From the @valeofinancial Twitter feed

Consumer Borrowing

• Surprise contraction in consumer credit Valeo Financial Advisors
• The average rate for the conventional 30-year fixed mortgage dropping below 4 percent for the first time in history Freddie Mac

Financial Planning

• What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan U.S. Department of Labor

Markets

• S&P 500 has had nine swings of at least 5% up or down since 8/26. Bespoke
• Today’s 30 year bond rate is lower than the one-month rate on January 17, 2008 – Reuters
• Death by low yields: Bond-fund managers face a dilemma The Economist
• Bank share prices are close to their 2008-09 lows The Economist

China

• It’s currently costing Chinese central bank ~$240 bil/year to hold down the value of its currency. ~4% of 2010 GDP Peterson Institute
• Daily chart: How #China and India compare on various measures of development The Economist
• Think Beijing is America’s banker? Think again. 10 myths about China debunked. Foreign Policy Magazine

United States

• TARP, Three Years Later U.S. Department of the Treasury

Other

• The revolution that Steve Jobs led is only just beginning The Economist