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

The $VIX closed in backwardation yesterday.  (MarketBeat)

A near record bond offering from Abbott Labs ($ABT).  (FT)

Is the “core” iShares brand going to take off?  (IndexUniverse)

Apple ($AAPL) continues to explore non-Intel ($INTC) computer chips.  (Bloomberg)

Carl Icahn is no slouch in attracting poison pills.  (Dealbreaker)

Groupon ($GRPN) has been public for a year, a very long one for shareholders.  (Pando Daily)

Hurricane Sandy underlies the fragility of our just-in-time lives.  (Daniel Gross)

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