What We Read Today 08 January 2013

Econintersect: Click Read more >> below graphic to see today’s list.

The top of today’s reading list is a report about the biggest decline in volatility since the $VIX was started in 1990 ……… and the last story is about the top five Republicans who think a government shutdown over the debt limit is an option to pursue.

• VIX This Week – Record Cliff Dive (Down 39.1%) and Record Futures Volume Days by Matt Moran (CBOE website)  Hat tip to Global Macro Monitor at The Big Picture.
  

• Are You Prepared for Rising Rates? Bond Fund Duration (Dion’s Fidelity Independent Advisor)  How do use average bond duration for a mutual fund  or ETF.

• The Science of Sex Abuse (Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker)

• The Elements of Social Unrest Loom Large Across Europe (Matthew Boesler, Business Insider)

• Why didn’t the GOP take any bows for the budget deal? (Robert Hordt, Investment News)

• FINRA Advances Bonus Disclosure Plan for Brokers (Melanie Waddell, Advisor One)  A start to remove the shield from a long abused conflict of interest?

• A temperature below absolute zero (R&D Magazine)

• Nomination seals break with past policies (Richard McGregor, Financial Times)

• U.S. banks settle foreclosure charges for $8.5 billion (New York Financial Press Video)
  

• The 5 Top Republicans Open to Shutting the Government to Get Their Way (Niraj Chokshi, National Journal)