Economics and Investing:

CMBS Loan Liquidations Hit Record $585M in December. (A hat tip to Flavio for the linkio.)

Jeff P. suggested this Business Insider piece by Michael Snyder: 20 Reasons Why The U.S. Economy Is Dying And Is Simply Not Going To Recover

And from Jeff B., news of further debasement of US coinage: Obama’s Proposed 2011 Budget Allows Coin Composition Changes. Do you have your stash of nickels yet?

Items from The Economatrix:

US Mortgage Sector Braced for End of Fed Help

Initial Jobless Claims Rise Unexpectedly; Stock Futures Down, Dollar Up

Portugal Warned Near Political Crisis Over Debt

EU Meets to Stifle Rising Panic

Next Bailout: Social Security

Derivatives Scam Slides into the Sunshine

Fears of “Lehman Style” Tsunami in Spain and Portugal

Markets In Turmoil as Euro Fears Spiral

Bernanke’s Banksters’ Skimming Operation Exposed

US Companies’ Sales Turnaround May Be Misleading

5,000 Auto Workers to Lose Jobs In California.