Features of the week

A looney, volatile week in the markets fueled by government intervention and artificial supports for financial firms and stock prices.

We scan the globe for signs of intelligent life in our, "Features of the week".

1. US drafts sweeping plan to fight crisis. Treasury announces plan to buy worthless mortgage paper.

2. SEC issues temporary ban on short-selling of 799 financial stocks.

Just following the FSA's lead, I guess.

Note: Once again, we bring you Doug Kass' comments on the short-seller blame game. Plus, BMB's comments on "Kill Shorty".

3. Buffett's derivatives "time bomb" goes off on Wall Street.

4. Strong push for an RTC-type solution to the credit crisis.

Note: Jim Puplava and others at Financial Sense Online saw this type of Resolution Trust solution to the mortgage debt crisis coming.

5. Stocks soar worldwide following bank bailouts, short-sale restrictions.

6. "Is Capitalism Dead?", asks Minyanville's Todd Harrison.

7. Nouriel Roubini on, "The transformation of the USA into the USSRA".

8. Hedgie Fintag has some thoughts on the US and the markets.

9. Warren Buffett may find bargains in the AIG rummage sale.

10. Assets linked to emerging markets will become "toxic waste".

11. Sue them, jail them, make them pay for meltdown: Ann Woolner.

12. Gold coins & bullion sales up as investors seek shelter from crisis.

13. Wall Street's ills seep into everyday lives.

14. Charles Kirk knows that bailouts are band-aids.

Thanks for reading Finance Trends Matter.

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