Egan-Jones

• Asian share markets were higher Tuesday with commodity-related stocks up.
• Construction spending unexpectedly rises on revival in home sales.
• Germany to champion Magna's Opel bid in Berlin talks.
• Dubai real estate prices down 50%from peak: Property Index.
• Anadarko Petroleum swung to a Q2 loss of $216M on lower prices, output up 12%.

• Asian stocks rise, as Mitsubishi UFJ leads banks higher; Nissan advances.
• Bank, auto shares jump in Japan; Topix hits 9-month high but Nikkei fractionally lower.
• Britain's manufacturing sector grew in July; pound rallies on the news.
• Cash for Clunkers program could end unless Senate approves $2B in addln funding.
• China's Manufacturing grows in July as lending, stimulus counter slump in exports.
• China shares hit 14-month high as surveys show manufacturing is expanding.

• Initial jobless claims in US increase; total rolls unexpectedly decline.
• US Treasuries fell, heading for a 4th monthly loss on speculation GDP improving.
• Japan's unemployment rate rises to a 6-yr high in June; Consumer prices fell at a record pace.
• Asian stocks rise on profit reports; MSCI Index set for fifth monthly gain.
• AK Steel announces price increase of $40/tonne for its carbon steel products.

• Alcatel-Lucent swung to a net profit of €14M ($19.6M) vs. a year-ago loss of €1.1B.
• Ambac Fincl expects Q2 impairment losses on credit derivatives to rise by ~$1.6B to $4.9B.
• BAE Systems swung to 1H loss of $134M; revs jump 28%.
• British American Tobacco H1 profit up 16 pct to 1.45 billion pounds.
• British Sky Broadcasting posts a solid fourth-quarter net profit.

• Home Prices in US cities post monthly rise; consumer confidence declines.
• Japan stocks edge up amid corporate earnings, investors await US GDP data.
• Shanghai's index fell by 5% on disappointing corporate profits, lower commodity prices.
• US dollar mostly higher, gold falls in European morning trading.
• Akzo Nobel 2nd quarter net profit down 13 percent to $220M, shares rise on margins.

• Asian stock markets move mostly in a tight range after their string of recent rallies.
• CFTC report to blame speculators responsible for driving oil-price swings.
• Coal producers cope with sluggish demand
• Crude Oil trades near a three-week high after gains in equities markets
• SEC firms up plan to limit short sales of stocks.
• AIG unit keeps $2.4B from asset sales as taxpayers wait for payment

• Administration looking for Chinese help to narrow trade gap and boost US jobs.
• Advertisers are getting cheaper rates than a year ago on television commercials.
• Aetna 2Q profit dropped to $346.6M due to greater commercial expenses and cuts full year forecast.
• Asian markets were higher Monday on hopes for further earnings recovery, Nikkei hits 10,000 mark.
• China's new small-company stock exchange gets 108 IPO applicants on 1st day as launch nears.
• China shares up for 4th day on high liquidity-driven sentiment, led by metals and airlines.
• Euro rises to $1.4263 in European morning trade as investors continue to leave dollar.

• Asian markets rise on improving economic data, strong earnings.
• Europe truck sales down for 14th month.
• Existing-home sales rose 3.6% in June from the previous month.
• U.K. second-quarter GDP fell 0.8%, according to preliminary reading.
• US Mortgage rates rise to 5.2% in first gain in 4 weeks: Freddie Mac.
• 3M Co. posts 2Q EPS of $1.20, beating cons est. by 28%; ups Y09 EPS f'cast.

• ADB: East Asian economies may have 'V' shaped recovery.
• Asian stocks rise on yen; merging market stocks hit 10-month high.
• IMF says China has room for more fiscal stimulus through 2010.
• Iceland formally applies to join EU, faces talks on fishing rights.
• Japan's export fall by smallest margin in 6 months as recession eases.
• Weaker yen sends Japan stocks higher for seventh straight session of gains.

• Asian stocks rise for seventh day on speculation profits will increase.
• Bank of England voted 9-0 on asset plan as GDP risks diminished.
• Bernanke says policies are sowing recovery.
• Nikkei hits 2-wk high but firm Yen limits gains.
• Oil lingers near $65 as US crude supplies rise.
• U.K.’s house-price slump will persist until 2012.

Dear Sirs/Madams:

I get it, I really do: You enjoy your secure, mostly laid-back, relatively well-paying job. Insofar as you possess the capacity, experience, and inclination to comprehend the following though, please, enlighten me: Given this fact, don’t you think its in your best interest to get rid of nonsensical, self-defeating policies like the following (from CalPERS)?

"Counterparty creditworthiness, for non-exchange traded Derivatives (Anal_yst: substitute any asset/asset class here), shall be at a minimum of “A3” as defined by Moody’s, “A-” by S&P and “A-“ by Fitch...?"