peHUB First Read

Cofee* Daily carnage update: Stock futures edge even lower as everyone awaits testimony from Paulson and Bernanke, TD Bank is considering a bid for WaMu, Fluidigm postpones IPO (shocker), Carlyle may take some of those toxic assets off Paulson’s hands (assuming he gets them) and “corrupt Asians” feel vindicated by Wall Street bust.

* How similar is the Wall Street mess to the tech bubble burst? Here’s one similarity: Enterprises are beginning to cap their IT budgets.

* The Fed eases its rules on private equity investments in banks.

* Hank Paulson, Socialist: Republicans admit the free market doesn’t work.

* State of the blogosphere.

* Taming the recruiter beast: 5 tips to land a financial job and maintain your sanity.