Treasury’s Plan Would Give Fed Wide New Power - New York Times

Treasury’s Plan Would Give Fed Wide New Power - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department will propose on Monday that Congress give the Federal Reserve broad new authority to oversee financial market stability, in effect allowing it to send SWAT teams into any corner of the industry or any institution that might pose a risk to the overall system."

The Associated Press: FDIC Plans Staff Boost for Bank Failures

The Associated Press: FDIC Plans Staff Boost for Bank Failures: "WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal bank regulators plan to increase staffing 60 percent in coming months to handle an anticipated surge in troubled financial institutions."

In Debt We Trust: America Before The Bubble Bursts, page 1

In Debt We Trust: America Before The Bubble Bursts, page 1

Eliot Spitzer - Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime - washingtonpost.com

Eliot Spitzer - Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime - washingtonpost.com: "Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involved in consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range of predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresenting the terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers' ability to repay, making loans with deceptive 'teaser' rates that later ballooned astronomically, packing loans with undisclosed charges and fees, or even paying illegal kickbacks. These and other practices, we noticed, were having a devastating effect on home buyers. In addition, the widespread nature of these practices, if left unchecked, threatened our financial markets."

GoldMoney Market Commentary and Analysis

GoldMoney Market Commentary and Analysis: "To conclude, there is now more reason than ever to own gold and silver. They are continuing to fulfil their function as an inflation hedge, but those who own physical gold and silver are also benefiting in another way - they are protected from counterparty risk. In other words, gold and silver are a hedge against financial catastrophe, and more of that is probably on the way."

Weak dollar costs U.S. economy its No. 1 spot | Reuters

Weak dollar costs U.S. economy its No. 1 spot | Reuters: "PARIS (Reuters) - The U.S. economy lost the title of 'world's biggest' to the euro zone this week as the value of the dollar slumped in currency markets."

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "March 17 (Bloomberg) -- Ben S. Bernanke's interest-rate cuts have touched off a vicious circle of doom for the dollar."