A few items to get the week started...
- Goldman's David Kostin (Abby Joseph Cohen's successor) doesn't mince words in describing corporate earnings. His adjective of choice? "Awful."
- And speaking of pessimism (with good reason)...how about that new study of Gen Xers' perception of their retirement security prospects? Employers and policy-makers: This is yet another reason to get serious about getting defined-contribution retirement plans right.
- Tanta's takedowns of the NYT's Gretchen Morgenson are always worth reading. This post--on the state of play in the HELOC market--is an especially important example of the genre.
- Here's some stronger work from the Gray Lady's Floyd Norris: "Many More Are Jobless Than Are Unemployed."
- BusinessWeek's Aaron Pressman on 130/30 funds: Don't (blindly) believe the hype.