Good Q&A: How the Obama plan will affect homeowners- The new programs are available to people who aren’t yet behind on their payments. – By Maura Reynolds – Los Angeles Times 

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1.  Vitaliy Katsenelson: The pain of mean reversion – Posted by Prieur du Plessis – Investment Postcards from Cape Town 

2.  21 Videos – great summary – Video-o-rama: Stocks between a rock and a hard place – Posted by Prieur du Plessis – Investment Postcards from Cape Town 

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1.  Obama’s $75 Billion Foreclosure Plan Spells Relief for Bankers – By Elizabeth Hester – … Some lenders, including New York-based JPMorgan Chase & Co., have worried that proposed “cramdown” legislation giving judges the power to modify mortgages of those who file for bankruptcy would increase the number of filings. Obama, who said yesterday he supports a cramdown law, signaled that it would only be a last resort for struggling borrowers. … – Bloomberg

2.  Whitney Says Banks Won’t Continue Existing Dividends – By Josh Fineman – Meredith Whitney, the financial industry analyst who left Oppenheimer & Co. yesterday to start her own firm, said she doesn’t expect the banks she covers to continue paying dividends at their current levels … – Bloomberg

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ABA Welcomes FASB’s Decision To Review Measurements for Fair Value Accounting – Edward L. Yingling – The following are remarks by Edward L. Yingling, ABA president and CEO -  riskcenter.com

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MBIA forms stand-alone insurance unit – Jack Herman – MBIA has formed a U.S. public-finance-only insurer by restructuring its insurance subsidiaries. The new unit will operate separately from its structured-finance business. The transformation comes as part of a massive restructuring announced last year. -  The Bond Buyer

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Carrots, Sticks and Questions  -  Joshua Zumbrun and Daniel Indiviglio  -  Obama’s plan to fix foreclosures is likely to be the most effective to date, but many details are still unknown. – Forbes

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1.  Fudging and Distortions at 60 Minutes  – Thomas Brown   – The show’s attack on Herb and Marion Sandler is both factually incorrect and unfair  – bankstocks.com 

2.  What should the government be doing to fix the financial system?  – Rick Biggs has three ideas that would be awfully effective at bankstocks.com

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Fannie and Freddie Shareholders Benefit More than Homeowners – Michael Steinberg – Click Broker

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SEC Should Adopt CIA Methods, Lawyers Say – To be able to ferret out financial fraud, the Securities and Exchange Commission should learn the basics of espionage, a law professor contends. – By David M. Katz – CFO.com  

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Reverse Mortgage Calculator With New HECM Loan Limits – John Yedinak – With the new reverse mortgage loan limit on its way, I know that originators are looking for a calculator that shows the $625,500 loan limit. -    Reverse Mortgage Daily 

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Most affordable city in the nation – Indianapolis and New York City bookend the most affordable-least affordable list. Lower homes prices and interest rates fail to push sales higher. – By Les Christie – CNNMoney.com