Here are seven (or so) links at 7AM Eastern.  We will see you later with the daily linkfest.  Good luck out there today.

Markets

Does the $VIX actually predict future equity returns?  (EconomPic Data)

Gen Y hates stocks.  (The Reformed Broker)

Breakfast just got more expensive.  Orange juice futures are at a 34-year high.  (FT)

Investing like its 1999

Making the case for 2012 being the year of Microsoft ($MSFT).  (Slate)

Don’t look now but AOL ($AOL) is making a comeback.  (Dragonfly Capital)

ETFs

It’s alive!  The actively managed Pimco Total Return ETF is coming March 1st.  (Morningstar, Reuters)

Vanguard wins the ETF new inflow race in 2011, while most new funds failed to attain viability.  (FT, ibid)

Economy

The coming fiscal drag.  (FT Alphaville, Calculated Risk)

Germany’s economic growth is slowing, and fast.  (WSJ, Money Game)

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