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Features of the week

Plenty of investment and world news to share this week, with a special focus on banks and derivatives. Let's dive right in to this Friday's, "Features of the week".

1. "Ich bin ein Berliner": Obama-mania grips Europe.

2. Foreclosure activity surges in US (especially in Nevada & California).

3. A look at the US Housing Bill (I guess "GSE bailout bill" didn't have the appropriate ring).

4. Crowd gathers for House Judiciary hearing on Bush "impeachment".

5. Is a UK house price crash in the offing?

6. US and EU expand sanctions against Mugabe government.

Note: Remember what we said on Monday; the Western governments are stepping up their response after Zimbabwe threatened to seize foreign firms supporting Western sanctions. This is about money.

7. India's Sensex drops 502 points after soaring earlier in the week.

8. Jean-Marie Eveillard sees investment opportunity in India and Asia.

9. A recent sharp reversal for the "buy oil, sell financials" trade.

10. Paulson & Co. plans fund to provide capital to banks.

11. Some hedge fund stars still hit home runs.

Note: John Paulson, Philip Falcone, Peter Thiel, and Daniel Arbess are highlighted for their funds' 2008 performance.

12. Global money supply - 2008 update.

13. Best performing ETFs: UltraShort funds dominate the list.

14. Property derivatives set to flourish under new US tax law.

15. Should water be traded as a commodity?

16. Markit and DTCC to launch OTC derivatives processing venture.

17. How to trade foreign stocks in a global clean-tech market.

18. Bear market psychology & the ten phases of a bear market.

19. "Bear market is only half over", says Nouriel Roubini: video interview with Tech Ticker.

20. Randy Pausch last lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.

Note: Thanks to The Financial Philosopher for highlighting this clip earlier in the year.

Thanks for checking in with Finance Trends Matter. Have a great weekend!
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