David Griner

Robert Arnold, a real estate investor who rents out a dozen homes near Orlando, Florida, says he’s ready to sell when demand rebounds. Arnold bought an Orlando foreclosure in June for $60,000, about a third of its appraised value, and spent $20,000 repairing it. Four months ago he rented it for $950 a month. In November he bought a three-bedroom house for $25,000 in Longwood, Florida, and hopes to rent it for $900 a month, about seven times his $150 mortgage payment. - Mitchell Tsai via Bookmarklet

“Most of the houses I buy are junkers, but with a little work they become cash cows,” Arnold said. - Mitchell Tsai

That sounds like those typical real estate informericals. However, it is now a good time to buy real estate. - imabonehead

Asian stock markets fell sharply Thursday, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Hong Kong tumbling more than 3 percent, as more evidence of company woes and a weak U.S. job market rekindled worries about the unfolding global slump. - Mitchell Tsai via Bookmarklet

''The economic reality is sinking in for investors and 'the hope rally' that many thought would last until Obama's inauguration seems to be at least fizzling for now,'' said Kirby Daley, senior strategist at Newedge Group in Hong Kong. ''While there is potential for a bear market rally to re-emerge, I would be very leery of buying at current levels.'' - Mitchell Tsai

Overnight in the U.S., Wall Street fell sharply after Intel warned about poor business conditions and an employment survey showed the private sector shed a greater-than-expected 693,000 jobs in December, fraying investor nerves ahead of Friday's employment report from the government. - Mitchell Tsai

Oil prices were steady below $43 a barrel in Asia after a higher-than-expected increase in U.S. inventories sparked a 12 percent plunge in crude overnight. - Mitchell Tsai

For the year, U.S. bonds of all investment-grade ratings lost 6.8 percent on average, the worst performance in at least 35 years. The extra interest investors demand to own the debt rather than Treasuries of similar maturity almost tripled. Overall yields are about two percentage points higher than a year ago. - Mitchell Tsai via Bookmarklet

My alma mater, thank you. - Ms_Krista via Bookmarklet