LEADER PAGE                      2/15/2010 3:04 PM

CHINA CURRENCY - China could be about to allow its currency to strengthen by as much as 5 percent to slow down the country's fast-growing economy, Goldman Sachs' chief economist told Bloomberg News. Meanwhile, the dollar has surged to an 8-month high against the euro, and is also rising against other major currencies.

TOO BIG TO FAIL - Large financial institutions that engage in speculative activities for profit should be allowed to fail if they get in trouble, White House advisor Paul Volcker said Sunday. "If a big non-bank institution gets in trouble and threatens the whole system, there ought to be some authority that can step in, take over that organization and liquidate it or merge it -- not save it," he said.

FARM INCOME - Net farm income is forecast to be $63 billion in 2010, up $6.7 billion or 11.8 percent from 2009, according to the 2010 Farm Sector Income Forecast released Thursday by the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service.