Sunday morning links

TOP STORIES
Long Protected by Washington, Fannie and Freddie Ballooned - NY Times
The fall of IndyMac - CNN/Money
Many Retirees Face Prospect of Outliving Savings, Study Says - Washington Post
The Silence of the Lenders - NY Times
Small towns get creative as fuel costs bite - AP
Freddie Mac's Next Hurdle: Raise Cash - Washington Post

MARKETS
Demand-supply fundamentals will drive gold - CommodityOnline
Investors set for another tough earnings season - AP
Crude oil, the star commodity - CommodityOnline

ECONOMY
Retail Sales Probably Rose on Tax Rebates: U.S. Economy Preview - Bloomberg
Obama says `little doubt' country in recession - AP
What if the Candidates Pandered to Economists? - NY Times

HOUSING
Housing Bubble Update: Fasten your seat belts, here comes the jobs crash - iTulip
The Fannie and Freddie Fallout - NY Times
Ripple Effects From Fannie And Freddie - Washington Post

FED/TREASURY
Paulson cool to shield Fannie/Freddie investors: report - AP
Bernanke to Testify on State of Economy - Washington Post
Officials check on Freddie Mac securities sale - Reuters

INTERNATIONAL
Rising FDI reflects inflow of hot money - CHINADaily
Japan Must Cut Energy Use to Cope With Oil Price, Ota Says - Bloomberg

INTERESTING
Watching That Balance Grow . . . and Grow - NY Times
Bankers Use Secret Clinics, Nurses to Beat Breakdowns - Bloomberg