Media Digest 2/3/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, Obama spoke about the economy with optimism as his aides defended the budget.

Reuters reports that a Senate panel will question Swiss banking’s secrecy policy.

Reuters reports that foreclosures drove up the 2008 US home sales index.

Reuters reports that Bernanke had no choice other than to help AIG (AIG).

Reuters writes that Merrill’s top ten earners made $209 million in 2008.

Reuters reports that the UBS (UBS) chairman stepped down.

Reuters reports that the head of GM (GM) in Europe says Opel may cut 3,500 jobs.

Reuters reports that MySpace lost three of its top executives.

Reuters reports that Hollywood is considering life without Blockbuster (BBI) which could go bankrupt.

Reuters reports that MasterCard (MA) will grow its debt business.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Fed will provide $1 trillion in credit to businesses and consumers.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Lockheed Martin won a key logistics contract.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon (AMZN) will sell books for Apple (AAPL) iPhones.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Venezuela is trying to renegotiate oil services contracts.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US may try to crack down on tax havens.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the credit crisis has spread globally.

The Wall Street Journal writes that handset sales are expected to pick up against worldwide in 2010.

The Wall Street Journal reports that AMD (AMD) will have a new name and a new strategy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple (AAPL) cut prices on some PCs.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the ADP jobs survey will show 630,000 private sector jobs disappeared in February.

The Wall Street Journal reports that some charts show the Dow should bounce.

The Wall Street Journal reports that public pension funds are hiring people laid off by Wall St.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the IMF said the credit crisis could cause a need to $25 billion in assistance to small countries.

The Wall Street Journal reports that many REITs will cut dividends.

The Wall Street Journal reports that BP (BP) will keep paying its dividend.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Palm’s (PALM) revenue will be short 70% in the next quarter.

The New York Times reports that former Countrywide executives are making money buying distressed home loans.

The New York Times reports that cable companies are using customer data to target ads.

The New York Times reports that manufacturing may have edged up in China last month.

The New York Times reports that the AFL-CIO supports nationalizing banks.

The New York Times reports that Europe may back tariffs on US biofeul imports.

The FT reports that AIG (AIG) will report billions of dollars of additional losses.

The FT reports that GM is asking European governments to come to its aid.

The FT reports that MGM Mirage (MGM) is warning it may default on some debt.

MartketWatch report that Costco’s (COST) comparable store sales were off 3% last quarter.

Douglas A. McIntyre