulgaria  Novinite   Rebound in NCR lifts PNoy's ratings: Pulse Asia  ABS-CBN   Fitch's downgrade threat won't have much effect: experts  China Daily (Hong Kong Edition)   Spain's rating under threat  Find.co.uk   Michelin Canada Raising Prices  Tyrepress.com   Export Import Bank of India to raise Rs 500 mn via bonds  The Economic Times   Efficiency gains could Keep China's Economy on Full Throttle:S&P  India Infoline Limited   Vanguard: ETFs Not To Blame For Volatility  IndexUniverse   Taiwan’s Sovereignty Remains A+ : Fitch  CENS.com   Qatar- Fitch International Reaffirms Ahli Bank with "A-" Rating  MENAFN.com

Sovereign Debt Ceiling

Debt limit deal cursed in symbolic vote  JournalGazette.net   House Vote Marks ‘Disapproval’ of Debt-Ceiling Increase  Washington Wire - The Wall Street Journal   House casts a symbolic vote against lifting debt ceiling  Los Angeles Times   House 'disapproves' US debt ceiling increase  MSN Philippines News   Clegg vows coalition will push forward with investment  MyFinances   Will the Debt Ceiling Deal Mean Cuts to Climate Assistance, Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response?  The Wonk Room   Milbank: The U.S. Open of political gamesmanship  The Washington Post   Billionaire's words in the spotlight  FTAdviser   Schumer Blows the Whistle on FY2012 Budget Hostage-Taking  Firedoglake

Sovereign Debt

ADB cuts Asia growth forecasts  Asian Correspondent   Our banks: champions of prudence  FP Comment - Financial Post   Bailout defies logic, says Greek economist  The Irish Times   Excerpts From EU Report Stating Euro Crisis Contagion Has Spread And Is Now Systemic  Zero Hedge   Sovereign debt: Lenders urge governments to let them take losses  Euromoney   The solution to this debt crisis may lie three years in the past  The Independent   Copper down 0.8% on weak global cues  Business Standard   CEO Round Table: Crisis Management Sessions  MK English News   Germany and France move to halt Greek bailout crisis  The Irish Times   The European Union is threatened to collapse  allvoices, Inc

Quantitative Easing

More investment and quantitative easing needed to bring back jobs  WalesOnline   UK Unemployment Rises 80,000 – Quantitative Easing / Money Printing All But Guaranteed  International Business Times   Gains could be small compared to QE1 and QE2  The Gulf Today   IoD: Jobless figures 'point to more quantitative easing'  Telegraph.co.uk

European Debt Crisis

Britain faces being engulfed by new economic chaos as Eurozone debt crisis spirals out of control  The Mirror   China underscores support for Europe during debt crisis  Toronto News.Net   French banks downgraded as Europe’s debt crisis deepens  Infowars.com   BRICs ponder their role in Eurozone crisis aversion  ShareCast   RON DERBY: Rate cut a difficult call to make in light of inflation  BusinessDay South Africa   Overnight Markets: Hopes for further action on eurozone crisis boost Wall Street  Citywire   EU President Warns Debt Crisis Could Lead to War  International Business Times UK   EU crisis has given us a chance to get our own house in order  Nenaghguardian.ie   Cleaner, greener growth  China Daily (Hong Kong Edition)   Ratings Agencies Cut Five Spanish Regions & Two French Banks  Arirang

Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)

WATCH: Obama Administration Launches Sad Anti-Foreclosure PSA  The Huffington Post   Arthur Delaney: Making Home Affordable: Obama Administration Launches Sad...  The Huffington Post   Mutational Analysis of the Control Cable That Mediates Transmembrane Signaling in the Escherichia coli Serine Chemoreceptor  Sciencia - Science News, References and Resources

Economic Recession - US

Retail Sales: The 'Real' Consumer And Their Recession-Level Spending  Seeking Alpha   US slowdown fears return after weak economic data  Telegraph.co.uk   Dem Lawmakers Move Forward With Obama's Jobs Plan -- FAST  On The Hill   Business woes linked to a 'wasteland of losses' by Americans in a time of recession  Huliq: Breaking News   Encouraging developments in Huntsville (editorial)  al.com   Carol Pierson Holding: An Alternate Diagnosis for Bleak Consumers  The Huffington Post

Economic Recovery - US

Retail sales growth in line with job creation - both flat  Pensions & Investments   Fort Wayne recession recovery boosted by growing GDP, better mortgage equity  The News-Sentinel   Economic Growth Continues In Rochelle With New Walmart Opening  my stateline.com   Washoe graduation-rate increase linked to economic recovery in Reno area  RGJ.com   My Plan to Revive Economic Growth  The Wall Street Journal   Nashville seventh highest GDP  Volunteer TV 8   August CE/Majap Retail Sales Up 1.5%: Feds  TWICE   Bob Edgar: Fix Our Campaigns to Fix Our Economy  The Huffington Post

Economic Stimulus Package - US

Public Distrust of Obama's Projected Additional Stimulus Spending  ARRA News Service   Beckel Refuses To Join The Five Hosts In Segment Of ‘Slanderous’ Attacks On Obama  Mediaite   ICYMI: Obama campaign sets up web site to silence dissent, criticism  ARRA News Service   The President’s construction pitch  KeithHennessey.com   Obama jobs proposal includes $1B for firefighter jobs  Fire Rescue 1   Talk about throwing Joe Biden under the bus, Obamas failed $524 million loan  allvoices, Inc   Why Obama’s school rehab plan may flop  James Pethokoukis   The Solyndra saga: Taxpayers left on hook  Chicago Tribune   Trade war looms over new Buy American threat in U.S.  Toronto Star

Bank Closures - US

FDIC to Close Temporary Illinois Office Early  American Banker   Newport Beach Firm Buys $158M Loan Portfolio  Orange County Business Journal   peHUB Second Opinion 09.14  peHUB   FDIC to keep Jacksonville office open through 2013  Bizjournals   WaMu Loses Court Battle, Again: Report  TheStreet.com

Municipal Budget Crisis - US

STAFF: Proposed American Jobs Act could benefit education system  Daily Nebraskan   UH-MC receives $300,000 grant for electric cars  The Maui News   Four Dayton communities land $2M for housing projects  Bizjournals   Government Debates Future of GPS System and IIF Satellites  FieldLogix   Tax losses compound towns’ storm expenses  Rutland Herald   State health council grants new hospital licenses  The Boston Globe   UTT: Infrastructure 'bank' doomed to fail  The Washington Times   Haslam confident that TN will keep its AAA bond rating  The Tennessean   Tioga County native opposes Bob Casey  Williamsport Sun-Gazette   State to receive funding for 2010 floods  The Jamestown Press

Consumer Spending Trends - US

Three Years After Crisis, Little Sign of Economic Relief in U.S.  GALLUP

Corporate Layoffs - US

After promising jobs, Dendreon plant announces layoffs  Atlanta Journal-Constitution   Federal Workers Alliance aims to lessen cuts’ impact  The Washington Post   SEIU calls on Baystate Health to back off planned job cuts  Healthcare Finance News   RIPTA may cut jobs, service  The Providence Journal

Financial Restructuring

Flowserve unveils US$300mn share buyback  World Pumps   Ad hoc: HEAD NV and HTM Sport GmbH Announce Share Buy Back  Hugin   Yunnan warned over credit downgrade  South China Morning Post   Pfizer Extends Icagen Offer Again  Market Intellisearch   Dell Could Repurchase 25% Of Its Shares In The Next 12 Months And Barely Dent Its Cash Hoard  Seeking Alpha

Healthcare Legislation

CMS issues final Medicaid RAC rule  AHANews.com   Judge Rules in Favor of Pennsylvania Couple’s Challenge of Federal Health Care Reform Law  Plansponsor   IRS proposes safe harbor for health care plan affordability test  Business Insurance   Debt Panel Discusses Entitlement Spending in First Policy Meeting  California Healthline   New Website Offers Tips on Small-Biz Healthcare Tax Credits  AllBusiness.com   Insurers seek clarity in portability guidelines  Financial Chronicle   Invest in FMPs when interest rates go up  Financial Chronicle   Insurance services group urges preparation for health insurance reform  OVERDRIVE.online

Financial Thought Leaders' Commentary

Aussie Fund Manager: Buy US Corporate Bonds  Moneynews   Hedge-Fund Managers Talk About Obama's Tax Hike Plan  NetNet - CNBC   Meredith Whitney Gets Bullish, but Not on Banks  TheStreet.com   U.S. crude oil prices declined, weighed by economic concerns  Forex Street   Martin Currie expands Chinese operations through APS tie-up  Scotsman.com   Greek bonds: only for investors with a death wish  The News-Sun   Bill Ackman's Latest Investment: Long the Hong Kong Dollar  market folly   Bruce Kovner retires: a Market Wizard's career  Finance Trends Matter   Meredith Whitney Getting Bullish on the US, Likes 'Emerging Industries' Within US  StreetInsider.com

Banking Trends - US

Anti-Corruption Coalition Requests US AML Review  Corruption Currents - The Wall Street Journal   Banks optimistic despite gathering clouds  The Journal of Turkish Weekly

Banking Legislation

European rules would not stand in the way of Vickers  Money Marketing   Moody's says Australian banks can meet earlier Basel III timetable  Capital Market

Federal Legislation - Financials

Vitter bill would require audit of renewable energy loans  E2 Wire - The Hill

Commodity Markets

Mine export values soar 27pc  The Australian   Read more: Commodity Business Awards 2011  Commodities Now Online   Paul Touradji & Jeff Scott on Commodities: Delivering Alpha Conference  market folly   Oil, copper lead commodity slide  gulfnews.com   No commodity to enter ETF until govt takes call  Business Standard   Limit exposure to commodities  Business Standard   Mixed trend in spot rubber  The Hindu Business Line   MetalMiner and Zycus Collaborate on Commodity Video Series  MetalMiner

Foreign Exchange Reserves

High cost of holding forex reserves  The Hindu Business Line

US National Debt

Consolidation Within A Secular Trend Cannot Be Problem Solved  Eric De Groot's Insights   Letters: Reducing nation's debt  NJ.com   States Erode Power of Public-Sector Unions  Human Resource Executive Online   US health care flawed, needs reform now  Daily Lobo   Former state Sen. Rudy Garcia may have to expand his government economics discussion group.  HeraldTribune.com   Should it be hard to raise taxes? Yes!  StarTribune.com   Thomas D. Elias: Even in hard times, state sets national trends  Press-Telegram   Pennsylvania lawmakers renew threat to take control of Harrisburg after council vote  Pennlive   Dane Co. Treasurer Entering Congressional Race  Channel 3000   Weprin latest N.Y. Assembly-bred loser  The Politico

Liquidity Indicators - US

Saudi central Amhafez: We do not consider buying European debt  allvoices, Inc   Prospects Daily: Euro Zone industrial production rebounds  The World Bank Group-Blog   Guest Commentary: Gold & Silver Prices - Daily Outlook 09.14.2011  Daily FX

Toxic Assets

Bailout Banks Made Riskier Loans: Study  TheStreet.com

Credit Contraction & Expansion

Europe banks valued at lowest since Lehman collapse  gulfnews.com

Credit Derivative Market

Recent Sovereign And State CDS Trends; France Now More Risky Than California And New York  Seeking Alpha   FDA public workshop weighs clinical decision support  AuntMinnie.com   Resolution rules adopted  Structured Credit Investor

Pension Fund Industry - US

Institutions Urge the SEC for New Proxy Access Rule  Pom Talk   Pension fund board bids to buy part of resort (Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon)  Hotel Online   Funds renew calls for proxy access regulation  Global Pensions   State Teacher Retirement System Misleading Taxpayers and Teachers...  Weapons of Mass Discussion   Donna Perry: Union Strategy: Sabotage Pension Reform  GOLOCALProv   More U.S. employers offering pension advice  BenefitsCanada.com   SC pension fund gap soars to $17 billion  GoUpstate.com   U.S Steel tables offer  AM 900

Money Market Exposure

Equities benefit from investor caution  IFAonline   CBRC Warns of P2P Lending  CRIENGLISH   NZ dollar falls after Bollard flags slow pace of rate hikes  Scoop   NZ dollar falls as Bollard holds steady  The Timaru Herald   Jim’s Mailbox  Jim Sinclairs MineSet   Official Euro Document: Crisis Now Systemic As Bank Liquidity Problem Fuels Vicious Feedback Loop  Forbes Blog

Mutual Fund Money Flow

ETF Flows Suggest Defensive Sector Rotation  ETF Trends   Bogle's Beginnings  Falkenblog   Bond Funds See Huge Spike in Inflows  TheStreet.com   Investors Exit Super Large Cap Fund Holding SLB, ABT, BRK.B  Forbes   MidCaps Continue To Bleed Assets As Investors Look Elsewhere  Forbes   European Fund Struggles To Retain Assets As Debt Troubles Intensify  Forbes

Investment Trends

African ministers call for ILO support to boost employment-intensive investments in infrastructure  Media-Newswire.com   Azerbaijani citizens receive additional investment opportunity  Trend News Agency   Indonesia lures bulge-bracket investment banks  FinanceAsia.com   Former Goldman Superstar's Hedge Fund Tops $2 Billion  Forbes   USA, UK desire to boost oil and gas investments in Yemen  Gulf in the Media   E-commerce: high hopes put on the market after 60-million-dollar affair  Vietnam Net   Judge Says Hedge Funds May Have Used Inside Information  DealBook - The New York Times   For the Best Infrastructure Investment, Free the Telecom and Energy Sectors  Forbes   Investments benefiting from incentives see uptrend  The Jordan Times   Leveraged ETFs Get a ‘Bad Rap,’ CEO Says  ETF Trends

Hedge Fund Industry

Super funds push for better hedge fund governance  The Financial Standard   ASIC opens dialogue with hedge funds  The Financial Standard   Head of Goldman's Computer-Trading Shop to Step Down  DealBook - The New York Times   After Caxton, Another Hedge Fund Announces Leadership Handoff  DealBook - The New York Times   Hedge Fund Expert Joins Cambridge Associates’ Research Team, Hedgeye, Investcorp Moves  HedgeCo.Net   Shaw Capital Management Factoring: North Aurora resident says charges of hedge fund scam absolutely  PR-USA.net   Hedge Fund Best Ideas: Kyle Bass, Dan Loeb, Leon Cooperman, Phil Falcone  market folly   Hedge Fund State of Mind  The Wall Street Journal

Government Infrastructure Plans - US

Cyclists Urged to Oppose Big Cuts in Federal Spending  SportsOneSource.com   State Road 50 may lose Titusville parking  florida today   Maryland braces for possible drop in transportation funding  Washington Examiner   Canada concerned with 'Buy American' part of Obama jobs plan  Dose   Public transport's a safe investment  The Canberra Times   Obama pledges $50 billion for transport infrastructure  ifw net.com   Senate Appropriators Cut $128 Million From Border Security Technology Plans    Defence Daily   Dutchess airport to get federal grant  Poughkeepsie Journal   Editorial: This jobs bill makes sense  Quad-Cities Online   Pocono Wednesday: Dream road projects, NY upset special, dirty laundry  Pocono Record

Municipal Bond Market

Bond move could save $600,000  Shelbyville Times-Gazette   Gloucester County bond refinancing measure promises to yield savings  South Jersey - NJ.com

Economy Watch - International

Norway Aug Exports Up 27.2% On Year, Imports Rise 11.5%  INO.com   Singapore Jul Retail Sales Rise 10.7% On Year, Consensus 8.7%  INO.com   Romania's exports of electric power increase 122.4 percent in first seven months  act media   Singapore retail sales rise for fifth month on motor vehicles  The Edge Singapore   Korean Conglomerates Scrape up Money in Market Amid Fears of Double-Dip Recession  Arirang   Australian Index Drops 1.6%; Core inflation Lowered  Ticker   Inflation revision postpones rate rise: NAB  The Sydney Morning Herald   Govt spending to bring rise in inflation, consumption  Nation Multimedia   Services exports down 5.8% in July imports fall 18.2%  Business Standard   Eurostat: Baltic countries on top of EU by industrial production output growth  Baltic Business News

Banking Trends - Europe

UK banking reform won’t trigger immediate rating changes  Investment Executive   Europe Lending Woes Deepen  The Wall Street Journal   New Internet banking Trojan identified  Computer Business Review

Liquidity Indicators - Europe

Can The CPI Influence Monetary Policy Decisions?  Seeking Alpha   Redding calls for EU commissioner to head eurogroup  Expatica

Monetary Policies - Europe

Capital Economics: T-bills to yield 1.5% into 2013  Investment Week   It Will Become Very Tough: ECB Monetary Policy Kicked Off The Rail By Only One Lehman Event  iStockAnalyst.com   Central bank ponders keeping some gold reserves abroad  El Universal

Corporate Governance - Shareholder Activism

Loeb Reiterates Call for Yahoo Chairman's Exit  DealBook - The New York Times   More Evidence Of Activism at CA  Capital Observer   Loeb steps up Yahoo board campaign  The Financial Times   Activist Jaguar Pounces On Research In Motion  Seeking Alpha   For Goldman's CEO, is chairman one title too many?  Fortune Magazine   Yahoo: Bostock Hangs Up On Loeb, Who Writes Another Letter  Forbes