Friday morning links

TOP STORIES
Jobless rate bolts to 14-year high of 6.5 percent - AP
Ford Plans Cuts as It Burns Through $7.7 Billion - NY Times
Obama meeting Friday with economic advisers - AP
Retailers post worst October sales figures since at least 1971 - LA Times
Creative fixes for US finances - MSN Money
Las Vegas Sands Plunges on Default, Bankruptcy Risk - Bloomberg

MARKETS/INVESTING
Oil rises on dollar's retreat - CNN/Money
Gold Rises for First Time in 3 Days in London as Dollar Drops - Bloomberg
Agency Predicts a Return of Triple-Digit Oil Prices - NY Times

ECONOMY
October job losses worse than feared - Reuters
For Obama, the economy can't wait - Christian Science Monitor
States face unemployment cash crisis - CNN/Money
Schwarzenegger calls for sales tax hike, cuts in services - LA Times

HOUSING
Homebodies Take On Joads in U.S. Real-Estate Bust - Bloomberg
Realtors want rescues for Main Street, not Wall Street - OC Register
RealtyBid.com Reports Good News in the Housing Market - MarketWatch
The housing mess: five 'dumb' questions - MSN Money

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
Treasury Is Working To Widen the Rescue - Washington Post
Bernanke Tack to Democrats May Boost Government Role - Bloomberg
Fed's Warsh Says New Financial Structure Is Critical - Bloomberg

INTERNATIONAL
Perilous state of economy revealed by MPC's shock move - Telegraph
Fewer Canadians buy U.S. homes as currency weakens - USA Today
Germany's economy hits the skids - LA Times
Once Sizzling, China’s Economy Shows Rapid Signs of Fizzling - NY Times
Canada adds 9,500 jobs, defies expectations - Globe & Mail
Bank of Korea Reduces Rates for Third Time in a Month - Bloomberg
European leaders to press for action - Reuters

INTERESTING
Five best -- and worst -- Costco deals - MSN Money
Survey: Americans cutting back on gifts - AP