Quick Overview

• Betting on a bailout again? Buffett is investing $5 billion in B of A -- and plans to hold a Sept. 30 fundraiser in New York City to benefit President Barack Obama’s re-election bid. (See Matt Taibbi below)

• Investors are betting Germany will ban short selling.

• China was the third highest filer of patents in 2010, just behind the U.S., which registered 326,945 and Japan with 337,497.

• Thailand intends to pay farmers Bt 15,000 a tonne for unmilled paddy rice, over 50 % more than the current rate.

• South Korea's consumer confidence fell to a 5-month low of 99 in August, down 3 points MoM.

• German business confidence fell from 112.9 in July to 108.7 in August.

• Rabobank lowered its estimate for the world sugar inventories in 2011-12 by 300,000 tonnes to 9.5m tonnes.

• CME raises COMEX gold margins by 27%.

• England: people aged 16 to 24 not in Education, Employment or Training number 16.2% in 2009.

• U.S. Delinquency rates on one-to-four-unit properties are currently at 8.4%.

• Japan's July CPI rose 0.1% vs. forecasts for 0.1% drop