Friday morning links

TOP STORIES
Single-Family Home Starts in U.S. Fall to 26-Year Low - Bloomberg
Buffett says he's buying U.S. stocks - Reuters
As Credit Tightens, Companies Curtail Spending, Expansion - Washington Post
UBS Seeks to Stem Client Outflows After Shedding Toxic Assets - Bloomberg
The $58 Trillion Elephant in the Room - Portfolio.com
Car dealers demand more cash for down payments - USA Today
Hedge funds shake in the teeth of financial storm - Guardian

MARKETS/INVESTING
Be ready for the commodity comeback - MSN Money
Oil Falls Below $70 a Barrel - Washington Post
Gold Set for Biggest Weekly Loss in Two Months on Stocks, Oil - Bloomberg
On OPEC and the sinking price of crude - Globe & Mail
Boomers: 3 ways the crisis whacks your retirement - MSN Money

ECONOMY
Consumer sentiment plunges at fastest rate ever - MarketWatch
Housing starts fall 6% to 17-year low in September - MarketWatch
In Downturn, Families Strain to Pay Tuition - NY Times
Industrial production falls by most since late `74 - AP

HOUSING
Misery loves company at Realtors expo - LA Times
Housing market recovery not until 2023? - Reuters
Home Builder Confidence Sets Record Low in October - HousingWire

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
Rate Cuts, Fiscal Stimulus Needed to Fight Slump - Bloomberg
Bailout pushes mortgage rates up - USA Today
Dollar Libor Logs First Weekly Drop Since July on Cash Funding - Bloomberg
Banks Are Likely to Hold Tight to Bailout Money - NY Times

INTERNATIONAL
Pension plans show worst quarterly drop in decade - Globe & Mail
Russian Elite Look to Kremlin For Aid as Wealth Evaporates - Washington Post
South Korea Policy Makers Meet on Won, Stocks Slump - Bloomberg
European leaders join Brown in push for crisis summit - Guardian
Europe’s Central Bank Lends to Hungary - NY Times
High food costs 'a global burden' - BBC

INTERESTING
How the market's crash has hit the wealthiest - Globe & Mail
Post offices to sell gold coins - Gulf Times
Does Johnny really need a cell phone? - MSN Money