$145 billion isn't what it used to be. On Monday, a U.S. company announced a first quarter net loss of $11.5 billion and a deficit in shareholders' equity of $145 billion, and the news went almost completely unnoticed. Admittedly, compared to the $1 trillion European Union-IMF bailout program announced the same day, the sums involved here are trifling.

What's a few billion between friends?
Why stir up the pot? On the basis of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, mortgage giant Fannie Mae's (NYSE: FNM) negative net worth was just $8.4 billion -- hardly worth mentioning at all these days (except by Fannie itself, which had to go hat in hand to the U.S. Treasury for that same amount in order to top up its shareholders' equity and remain technically solvent).

So where does the $145 billion come from? It is derived from balance sheet values established from market prices. In fairness to Fannie, it is impossible to know whether the losses implied by market prices will eventually be realized; however, it would be unwise to dismiss the market-based figures out of hand.

Speaking of things that aren't what they used to be, I realize a single U.S. dollar isn't worth all that much anymore (and its value is dwindling inexorably), but why anyone would want to throw it away on the purchase of one share of Fannie Mae stock is puzzling. By my reckoning, the shares are worthless, as are those of Fannie's brother, Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE), which announced a first-quarter net loss of $6.7 billion last week. Even if they're not worthless, there is no sense in which one can consider them an investment. (I would put that other ward of the state, AIG (NYSE: AIG) into the "speculation" bucket, also -- too difficult to assign an intrinsic value.)

A financially reckless sugar daddy
Speaking of over-leveraged, deficit-running institutions, Fannie's losses are being backstopped by the U.S. government (including the latest request, the government will have sunk $85 billion into Fannie). Given the abysmal state of the U.S. finances and the fact that, to quote David Roche of Independent Strategy, the U.S. government is "in denial about the extent of [its] debt burden," Fannie's loss is a timely reminder that investors should steer clear of U.S. government and agency bonds. It isn't so much an outright default I'm concerned about as much as the long-term inflation risk.

Avoid government bonds, prefer high-quality corporates
With that in mind, products to avoid include (but are not limited to) the iShares Barclays Agency Bond ETF (NYSE: AGZ) and the iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE: TLT). If you must have income and safety/stability of principal, I prefer high-quality corporate credits -- investors can own their bonds through the iBoxx $Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: LQD).

The credit crisis has turned the investing landscape upside down, with advanced economies' balance sheets now looking more like that of a banana republic. In that context, Tim Hanson explains how to make more in 2010.