The High Cost of Security (Forbes)
In nervous times, variable annuities with income guarantees make for catchy sales pitches--but mediocre investments.

Insurers await Fed OK for cash amid capital drain (Reuters)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Life insurers, needing to rebuild capital after being drained by investment losses, are joining the long line of U.S. companies seeking to borrow under the government's $700 billion financial rescue program.

A snappy car and all that Jazz (Mail and Guardian)
I feel sorry for John McCain. He doesn't seem such a terribly bad guy -- he just looks like the poorer option because he's up against such an exceptional candidate in Barack Obama.

Insurers in for More Misery (TheStreet.com)
Variable annuities have popped up as a problem area for many insurers in the third-quarter downturn, but another type of annuity that makes payouts if indices like the S&P 500 fall could do further damage.

Obama may turn out to be less red in the practice of his presidency than his words and aspirations would imply (BBC News)
Read Robert Peston's blog