Economics and Investing:

Reader GG spotted this sobering piece: Corpse of a Thousand Houses. More foreclosures will soon be flooding the market, further depressing the housing market. This is the negative feedback loop (aka “death spiral”) that I’ve been warning about since late 2006.

From El Jefe Jeff E.: US large-loan bank losses triple to $53 billion; Regulators say US lenders expected to lose $53 billion in 2009 on loans larger than $20M. Jeff’s comment: “53 Billion is a lot to lose, and they were ‘surprised’ by the losses….I wonder what else is lurking that will cause these banks more surprises.”

Also from Jeff E.: Economists React: “A Surprising Decline” in Orders

Reader Mike W. sent this advice from The Motley Fool on the US Dollar: Get Out Now!

Items from The Economatrix:

What’s The Real Reason Banks Aren’t Foreclosing?

Yen Hits 8-Month High on “Baffling” Fujii


Iceland One Year Later: Little Island, Big Trouble

Savers Losing Faith in Banks

Greenspan: The Fed is Above the Law And Answers to No One

No G-20 Reform, Just Cosmetic Patches

Money Figures Show There’s Trouble Ahead

FDIC Bank Failures to Cost Around $100 Billion

Oil Prices Dip With Consumers Leery Over Economy