by Laura Conaway

Home prices in 20 major American cities rose by 1.2 percent from July to August, according to the latest S&P Case-Shiller increase. That's the fourth consecutive monthly increase. Home values are down 11.3 percent from this time last year and 29.3 percent from their peak.

Meanwhile, James Kwak and Simon Johnson of Baseline Scenario argue that the $8,000 federal tax break for rookie home buyers amounts to throwing "good money after bad." Calculated Risk spots the money quote: "In effect, the tax credit is a way of making houses temporarily affordable that would not otherwise be affordable, and we know where that leads."

AIG's former chief Maurice Greenberg is back and building what one observer calls "AIG Two." Greenberg's raiding his old haunt for talent — helped by limits on pay at the bailed out insurer.

U.S. newspapers lost an average of 10.6 percent of their circulation from April to September. Gulp.

Cost-cutting and higher prices combined for big profits at BP.

Iceland has made the most progress on closing the economic gender gap, even as McDonald's is closing shop there because the financial crisis has made it to expensive to stay open.