peHUB First Read

* Silicon Valley VC Confidence Index: A small increase after five straight quarters of decline. * Judge Richard Posner last Friday rejected Equity Office shareholder claims that they were ill-served by the company's sale to Blackstone Group. The Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Forum examines the decision. * Morning Call: U.S. futures indicate more April showers, European shares dragged down by banks and commodities, London down in early trading, the Nikkei loses 2.7% and Hong Kong falls 3 percent. * Cleantech companies announced more than $115 million in new VC funding yesterday (Fisker, SW Windpower, OPX, etc.) -- the same day that Merrill Lynch cleantech analyst Steven Milunovich lowered his sector rating. * What interview questions did D.E. Shaw ask Larry Summers? * Hedge funds gained 1.8% in March. * Is Microsoft embracing its inner NERD?