Sunday morning links

TOP STORIES
• Treasury to unveil bank rescue bid soon - Reuters
• Despair over financial policy - Krugman, NY Times
• AIG bonus payments $218 million - Reuters
• California readying first bond sale in 9 months - SF Gate
• Washington Mutual sues FDIC for over $13 billion - Reuters
• Goldman Sachs defends $13-billion payment from AIG - LA Times
• Mistakes Beget Greater Mistakes - Noland, Prudent Bear
• Regulators seize two large corporate credit unions - MarketWatch

MARKETS/INVESTING
• Gold to Hit New Highs in 2009 - CEO Survey - Mineweb
• Smaller drive up in gas prices likely - AJC
• Bonus backlash hits Wall Street - LA Times
• Got gold? You're right on the money - MSN Money
• Bank crisis spawns new kind of gold rush - Globe & Mail
• Own gold, the metal, not a paper promise(.pdf) - Sprott Asset Mgmt.

ECONOMY
• Preview: Spending Likely Slowed as Home Sales Fell - Bloomberg
• California unemployment hits 10.5% in February - LA Times
• State unemployment office's call center swamped - SF Gate
• Despite discounts, travel spending takes a holiday - LA Times
• Slapped by recession, can Consumer Nation rethink? - AP

INTERNATIONAL
• Weber: ECB Poised to Lower Rates - Bloomberg
• The fiesta is over in recession-stricken Spain - AP
• China’s Stimulus Spending to Help Growth - Bloomberg
• China's copper mine project in Peru reflects economic power - LA Times
• India’s Ahluwalia Says “More Room” for Rate Cuts - Bloomberg
• India's Tata Motors to launch ultra-cheap Nano car - AP
• Nigeria: Russia, Govt Sign Energy Pact - This Day
• Chávez Trims Budget to Offset Low Oil Revenues - NY Times

HOUSING
• Buyers flocking to cheap foreclosed homes - Arizona Republic
• Finding a 'deal' in the housing market - Santa Cruz Sentinel
• New supply of 'jumbo' financing in pipeline - LA Times
• Americans fear home price drop accelerating - Reuters

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
• Fed’s Expanded Regulatory Role in Doubt - Bloomberg
• Treasury Presses Ahead With Plan For Toxic Assets - Wash. Post
• Geithner Puts Finishing Touches on Plan to Revive Banks - Bloomberg
• AIG Gives Connecticut’s Blumenthal Data on Bonuses - Bloomberg

INTERESTING
• Connecticut’s ‘Rodeo Drive’ Abandoned as Hedge Funds Collapse - Bloomberg
• Money woes reported at firms involved in surrogate births - LA Times
• BofA Stuck With Real-Estate Chief’s Unsold House - Bloomberg

###