General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) is closing in quickly on its June 1 deadline to finish overhauling its operations, or opt for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Because that deadline is actually one week from yesterday (Monday), analysts and investors will be watching GM closely this week.

Stocks, bonds and dollars get sold!  The U.S. to lose our AAA credit rating?  A return to fundamentals day 2… And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

Crude Rises Above $62/Barrel; Opel Courtship Down to Three; Unibanco CEO: 4% Second-Half GDP for Brazil; Target and BJ’s Beat Expectations; Obama To Sign Credit Card “Bill of Rights”; California Could Go Broke After Voters Reject Plan; Wall Street Won’t Rehire Many Workers; Indiana Pension Funds File to Block Chrysler Bankruptcy Sale

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, underpinned by a rebound in technology shares, while renewed concerns about the economy boosted defensive stocks.

When recessions bite, people turn to cheap comfort foods like macaroni and cheese. And as it turns out, those deliciously cheesy elbows have been a pretty good indicator of difficult times.

Stocks break-even for 2009… 2 charts detail the strange path to “profitability”… Chris Mayer on Buffett, Berkshire and the latest shareholder’s meeting…Dan Amoss with a sector begging to be shorted…Our in-house bankruptcy adviser on the fate of Chrysler…Plus, a rare Overtime Briefing… investing in the “swine flu”

Buenos Aires, Argentina Is the rally still on? We’re not sure. Wednesday, the Dow fell 83 points…after a weak bounce on Tuesday. We expected the rally to last until June and to take the Dow back to the 10,000 range. But anything could happen.

A.F. analysts clash… can the niche retailer survive the credit crunch?…Crisis begets steadfast citizens… Americans move about the country at lowest rate in 47 years…A long-term outlook on the American stock market…The latest sector to catch Chris Mayer’s attention…U.K. launches historic spending spree, hikes taxes to 50%..

Goldman Sachs thinks you can make 40% on Ford. I think that figure should be a lot closer to 400%. China has finally, truly and wholeheartedly embraced “21st century American-style capitalism.” God help them.

Buenos Aires, Argentina “What’s that smell?”  We were on an airplane when Edward, 15, noticed an odor that seemed out of place. “Dad…you should have at least cleaned your boots!”