Economics and Investing:

Steven L. sent this bit of good economic news: Cabela’s shares surge on gun sales

Eric S. sent this snippet from Bloomberg : “Gold is likely to more than quadruple from the current level of $986 per ounce currently to $3,500 in 2010, he said.”

Reader “Jericho Jo” flagged this article from New Zealand: European chiefs propose global rules (for world economies). A quote: “Even the global crisis and a change of Administration may not be enough to convince the US to hand over its autonomy.”I see the US as wary of giving away powers of oversight and regulation,” said Robert Brusca of Fact And Opinion Economics in New York.”

HPD set this item from Bloomberg: AIG Seeks More Aid, May Lose $60 Billion, CNBC Says (Apparently the $150 billion in taxpayer dollars already spent wasn’t enough…)

Items from The Economatrix:

Full Text of the Treasury Statement on Banks

UK: Top Economist Calls for 5-6% Inflation to Help Ease Crisis JWR’s comment: Sure! We’ll get 5% inflation, and then 50% inflation, and then…

Gold Hits Record Against Euro on Fear of Zimbabwean-style Response to Bank Crisis

US Cannot Go Back to Old Ways, Top Economist Says “Fixing the banks is not really the key to unlocking the demand side.”

Financial Job Losses Accelerating Says UN Agency ” …the combined New York metropolitan area expected to lose up to 100,000 financial services jobs…”

EU Leaders Back Sweeping Financial Regulations Any bets on whether or not private banking privacy will suffer, in the process?

US Gasoline Prices Edge Up to $1.94

Bernanke: Recession May End this Year; Stocks Climb
JWR’s Comment: And tortoises may learn to fly later in 2009, as well!

Consumer Confidence Plunges to New Low In February

Home Prices Post Highest Annual Decline in 4Q

World’s Economies Tumbling Like Dominoes

The Long and Short of It

Food for Thought (The Mogambo Guru)

Warning for the West as Crisis Spills onto Streets