Thursday morning links

TOP STORIES
US bankers facing fraud charges - BBC
Taking a Closer look at Other 3+% GDPs - The Big Picture
Bank of England keeps interest rates at 5pc - Telegraph
Eurozone rates on hold at 4.25% - BBC
There's a Bull Market Somewhere? - Gross, Pimco
Beijing’s Olympian task is to curb inflation - Roach, FT

MARKETS
Gold bounces from 2-week low as dollar dips - Reuters
OPEC to Pump Record Amounts as $109 Oil Stunts Growth - Bloomberg
Euro falls versus dollar on Trichet's comments - Reuters

ECONOMY
Services side of U.S. economy expanded in August - MarketWatch
Jobless claims jump, productivity soars - AP
Wal-Mart leads better sales for discount retailers - Reuters
U.S. auto sales continue to drag despite lower gas prices - LA Times
US economy 'facing stagflation' - BBC

HOUSING
Florida Real Estate Bottom Signaled by Sale of Distressed Condo - Bloomberg
Pick-a-payment loans turn poisonous - CNN/Money
Toll Brothers Posts Loss as Revenue Falls - NY Times
House Prices Still Too High Despite Collapse - Yahoo! Finanace
Tighter Credit Standards Drive Jump in Mortgage Applications - Housing Wire

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
U.S. Economy Remains Weak, Fed Finds - Washington Post
Dallas Fed president foresees 'anemic' growth into 2009 - USA Today
Fed, ECB Must Unplug Markets From Life Support - Bloomberg

INTERNATIONAL
House prices suffer biggest fall since records began - Guardian
ECB leaves rates on hold, global tightening nears end - Reuters
U.K. Rates must fall sharply - and soon - Guardian
Immigrants squeezed as Spain's boom turns to bust - LA Times
Opec invites Brazil to join group - BBC

INTERESTING
Housing downturn brings self-storage boom - LV Business Press
Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines - NY Times
4,500-year-old ice shelf breaks away - CNN