Quote of the day

Carl E. Walter, “In short, [Chinese] banks are passive entities that absorb all the credit, interest and market risk involved in the government’s policy decisions.”  (Economix)

Chart of the day

Asset class performance to start the year.  (StockCharts Blog)

Video of the day

How the “most dangerous sports bettor in Nevada” plays the game.  (60 Minutes also net//worth)

Markets

If Shanghai is a bellwether, the rest of the world should be nervous.  (Pragmatic Capitalism)

A look at the week ahead for the market.  (A Dash of Insight)

Checking in on equity market sentiment.  (The Technical Take)

A one minute version of the 2011 Barron’s Roundtable.  (Money Game, ibid)

Strategy

High overhead is a killer for an independent trader.  (Minimalist Trader)

On the value embracing conflicting ideas (and chaos) in your trading.  (RemixTrades)

A primer on Fibonacci numbers and the market.  (Dragonfly Capital)

How StockTwits can make you a better (and more sane) trader.  (MarketShot)

Companies

Reactions to the news that Steve Jobs is taking an ‘indefinite medical leave‘ from Apple.  (NYTimes, SAI, ibid, Apple 2.0, , Crossing Wall Street, Digits)

This news will affect the stock price of Apple (AAPL).  (CNNMoney)

Just in case you didn’t think apps were a big deal.  (Asymco)

Finance

Goldman Sachs (GS) is now only going to offer Facebook shares only to off-shore customers.  (WSJ, Dealbook)

Bigger isn’t necessarily better in private equity.  (FT Alphaville)

Is Citigroup (C) finally out of the dog house?  (Street Sweep)

All hail the ETF price war.  (WSJ)

Global

BP (BP) is doubling down on Russia despite the risks.  (FT Alphaville, Streetwise Professor, The Source)

The conundrum facing Canada’s central bank.  (Globe and Mail)

Why the divergence between emerging markets and commodities?  (Humble Student of the Markets)

It’s hard to keep track of the all the emerging market acronyms.  (FT Alphaville, beyondbrics)

Economy

Did the great home equity withdrawal affect spending, or not?  (Money Game)

More on the rise in farmland values.  (Indiana Grain Co.)

Blogosphere

Why is Seeking Alpha going to start paying its contributors?  (Felix Salmon)

Why bloggers quit.  (Crain’s Chicago)

Errata

Who knew?  The immune system can”influence our moods, memory and ability to learn.”  (New Scientist)

Everybody lies.  (Altucher Confidential)

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