World faces hi-tech crunch as China eyes ban on rare metal exports - Telegraph

World faces hi-tech crunch as China eyes ban on rare metal exports - Telegraph: "A draft report by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has called for a total ban on foreign shipments of terbium, dysprosium, yttrium, thulium, and lutetium. Other metals such as neodymium, europium, cerium, and lanthanum will be restricted to a combined export quota of 35,000 tonnes a year, far below global needs.

China mines over 95pc of the world’s rare earth minerals, mostly in Inner Mongolia. The move to hoard reserves is the clearest sign to date that the global struggle for diminishing resources is shifting into a new phase. Countries may find it hard to obtain key materials at any price."

1,000 Banks to Fail In Next Two Years: Bank CEO - Private Equity and Hedge Funds * US * News * Story - CNBC.com

1,000 Banks to Fail In Next Two Years: Bank CEO - Private Equity and Hedge Funds * US * News * Story - CNBC.com: "The US banking system will lose some 1,000 institutions over the next two years, said John Kanas, whose private equity firm bought BankUnited of Florida in May."

US May See 150-200 More Bank Failures: Bove - Financials * US * News * Story - CNBC.com

US May See 150-200 More Bank Failures: Bove - Financials * US * News * Story - CNBC.com: "Bove said 'perhaps another 150 to 200 banks will fail,' on top of 81 so far in 2009, adding stress to the FDIC's deposit insurance fund."

Editorial - Debit Card Trap - NYTimes.com

Editorial - Debit Card Trap - NYTimes.com: "Moebs Services, a research company that has conducted studies for the government as well as some banks, reported recently that banks will earn more than $38 billion this year from overdraft and bounced-check fees. Moebs also estimates that 90 percent of that amount will be paid by the poorest 10 percent of the customer base."

Harry Markopolos: CDS Fraud Will Make Madoff Look "Small-Time"

Harry Markopolos: CDS Fraud Will Make Madoff Look "Small-Time": "Memo to regulators: be forewarned about frauds
in the credit-default swap market. They'll make Bernie Madoff's $65 billion fraud 'look like small-time.'

That's what Harry Markopolos -- Madoff's whistleblower ignored by federal investigators -- is saying, anyway."

321energy :: Equating Economics, Energy and Oil :: John Howe

321energy :: Equating Economics, Energy and Oil :: John Howe: "NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE MOVES OR GROWS WITHOUT ENERGY"