Are stock buybacks a good thing for a company’s stock price? (NYTimes.com)

Dramatic performance shifts in large/small, growth/value equity sectors. (TraderFeed)

Reinsurance, capital ratios and the monoline bond insurers. (Accrued Interest)

Berky’s [Berkshire Hathaway] excess cash offers opportunities at present, because Buffett can use that cash to snap up distressed assets when he chooses to do so, and at minimal risk to Berky if an acquisition fails.” (Aleph Blog)

The Fed has few friends at the moment. (A Dash of Insight)

Speaking of the friendless, Alan Greenspan puts the odds of a recession at 50%. (Real Time Economics)

Are we in a recession? Six commentators respond. (NYTimes.com)

Will Basel II survive the current credit crisis? (Alea)

A new(ish) blog on the global metal markets. (MetalMiner via The Stalwart)

Has Dubai extended itself too far? (Marginal Revolution)

Thanks for checking in with Abnormal Returns. Do you know what others are saying about us?