This is an early edition of the day’s usual linkfest. We have something special planned for later in the day. Good luck out there.
Quote of the day
Tim Duy, “I do not think Bernanke’s speech is a signal that QE3 is guaranteed. But it is a signal that QE3 is definitely not off the table. It is entirely data dependent.” (Economist’s View)
Chart of the morning
Seriously people, real yields are really low. (MarketBeat)
Markets
There is no shortage of companies trading at new 52-week highs. (Bespoke)
Two takes on why this cyclical bull market is likely to end soon. (Market Blog, Term Sheet)
Your trade for the day: long chicken/short pork. (Money Game)
The dual role of price in financial markets. (Systematic Relative Strength)
Strategy
Beware market predictors. (Bucks Blog)
We need an alternative to the 401(k) plan. (Aleph Blog)
Are state-run pension funds the answer? (NYTimes)
Companies
Apple ($AAPL) at $600 a share. How did it get here? (Asymco)
Why Phil Falcone likes Spectrum Brands ($SPB). (Market Folly)
NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway ($BRKB) subsidiary, has an IRS problem. (Dealbook, Clusterstock)
Transcanada Corp. ($TRP) now has some competition to build a Canada-US pipeline. (WSJ)
Finance
What would the “Corzine Rule” look like and would it work? (Dealbreaker)
Other companies in the failed IPO hall of shame. (Dealbook)
Jefferies Group ($JEF) on the other side of the Euro debt mess. (FT)
More signs the financial crisis is over. American Express ($AXP) hikes its dividend for the first time since 2007. (MarketBeat)
ETFs
Global X is launching ETFs based on top hedge fund holdings. (Focus on Funds)
World domination complete: China gets their own ETFs. (IndexUniverse)
Global
The Chinese economy is hitting the “Great Wall.” What it will take for continued economic development. (Fatas and Mihov via @MarkThoma)
Russ Roberts talks with Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty. (EconTalk)
Economy
Little signs of inflation from this online price indicator. (Carpe Diem)
Just how much do gasoline prices affect consumer behavior? (NYTimes)
Do initial unemployment claims data help predict payrolls? (St. Louis Fed via EV)
A good note on just how lagged some home price data is. (Calculated Risk)
America is aging: where will the workers come from? (The Atlantic)
Mixed media
Why the future of magazines looks like Spotify. (Pando Daily)
Why we so often get big money decisions wrong. (Seth Godin)
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