Ticker Sense and Mark Hulbert look at how the market’s first quarter performance typically affects performance for the rest of the year.

Ticker Sense also tracks down first quarter performance for 84 countries.

Barry Ritholtz at the Big Picture on the Fed Model and the notion that valuation is at best a “rather imprecise timing tool.”

Adam Warner at the Daily Options Report highlights an interesting sentiment development.

Calpers continues to move into commodities and the emerging markets. (via WSJ.com)

Steven Smith at TheStreet.com looks at how one can spot unusual activity in the options market.

Felix Salmon notes how CDS prices changed quite dramatically prior to a recent merger announcement.

Accrued Interest on the cross-currents involving the bonds of companies taken private.

Jim Jubak at MSN Money on how the Blackstone Group deal “marks the end of the cheap debt era.”

Are ESOPs really gaining in popularity? (via USA Today)

Chad Brand at the Peridot Capitalist thinks we should take note of Sam Zell’s most recent contrarian asset swap.

FT Alphaville on why we should look beyond measures like margin debt to better understand investor risk taking.

We are no big fans of socially responsible investing, but for those of you who are David Kathman at Morningstar.com looks at ways to “find the right socially responsible fund” for you.

Random Roger is having difficulties keeping up with the flood of new ETFs.

Tim Middleton at MSN Money looks at how international bond funds may “serve as a safe harbor in tumultuous times.”

CXO Advisory Group on the usefulness of earnings acceleration as a factor.

Marcia Vickers at Fortune takes an “unauthorized look” into the world of Citadel founder Ken Griffin.

David Gaffen at MarketBeat on the man behind the Mortgage Implode-o-Meter.

James Surowiecki in the New Yorker on why further regulating subprime lending may do more harm than good.

Paul Kedrosky at Infectious Greed on the wide-ranging implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling on emissions regulations.

Kevin Hassett at American.com on the value of comic books as collectibles.

Who will end up owning the Cubs? And will they end up owning Wrigley Field itself?

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