“Much of options trading involves an ability the look at a trading screen itself and simply develop a sense of whether there’s a trade opportunity or not.”  (Daily Options Report, ibid)

Have we established a new range for the VIX?  (VIX and More)

The weaker dollar illustrated via currency ETF performance YTD.  (Bespoke)

“Unfortunately hope is a money-loser in the investment business.”  (The Pragmatic Capitalist)

There is no “free lunch” in commodity index investing.  (IndexUniverse also FT Alphaville)

Citigroup (C) is looking for a way to let Phibro go.  (FT also Dealbreaker, DailyFinance)

The $33 billion iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (EEM) is a cash cow for Barclays Global Investors.  (WSJ)

REITs are now trading at a premium to NAV.  (WSJ)

Are banks trying to make their CRE portfolios look better than reality?  (Deal Journal)

How would one bet on hyperinflation.  (Atlantic Business)

Evidence that value investors can successfully pick stocks.  (SSRN)

Is newly issued Verisk Analytics (VRSK) a way to piggyback along with Warren Buffett?  (Morningstar)

Checking in on Finance Blogger Feud Week.  (The Reformed Broker)

Hopefully the final word on the Matt Taibbi naked shorting video brouhaha.  (Kid Dynamite)

A weaker US dollar, the carry trade and a bet on the midterm elections.  (The Daily Beast)

How’s this for a financial plan?  (behavior gap)

Small businesses have seen a large proportion of job losses in this recession.  (macroblog)

Do employers need a tax credit to entice hiring?  (Curious Capitalist, Mankiw Blog)

“There is much more to analyzing polling data than looking at a snapshot of current opinion.”  (A Dash of Insight)

Solar shingles, “The potential here is simply stunning.”  (Value Plays)

The forgotten man of Moneyball, part one. (Deadspin)

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