Features of the week

Gold, grains, and interest rates. Value investors, and value traps. All this and more in our latest edition of, "Features of the week".

1. US's AAA credit rating 'under threat', says Moody's.

2. Bernanke signals deeper rate cuts ahead.

3. Gold futures rise to record $900.10 on interest-rate outlook.

4. Joseph Dancy on " 'Panic buying' in the grain markets" and record low global grain inventories.

5. Gold hits new all-time highs. Commentary on gold prices and investment demand for gold.

6. Value traps revisited. John Rubino recalls a June 2007 interview with Bearing Asset Management principals Bill Laggner and Kevin Duffy. See their comments about financial shares, brokerage stocks, and other "value traps" in the market.

7. Controlled Greed points to a video lecture series with value investors Frank Chou, Marty Whitman, Irving Kahn, and more (see "Guest Speakers" link).

8. Tune into the Financial Sense Newshour this weekend for an interview with Paul Kasriel, noted Northern Trust economist. The focus will be an economic forecast for 2008.

Update: A correction: Paul Kasriel was last weekend's guest interview. This week's broadcast features an interview with Marc Faber, who also shares his 2008 outlook. Thanks for the pointer, BMB!

9. What's left for government to do? Stephen Goldsmith on government's "core" functions and outsourcing public-sector services.

10. The tax that's anything but fair. A critique of the FairTax.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Thanks for reading.

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