Economics and Investing:

Jon M. sent this: Banks’ $4 trillion debts are ‘Achilles’ heel of the economic recovery’, warns IMF.

IMF admits that the West is stuck in near depression

Gary Shilling: Here’s Why House Prices Will Now Drop Another 20%. (Thanks to Zo for the link.)

S.M. spotted this: Bernanke Tells the Truth: The United States is on the Brink of Financial Disaster

U.S. Yields Will `Surge’ as Fed Increases Debt Purchases, Diam Forecasts. (Thanks to Susan H. for that link.) They used to call this nonsense “debt monetization” or more bluntly “monetary inflation”. But now they give it the saccharine-coated moniker “quantitative easing” to make it sound less frightening.

Items from The Economatrix:

World Bank Trying to Quell Economic Tensions

The 2010 Silver Buying Guide

The Federal Reserve is Selling Paper Gold and Buying Physical Gold

Gold And Silver – It Could Well Be a Whole New Ballgame!

Wall Street Sees The World Decoupling From U.S.

Don’t Let September’s Rally Trick You

Do Even CD’s Trump Long-Term Treasuries Right Now?