BHP cleared for Rio bid by Australian regulators
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/bhp-cleared-rio-bid-australian/story.aspx?guid=%7B20EB438F%2DCD03%2D4E1C%2DA6FC%2DB61C8D4F9D1B%7D

Earnings Estimates Still Too Lofty
Analysts have cut 2008 views but investors want them even lower.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452319854/bctid1827959996
There are a few bright spots. Health care and consumer staples remain the furthest removed from the recent financial unrest and should continue to generate steadily growing profits. The rest of Corporate America, however, faces stiff headwinds, particularly financials, technology and industrials.

The U.S. Senate set a vote for tonight on a $700 billion financial-rescue plan, tying it to an increase in bank-deposit-insurance limits and tax breaks to win support from Republicans.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aoJ7Et81o4c8&refer=home

Roosevelt 1932 campaign speech on Depression economy oddly prescient for today's crisis
Roosevelt understood the importance of making citizens feel their leaders were handling the situation.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081001/financial_meltdown_roosevelt.html

Changing the rules on bank accounting, the fix is in
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/01/changing-the-rules-on-bank-accouting

Why Mark-to-Paulson Accounting Won't Save Banks
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_weil&sid=aK6vnh_5ZknM