As most readers will know, I'm hugely fond of these graphical sector maps, and I haven't put one up in a while. Here is the year-to-date performance map by sector, with consumer cyclicals leading the way.

[via SmartMoney]

One of the worst-performing sectors year-to-date has been leisure stocks, with casinos being crushed in the markets. Check this sector map:

[via SmartMoney]

With Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's comment yesterday that the California budget is $20-billion "out of whack", the bottom has officially fallen out on California state finances. Deficit estimates have escalated radically over the last year, from $9-billion to the current $20-billion figure.

What does all this mean? It means that Californians are going to see big budget cuts over the next few months, and, more broadly, it means that worries over state default are going to rise.

Intriguing stuff in a new TNS report on the rapid growth in mobile instant messaging, largely at the expense of SMS.

... MIM has become so popular, that now 11 out of every 100 messages sent by mobile devices or fixed PC globally are instant messages. However, among MIM users 36 out of every 100 messages sent is an Instant Message by their mobile, making this the dominant messaging form for these users. The number of messages sent via SMS falls dramatically among MIM users from 38 to only 23 messages per 100. Surprisingly, MIM users also use fixed email less with 21 out of every 100 messages sent via this medium, compared to 31 messages among all consumers.

Nothing like flat-rate messaging to drive usage -- and to gut carrier models.

Some interesting upheaval going on in traffic to online financial news sites. There is a real lead swap underway, with major online properties declining, and new sites and longstanding brands (FT/WSJ) growing smartly.

I know, I know -- Compete data sucks. That said, the trends are what's interesting, which I'm guessing are broadly representative.

[via Compete.com]

Here is another look at same thing, this time via Quantcast, and the trend is a little less obvious, but still there. Mind you, something strange is going on with Marketwatch data early on.

Missed this yesterday, so just finished it moments ago: Marc Andreessen's legal-eyed analysis of how things are likely to play out in the Microsoft/Yahoo caper. It's very, very good. Read it.

I have beaten this subject many times in the past, but it's irritating the crap out of me again today at Milken conference ... so, one unsolicited piece of advice on being a quarter-decent conference speaker/panelist.

Here it is:

Say something new.

I feel like I shouldn't have to say it, but I guess I do. Assume that people are in the audience because they are interested in the subject and have read up, so don't come in just to say the same old stuff. Having at least one new thing to say, and ideally more like three, and say them. Say something new, something that will surprise people. And if you don't know what that means ask someone. Seriously.

Here, courtesy of Matt and the fine folks at Hitwise, is yet more comparative data on what's happened over the last year at some major financial news sites (and at one upstart). Interesting stuff.