The “real time” national debt clock is showing $12.39 trillion, while treasurydirect shows over $12.4 trillion.
“LONDON — Europe’s more indebted countries have US$2.85 trillion of maturing bonds and syndicated loans to refinance in the next three years, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Worries about high levels of sovereign debt in Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain have hit the bond and loan markets, potentially raising the rates that governments and companies will have to pay to refinance their debt.”
“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. estimated the four failures Friday cost its deposit insurance fund more than $1 billion. ”
“NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — More than 1 million people could lose their jobless benefits and health insurance subsidy in March if Congress doesn’t act fast.
When it returns from the President’s Day recess on Monday, the Senate will have one week to extend the deadlines to apply for federal unemployment benefits and the COBRA health insurance subsidy. Currently, the jobless have until Feb. 28 to sign up. ”
“State and local government employees in California are retiring in record numbers. Experts suggest an aging workforce, cutbacks in positions and pay, and the economic downturn are all factors. [Calpensions]
Since last July, retirement applications at CalPERS are up 21 percent. There were 16,558 applications, compared to 13,774 during the same period in 2009. A spokesperson for CalPERS says that the current numbers are on track to “far exceed†2009 by next July 1.
At the same time, more public employees are considering retirement. CalPERS has already received nearly 60,000 requests for retirement estimates since July 1.”
“NEW YORK (Reuters) – Sovereign debt concerns in Europe have eased for a time but they could still weigh on U.S. debt capital markets and put a chill on merger activity if worries persist about global growth.
Since concern about sovereign risk in Greece, Spain and Portugal swept through the markets last month, U.S. corporate bond issuance has slowed to a trickle, borrowing costs have risen and at least half a dozen bond sales have been put on hold.
“In some sense Greece is…an example of a dynamic that’s going on not just in Europe but in the United States and all the developed world,” said Jay Mueller, senior portfolio manager with Wells Capital Management in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“If Greece were to crash on the rocks…the question becomes, Is this a bellwether for the rest of us?”"
- 7) Headlines
Boeing sends more than 1,000 layoff notices
Frustrated Owner Bulldozes Home Ahead Of Foreclosure
Rising Interest Rates Won’t Stop Inflation, Says NIA
FISCAL YEAR 2009: Nevada’s biggest casinos lose $6.8 billion
Up to 25 billion euros in aid mulled for Greece: report
Four Schools To Close in Dekalb (GA)
Lawmakers want to tax Amazon sales in California
State legally allowed to dip into snowmobile fund (NY)
……………………….I’ve been saying exactly the same thing, and I’m not even a French fortune teller (just listen to the first part).
Be back on Monday.
- Saxplayer00o1
