World-News

A continuing weak economy and last month's bipartisan tax cut legislation will drive the government's deficit to a record $1.5 trillion this year, a new government estimates predicts.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41272983/ns/politics-more_politics/



Watchdog Says Bank Bailouts Made 'Too-Big-to-Fail' Even Bigger

Neil Barofsky, head of the group charged with overseeing the government's handling of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) says the "too-big-to-fail" problem has not been solved; in fact, it's gotten worse.

http://bit.ly/hF2A2N



Mortgage applications tumble 12.9% as refinancing activity falls 15.3%

The number of refinancing applications fell 15.3% last week to the lowest point in 12 months, according to the MBA. And purchase applications didn't fare any better dropping 8.7% to the lowest point since October.

http://bit.ly/gotH9x



U.S. Home Prices Keep Weakening as Eight Cities Reach New Lows in November

Prices are now falling - and falling just about everywhere. As S&P noted "eight markets - Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Las Vegas, Miami, Portland (OR), Seattle and Tampa - hit their lowest levels since home prices peaked in 2006 and 2007".

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2011/01/case-shiller-us-home-prices-keep.html


From Information Clearing House



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=budget
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=deficit
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=bipartisan
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=bailout
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=mortgage
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=home+prices
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=TARP
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Big+Banks
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=tax+cut
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