Thursday morning links

TOP STORIES
• Swine Flu Case in Spain May Point to Global Pandemic - Bloomberg
• Shareholders Oust Bank of America Chief as Chairman - NY Times
• Chrysler Will File for Bankruptcy, White House Says - Bloomberg
• Portfolio's Flameout, or How to Burn Money Fast - Time
• Starbucks profit tops view, focus on value - Reuters
• Dr. Doom is still all doomsday-like - Time
• Why the stress tests really do matter - MSNBC
• Swine flu deflation - Telegraph

MARKETS/INVESTING
• Gold Falls, Poised for Monthly Drop - Bloomberg
• Oil jumps above $51 on optimism recession slowing - AP
• Dollar Drops as Equity Gains Reduce Haven Demand - Bloomberg
• US in worst recession for 50 years - Telegraph
• Beijing has 1,054 tonnes of gold now! - Commodity Online
• CBGA Heebie-Jeebies - Kitco

ECONOMY
• Consumer spending falls by 0.2 percent in March - AP
• Initial Jobless Claims Fell 14,000 to 631,000 Last Week - Bloomberg
• As Detroit Is Remade, the U.A.W. Stands to Gain - NY Times
• Economy improving, but not better yet, Fed says - MarketWatch
• A Reality Check for Economic Optimism - Wash. Post

INTERNATIONAL
• European markets near 2009 highs, US set for gains - AP
• New Zealand Cuts Key Interest Rate to 2.5% - Bloomberg
• WHO warns swine flu threatening to become pandemic - CHINADaily
• UK wages collapse at fastest rate in 60 years - Telegraph
• British home prices fall 0.4% in April - MarketWatch
• Euro Rises as Asian Stock Gains Spur Demand for Higher Yields - Bloomberg
• Bank of Japan cuts its economic outlook for the fiscal year - MarketWatch
• Taiwan Stocks Rise Most Since 1991 on China - Bloomberg

HOUSING
• First-time buyers find deals, help perk up house sales - USA Today
• Struggling Vacation Home Market Offers Rare Finds - BusinessWeek
• Feds Offer More Help for Troubled Homeowners - Time
• Mortgage Applications Drop to Mid-March Low - CNBC

FED/TREASURY/BANKING
• Fed Keeps ‘Powder Dry’ While Waiting for End of Recession - Bloomberg
• Flawed Credit Ratings Reap Profits as Regulators Fail - Bloomberg
• The Importance of Paying Citigroup Bankers Bonuses - Time
• Fed Keeps Purchase Targets Unchanged, Sees Stability - Bloomberg

INTERESTING
• A budget cure: Marijuana taxes? - MSNBC
• The Doggie Day Care Owner - Time
• Derivatives Hit Austrian Railroad With Record Loss - AP
• Judge won't let inmate change name to 'Sinner' - AP

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