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Economic Survey: India Could Achieve 7% Growth in 2009
New Delhi, India, 2 July 2009. India could achieve 7 Per Cent GDP growth in 2009, and then return its previous 9 per cent plus showing from 2010, but only if significant financial reforms are enacted. That was the verdict of the annual India Economic Survey of 2008 - 2009.

Is Madoff a Scapegoat Covering Up for Wall St?
New York, NY, USA, 1 July 2009. As Bernie Madoff is sentenced to 150 years in prison some think he's merely a scapegoat in what many call the end of capitalism. While his $65 billion fraud ruined the lives of thousands, Wall St titans have left all of us - and our children - with gargantuan debts.

Reserve Currency: China Says Move Beyond the US Dollar, Calls for a New Super-Sovereign Currency
Beijing, China, 29 June 2009. It's no secret that for some time now, China has toyed with the idea of moving away from the US dollar as its reserve currency. And that desire has probably never been stronger as China shudders at the thought of US dollar inflation which would slash the value of its 1.3 trillion in US reserves.

He-cession: The Recession is an Economic Crisis for Men
Eugene, OR, USA, 28 June. Men caused the global recession, and now they are the ones hurting. At least that's what those who dub it a he-cession claim.

Sex and the Economy: Predicting Boom and Bust
Dallas, Texas, USA, 26 June 2009 . It's sex that creates economic peaks and troughs. The number of babies born in a certain time can largely predict economic trends with surprising accuracy. In fact, in 1999, Harry S. Dent predicted that the economy would crash in about 2009.

US Online Advertising Industry: $300 Billion and Counting
Palo Alto, California, USA, 26 June 2009 UPDATE. Further Harvard/ IAB study details show that the commercial transactions value of the internet economy are around $444 million, while the time value could be as high as $680 billion, in addition to the $300 billion employment value generated.

The Wealthiest Nations
Moscow, Russia, 25 June 2009. Expats are often the wealthiest nation-within-a-nation, and they are leading indicators of where the best places to make money are. The suprising winner: Russia. Overall wealth is moving east to the Middle East and Asia, Europe & the US are feeling poorer.

The World's Top (Remaining) Banks
New York, United States 25 June, 2009 - UPDATE. The listing of the worlds top banks has just been updated for 2009 and shows JPMorgan Chase as the strongest bank in the world, RBS and Citi posting the biggest losses, and ICBC of China posting the most profits in 2008.

Is the Stock Market Rally Over?
New York, US, 24 June 2009. The Market Rally that started in March may finally be over, having got ahead of itself - and the economic realities that we still face. As markets have tumbled this week, the technicals have started to come in-line with the fundamentals.

Australian Stimulus Package: The Baroon Dollar
Maleny, Queensland, Australia, 22 June. An Australian community has introduced a new currency, in an effort to stimulate the local economy. The Blackall Range and Sunshine Coast Hinterland region of Queensland, Australia has invented the Baroon Dollar.

The Forex/ Stock Debate: Is Forex Trading or Stock Trading Better?
Singapore, 21 June 2009. The forex market has been gaining a lot more attention lately, with a steady stream of stock traders moving over and citing various reasons why it is a better market for trading. To find out more, EconomyWatch.com caught up with forex expert Jeff Hardy.

World Government Debt Will Tax Our Children's Children
Omaha, Nebraska, USA, 20 June 2009. My mother always used to tell me that when I grew up my Social Security savings would be used to pay for her and other Baby Boomers' retirements. That sounded really scary at the time.

US Financial Regulation Overhaul: Obama Walks Fine Line
Washington DC, USA, 18 June 2009. Obama recently announced dramatic changes to US financial regulations in an attempt to avert future meltdowns. But the plan is not without its critics who fear it will introduce regulation. Yet it still must include enough oversight to prevent future global crises.

Iran Election News Coverage Leaves Traditional Media Tongue-Tied
Tehran, Iran, 18 June 2009. Traditional media's business model is dying, and their reponse to the ban on foreign journalists covering the Iranian crisis is only accelerating that process. For the real news, see Twitter, YouTube and Flickr - not CNN.

The Salaryman: Dying Out with the Japanese Economy
Tokyo, Japan, 18 June 2009. The Salaryman: The stereotypical Japanese breed of corporate samurai seems to be dying out, along with Japan's economy. Enter the grass-eater: A 20-30 year-old Japanese male who lives with his mother, is uninterested in women, is de-motivated at work, sits down to pee, and is an herbivore. Yes, that's right, he eats grass, but not bush.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's Charity Economics and the Apocalypse Brigade
Tehran, Iran, 16 June 2009. The world is outraged by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's apparently rigged election victory but impartial polls show the results may well be valid. Key to understanding what has happened are Ahmadinejad's charity economics. The long term implications mean that $500 a barrel oil possible and military action leading to an Apocalypse is a desired eventuality for powerful extremists in both Iran and Israel.

European Election: How Did the Right Wing Get Elected?
London, UK, 11 June. The results of the European Union's parliamentary elections last weekend surprised many with the widespread center-right wins. Germany, Italy, France, and Poland all voted in right-leaning leaders. Meanwhile, Socialist Spanish and British administrations took a beating.

Manmohan Singh: Quiet Indian Prime Minister Plans Loud Policy Thrust

Bangalore, Indian, 10 June 2009.Manmohan Singh was once derided as a lame duck prime minster, but his bold new economic plans for India prove quite the opposite.

GM Bankrupt: Global Reactions

Bloomington, Indiana, US, 9 June . As GM goes under, pundits around the world speculate the reasons, and what it means to them today. Everybody seems to be an expert on GM's downfall, but nobody has the solution to saving this dying Behemoth.

Russian Economy on the Brink?
Vladivostock, Russia, 8 June 2009. Russia, basically, is broke. Unlike the United States, which is also broke, Russia doesn't hold a reserve currency and can't keep itself going with other people's money very long. Premium league football, tennis stars and the mafia will only take you so far as well. Either the price of oil goes up soon, or simmering social issues could explode into civil unrest.

US Housing Market: Pending Home Resales Rocket 6.7%
San Diego, California, 4 June 2009. The green shots of recovery seem to be taking hold with increasing numbers of data points showing either slowing declines or bottom-of-the-cycle increases. Since the US Housing Market dragged the whole world into recession, it needs to turn around to support a recovery, however tepid that might be.

The World's Top (Remaining) Banks
Zurich, Switzerland, 3 June, 2009. The Banking Giants of the future are taking over market share today, and the shape of the banking industry is changing, with banks from China, Spain and the Netherlands joining the Americans and French, and a new non-baking player entering the banking mix.

US Stocks Wipe Out 2009 Red Ink
New York, US, 3 June 2009. US Stocks in the DJIA have wiped out all of the 2009 losses, driven by commodity plays and the expectation of growing Chinese demand.

OECD Leading Indicators Show World Economy at Inflection Point
Paris, France, 30 May 2009. OECD Data shows that we are far from out of the words, but we are reaching a turning point, supporting the theory that the world recession will end towards the end of 2009, but that the recovery will be tentative.

Latin America: Warning - Article Contains Sarcasm
Santiago, Chile. 28 May, 2009. The UK's shadow chancellor George Osborne has been sneering at the Chilean President's economic boasts. With the west going broke while Latin America displays sound economic management, that sneering is increasingly out of place.

UK Economy: MPs Expenses Scandal
London, UK. 26 May 2009. British politics has never been a particularly clean affair, with the whiff of scandal and the sound of madams cracking whips as much a part of Westminster as the Speaker's wig. But the scandal that is ripping through the country is of a different order, and will remake UK politics.

World Stock Markets: Best Performing Markets of 2009
Lima, Peru. 25 May 2009.. Which market has grown 72 per cent this year? Most people know a lot more than they probably would like to about the massive destruction of wealth in 2008. Understanding how much wealth is currently being created is much more enjoyable.

This Could Be Worse Than The Great Depression
Washington, 21 May 2009. Are the banks leading the US into the kind of crisis we associate with third world economies and dictators? the former Chief Economist at the IMF thinks so.

Green Singapore: Plans to Become Sustainability Leader
Singapore, 20 May 2009. Having asked Is Red China Going Green?' last week, in the second of green economy series we look at Singapore, which although it doesn't have resources, it will do what it knows best - plan, invest and commercialise - to become a sustainability leader.

Sensex Roars: Bombay Stock Exchange Surges 17.34 per cent
Mumbai, 19 May 2009 Yesterday we said expect to see a Sensex rally', but even we were surprised by just how right we were. A two minute frenzy at the opening bell led the Sensex to roar, surging 17.34 per cent for its best daily showing ever.

India Economic Reform: After Congress Landslide Victory, Real Reform Likely
Mumbai, 18 May 2009. We were hanging our breath, so to speak, fearing a hung Lok Sabha (parliament). Instead we got that most surprising of outcomes (in India at least): a landslide in favour of a ruling party. Expect to see the Sensex rally and economic reforms to pick up pace during the next 5 years.

Mortgage Refinancing: Is it For You?
With interest rates at record lows, does it make sense for homeowners to look at home loan or mortgage refinancing? This is an updated guide to help you understand what refinance is, whether mortgage refi is for you, and how to go about finding the best refinancing package. Updated 16 May 2009.

Credit Card Industry: Obama Says You Went Too Far ... Credit Card Laws Being Tightened
Delaware, United States, 14 May 2009. There were fears that the Obama administration were in the pockets of the banks, but tough new legislation on credit card industry reform (the CARD act) and derivates suggests rather that they are picking their battles.

Renewable Energy: Is Red China Going Green?
Beijing, China, 12 May 2009. Having just become the world's largest polluter, China has embarked on a massive stimulus-assisted program to become the leading clean tech nation globally.

Australian Property Market: Sign of the Times - a 'For Sale' Sign
Sydney, Australia, 12 May 2009. There had been hopes that the Financial Crisis would not affect Australia. The brutal truth: the worst annual decline on record of 6.7 per cent, growing unemployment...but some signs that investors will return by year end?

US Economy: Major US Banks Need More Money. No Kidding.
Washington, US, 7 May 2009. The Fed and Treasury say the major US Banks need to raise another $75 billion. Their many critics say the banks got an easy ride because the worst case scenario of the stress tests is already the baseline.

India Investment: Where Have All the Jobs and Cranes Gone?
Gurgaon, India, 7 May 2009. I have a confession to make. In the last few years I have changed jobs four times. Each time I switched I increased my salary by 30-50 per cent. And then the unthinkable happened - I was dumped.

Welcome to the Future of the World Economy - a Young Chinese Female with Six Pockets
Beijing, 6 May 2009. Meet Chun Hua. Fittingly enough, her name means Spring Flower, but she prefers her nickname Pinky. She could very well determine your future wealth and happiness.

Saudi Economy: Saudi Arabia Wins Race to Host New Gulf Central Bank
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 6 May 2009. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional grouping of Arab Gulf states, has agreed to create a monetary council that will evolve into a new Gulf Central Bank, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Asian Stock Market: Asian Stocks Bull Run on Positive Asia Economic News
Shanghai, 5 May 2009. Asia-Pacific ex Japan up 45 per cent since March lows, up 4.6 per cent on 4 May alone, thanks to promising economic data - but strong resistance is up ahead as markets meet the 200 Day Moving Average.

World Economy: Swine Flu Outbreak Could Derail Global Recovery
Mexico City, Geneva & Los Angeles, 5 May 2009 - UPDATE. H1N1 Flu spread to 32 countries with over 2000 fatalities, confirmed or suspected cases - but have the fears been overblown?

World Economy: The (Dangerous) Audacity of (Too Much) Hope
Chicago, 4 May 2009.The glimmers of hope and green shoots of recovery may distract us from the urgent work needed to save the world economy, and ensure that this crisis - or new one we inadvertently create - do not continue to menace global economics.

Obamanomics: The First 100 Days of Obama Economics
Washington, 30 April 2009. The changing of the guard from Bush to Obama was epochal, but soon buried under financial crisis. How have the economics - and politics - evolved in the first 100 days? Reactions from analysts and press.

UK Economy: UK Budget 2009 Points Way to World Debt Mountain
London, 29 Apr 2009. The British press were in uproar over the 'liars budget', but behind the domestic politics there is a global story of debt mountains being built. Taxpayers worldwide will be on the hook to pay it back for years to come, as analysis of the UK budget shows.

Stock Investing: Bear Market Rally Says Technical Analyst
New York, 23 Apr 2009. From the depths of depression in early March, stock traders have been jubilant since, racking up over 27 per cent gains on the DJIA. Have we passed a market bottom and are we in a new bull market, or is this a dead cat bounce?

Dubai Economy: Dubai Property Prices Fall Through (Their Marble-Hewn) Floor
Dubai, 22 Apr 2009.The Dubai property market was once the hottest in the world. English footballers rubbed shoulders with Arab Sheikhs on man-made islands and in the world's tallest towers. Not any more. UPDATE: UBS is forecasting 70 per cent price drops.

China Economy: Chinese Stimulus Package Counteracting Plunge in Export Orders
Shanghai, 20 Apr 2009.When China announced an economic stimulus package worth $585 billion in response to the global Financial Crisis in Q4 2008, it was met with some scepticism. Recent data suggests it is already having a positive impact however.

US Economy: Federal Taxes at their Lowest yet Tea Party Protests Presage State Tax Rises
Yakima, 17 Apr. In 1773, colonists in Boston, Massachussets threw British tea into the Boston Harbor, protesting taxes that were not put in place by their elected representatives. Now in 2009, protestors have held modern-day tea parties around the US, objecting to high taxes.

Rural India: Poverty and Development Key in Election
Patna, 16 Apr. Today the polls opened in the world's largest democracy. Remarkably, it is the rural and poor areas which will both shape the outcome of the election and help to revive the nation's struggling economy.

Thailand Economy: Thailand GDP and Thai Tourism Plummeting Thanks to Political Violence
Bangkok, 15 Apr. Tourism makes up 6.7% of Thailand's economy and 7% of its work force. The recent political violence and unrest is scaring off tourists, putting two million jobs at risk, and exacerbating an already-dark economic future.

India Economy: Tech Mahindra wins bid to take over Satyam Computers
Hyderabad, 14 Apr. Tech Mahindra Ltd. Placed the highest bid to acquire Satyam Computer Services Ltd. On 13 April 2009. This is just over four months after the massive accounting scandal was made public when the founder, Ramalinga Raju, confessed to inflating the books to over $1 billion above their worth.

Japan Economy: $154.55 Billion Economic Stimulus Package
Tokyo, 13 Apr. A $154.55 billion economic stimulus plan has been unveiled by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party. The plan includes measures to create jobs, revive the real estate market, and ease corporate costs, largely via new fiscal policy.

Taiwan Economy: $4.41 Billion Economic Stimulus Package Passed
Taipei, 13 Apr. A $4.41 billion economic stimulus plan was passed late last week to help Taiwan pull through the economic crisis. The plan is part of a larger $14.69 billion package that will last four years.

Germany Economy: 2009 Forecast Predicts Catastrophic Exports, GDP Contraction

Berlin, 8 Apr. The outlook for Europe's largest economy is nothing less than catastrophic. For an economy that has been historically strong, never contracting more than 1% a year since World War II, the Commerzbank forecast that it would shrink 7-9% in 2009 is not encouraging. Read more...

Africa Economy: Solid Growth, Investment, and Trade, but at a Cost
Lome, 7 Apr. Africa is quickly rising as an economic power of incredible potential. Private investment is skyrocketing. Interest rates and inflation are down. Trade is booming. The continent many see as impoverished and war-torn has benefited from its incredible commodity reserves and stable banking. But some say it's all exploitation.

North Korea Economy: Japan Increasing Sanctions
Seoul, 6 Apr. In a bold display of power, technology, and defiance, North Korea launched a rocket over the weekend. The rocket crossed over Japan, threatening stability in the region. In response, Japan has introduced new sanctions to the impoverished, isolated nation.

G20: Historic Summit Ends with Pledges Worth $5 Trillion
London, 3 Apr. What was perhaps the most important economic summit in the past 60 or more years has just concluded, with pledges of $5 trillion. Despite protests, the summit was regarded as a success. Michelle Obama made an indelible impression on Britain and indeed the world, and ties were forged between leaders of these 20 nations, the EU, and more.

US News: Federal Marshals Seizing Madoff's Assets
New York, 2 Apr. A court order to seize Bernie Madoff's millions of dollars worth of assets is underway. Federal marshals are after seizures in Florida and New York, and possibly in New Jersey and San Francisco. French authorities are pursuing assets in France..

China Economy: Swaps $10 Billion of Currency with Argentina
Beijing, 1 Apr. China has long sought ways to bypass the US dollar and allow other countries to by their imports directly in Yuan. This new $10 billion currency swap with Argentina means that Argentina will have much-needed cash.

World Economy: Public in Support of Economic Reforms
London, 31 Mar. A survey by the BBC World Service shows that more than 70% of 29,000 people around the world feel widespread reform in the international economic system is needed. The survey results were released on 31 March 2009 and represent people from 29 nations.

India Economy: Tata Nano to Expand India's Economy
New Delhi, 30 Mar. When the Volkswagen was first launched in 1938, it was supposed to be the "people's car", affordable and practical for all Germans. Now India has its own version - with the exact same tag line: "The People's Car".

US Economy: Evidence Stock Markets are at the Bottom
Omaha, 27 Mar. Have the markets reached bottom? This is something all investors want to know. Ordinary people also want to know when the economy begins its recovery too, for obvious reasons. And when they do, spending will increase and it will happen.

India Economy: Inflation Dips to 30-Year Low
New Delhi, 26 Mar. In the second week of March, Indian inflation dropped to its lowest in 30 years - 0.27%. While this sounds good on the surface, it has little room before it goes into negative territory, creating harmful deflation.

US Economy: Obama Announces Plan for Economic Recovery
Washington, 25 Mar. Today US President Barack Obama announced his plan for economic recovery. Included in this strategy includes means to create new jobs, reviving the housing market, and reestablishing liquidity in banks and getting them to resume lending.

World Economy: Global Trade will Decrease by 9% says WTO
New Delhi, 24 Mar. A recent report by the World Trade Organization (WTO) says that global trade will decline between 2% and 10% this year. Overall, global trade is expected to drop by 9%. Only two months ago, the WTO estimated a global trade drop of only 2.8%.

Indonesia Economy: GDP Drop Expected due to Decline in Exports
Jakarta, 23 Mar 2009. The global financial crisis has hit Indonesia hard, with a projected GDP growth to less than 4%, down from 2008's 6.1%. Much of this is due to a slump in exports.

World Economy: Tourism Industry, Airlines, Travel Destinations Suffer
Berlin, 20 Mar 2009. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recently forecast weak figures for the travel and tourism economy GDP. Expectations are that it will shrink by 3.6% this year and continue to be weak into 2010. Growth that year is only forecast to be 0.3%.

World Economy: Recession Well into 2010, say Dr. Doom & IMF
New York, 19 Mar 2009. A sustained recession, frozen banks, and rising unemployment are likely to keep the US and many other countries in recession. Dr. Roubini, also known as Dr. Doom, is the NYU professor who predicted the current crisis and he says this is probably going to last into 2010.

Canada Economy: Government sets up Economic Stimulus Package
Ottawa, 18 Mar 2009. Canada is taking aggressive action to revive its troubled economy. The Minister of Finance, The Honourable Jim Flaherty, recently expressed his support for Bill C-10. This new piece of legislation will give the economy much-needed immediate economic stimulus.

World Economy: G-20 Summit in London Key to Reviving Economy
London, 17 Mar 2009. The upcoming G-20 summit in London will be key to getting the global economy back on track. All participating nations agree this has to happen, but whether or not this will be done smoothly and with unified agendas is another story.

US Economy: Bernanke Optimistic for 2009 Recovery
New York, 16 Mar 2009. Ben Bernanke thinks the recession will end this year. Or so he said on 60 Minutes, "We'll see the recession coming to the end probably this year, obviously recovery beginning next year. This decline will begin to moderate and we'll begin to see a leveling off."

China Economy: Exaggerated Economic Figures Partly Blamed for Spiraling Economy
Beijing, 13 Mar 2009. It's not uncommon for economists and analysts to accuse China of inflating economic figures or embellishing economic conditions. Some say the slumping Chinese economy is partly due to government exaggerations.

World Economy: 332 Millionaires in a Year - 29 in India
Mangalore, 12 Mar 2009. It's very easy to become a millionaire - if you start with billions. Which is exactly what happened to 332 former-billionaires. Last year, there were 1,125 billionaires, now there are only 793, according to a recent Forbes report. A total of $1.4 trillion has disappeared.

India Economy: On the Road to Recovery?
New Delhi, 11 Mar 2009. Top Indian economic adviser Suresh Tendulkar recently reported that the nation's economy could be on the path to recovery. This came with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cutting the reverse repurchase rate to 3.5% and the repurchase rate to 5%.

US Economy: Ford & UAW Make Cutbacks
Detroit, 10 Mar 2009. The US auto industry has been hit hard by the recent economic crisis, and even Ford Motor Company, the only of the Big Three to not ask for federal funds, is making defensive strategic moves.

UK Economy: BOE Cuts Interest Rates & Prints Money
London, 6 Mar 2009. The Bank of England slashed interest rates to an unprecedented low of 0.5% on 5 March, 2009. It also announced plans to increase the domestic money supply through quantitative easing - which is almost like printing money.

US Economy: Warren Buffett's Perspective on the Crisis
Eugene, OR, 3 Mar 2009. As a disappointing February cascades into an uncertain March, I invite you to take a look at Warren Buffett, one of the world's most successful investors whose career has spanned sixty years or more.

European Economy: Recession, Q4 2008 GDP Contraction and Sovereign Downgrades
Ponte San Giovanni, 26 Feb 2009. Almost all of Europe is in a recession, with Q4 contractions and soverign downgrades abound. Even France, which initially appeared to be able to emerge unscathed, is now facing a recession.

Banking Industry: Bank Nationalization - By Whatever Name - Getting More Likely
New York and London, 23 Feb 2009. It would have been unthinkable a year ago to walk into the NYSE and hear talk about bank nationalization - but that is exactly what the market increasingly believes is likely.

China Economy: The Collapse of Manufacturing and the Baltic Dry Index (BDI)
Shanghai, 23 Feb 2009. In the summer of 2008, with trade and inflation both rampant, it cost on average $1,400 to transport a container from Asia to Europe. By January 2009, the price from China to Europe had collapsed to $0, excluding fuel and handling.

Oil Dependency: The Price of Oil and the Pace of Freedom
Pune, 19 Feb. Journalist, and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman spoke with the BBC on 18 February about what he calls, 'the price of oil and the pace of freedom'. He discusses 'The First Law of Petropolitics' - as oil prices increase the need for governments to act democratically decreases.

Japan Economy: Japan's GDP Shrinks 3.3%, Finance Minister Drunk at G7 Meeting
Tokyo, 18 Feb. It's one thing for a country's GDP to drop - which is common enough these days - but to have the finance minister drunk at the same time, when the country needs him most, is another story.

Indian Interim Budget 2009: Special Report
Indian Parliament, 16 Feb. Stand In Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quick to explain the limited scope of an Interim Budget, but still the Sensex dropped 3.4 per cent in disappointment.
India's Sovereign Ratings May Take A Hit After Interim Budget
Interim Budget Background, Overview and Objectives
Revised Estimates 2008-2009
Budget Estimates 2009-2010
Tax Budget
Agriculture Budget, Rural Development Budget
Education Budget
Social Sector Budget
Financial Sector Budget

Indian Economy: Indian Inflation Drops to 4.39%, Industry Shrinks 2%
New Delhi, 13 Feb. The inflation rate dropped to 4.39% the last week of January, the lowest it has been in over a year, while industrial growth has shown a rare decline, of 2%.

US Economy: Geithner Plan Draws Little Support
New York, 11 Feb. Just three weeks into his presidency, Obama has made a significant victory in the passing of the $838 billion economic stimulus package. It includes "tough love" to the debt-ridden banks, whom Obama accused of looking for an "easy" way out of their financial woes.

Iceland Economy: How they got in this Mess
Reykjavik, 6 Feb. What was once one of the world's most prosperous nations, Iceland is now struggling from the shocks of the financial collapse, and many are wondering how in the world this could have happened.

US Economy: Zombie Banks and why the US Tolerates them
New York, 28 Jan. Zombie banks are financial institutions that have negative balance sheets yet are still alive and operating. Like zombies, they are functioning when they shouldn't be.

Singapore Budget 2009: Resilience Package is a Massive Economic Stimulus Plan
Singapore, 22 Jan. S$20.5b (US$15b) might not sound like a lot of money in these days of trillion dollar collapses, but when it represents 6% of GDP (estimated at US$227b in 2007), then it becomes one of the most aggressive stimulus plans on a per capita basis in the planet.

UK Economy: RBS Losses at Record High
London, 21 Jan. Royal Bank of Scotland announced it would report losses before write-downs of £7 to £8 billion for 2008. This has caused its shares to sink 67%.

India Economy: Satyam's Demise and the Future of India's IT Industry
Hyderabad, 16 Jan. As the Satyam saga unravels, the future of the Indian IT industry becomes uncertain. Everybody these days wants a bailout and Satyam is no exception.

US Economy: Automaker and Porn Bailout
Hollywood, 9 Jan 2009. Car makers are going through a government-sponsored rescue plan. They aren't the only ones asking for help - porn moguls are trying to cash in too.

China Economy: 2009 Forecast
Beijing, 24 Dec 2008. The Chinese economy grew a whopping 9.9% in the first three quarters of 2008, and 11.9% in 2007. Forecasts for 2009 are nowhere near as rosy.

India Economy: 2009 Forecast
New Delhi, 16 Dec. 2008 started out well enough with growth figures approaching 10%, but 2009 may only achieve 6.5%.

US Economy: Big Three Bailout - General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler
Detroit, 5 Dec 2008. First the most powerful banks in the US were "too big to fail". Now the same is said about US automakers General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The moral hazards continue.

World Economy: The Beginning of a Depression? Not Quite.
New Delhi, 28 Nov 2008. It's funny that in the midst of a financial crisis while politicians try to calm the masses and restore confidence they also make apocalyptic statements about the economy.

China Economy: Government Role in Economic Stimulus
Beijing, 21 Nov 2008. China can implement economic policy a lot easier and faster than other large economies making it easier to dictate the country's direction in times of economic need or crisis.

US Subprime: History of the Credit Crunch and Credit Crisis - Unwinding
Geneva, 18 Nov 2008. In the fourth part of this series, we examine what happens after confidence disappears and the effects start to set in.

Japan Economy: Japan Joins US in Recession
Tokyo, 17 Nov 2008. It's official: Japan is now in a recession. The world's second-largest economy reported a .1% drop in its third quarter, after a .3% fall in its second quarter.

Singapore Economy: The Moral Hazard of Bailouts and the Dilemma the Government is in
Singapore, 10 Nov 2008. The Singapore government has been put in a tough spot in on whether or not it should intervene in saving citizens' losses.

US Economy: Barack Hussein Obama Wins US Presidential Election
La Grande, OR, 4 Nov 2008. "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should." These very words, uttered by Senator John McCain came back to haunt him.

US Subprime: History of the Credit Crunch and Credit Crisis - Confidence
Geneva, 3 Nov 2008. In the third part of this series, we look at the role confidence plays in financial markets.

Thai Economy: Trading Rice for Oil with Iran
Bangkok, 31 Oct 2008. In an effort to address credit, food, and oil woes, Thailand and Iran are planning to barter rice and oil.

Japanese Economy: Carry Trade Becoming Dangerous
Tokyo, 30 Oct 2008. Will the impending economic slowdown spell an end to the Japanese carry trade?

US Subprime: History of the Credit Crunch and Credit Crisis - Bursting the Bubble
Geneva, 29 Oct 2008. In the second part of this series, we examine how the bubble burst with the fall of AIG and Lehman Bros.

World Economy: Price of Oil Drops
Singapore, 28 Oct 2008. While many of us are worried over impending recessions and uncertainty in the financial markets worldwide, we do have one thing to be happy about: Lower petrol prices.

South Korean Economy: Economy Slows with Lower Exports and a Declining GDP
Seoul, 24 Oct. As economies slow worldwide, export-driven South Korea announces it is officially now one of them, reporting decreased exports and declining gross domestic product figures.

US Subprime: History of the Credit Crunch and Credit Crisis - Inflating the Bubble
Geneva, 23 Oct. In this multi-part series, we uncover the events that led to the subprime credit crunch, and analyze future financial prospects. This first installment explains how the bubble inflated.

Indian Economy: India Ranked 70 in World Prosperity Index
New Delhi, 22 Oct. India has made tremendous progress since opening its doors to foreign investment and trade. But it still has a long way to go.

US Economy: Another Stimulus Package?
New York, 21 Oct. Discussions have begun for this year's second stimulus package to help the ailing US economy.

China Economy: Growth Slows to 9%
Beijing, 19 Oct. Most countries can only dream of 9% growth rates, but for China that's bad news. Growth is slowing in the world's fourth biggest economy.

US Economy: The new President will Face Massive Economic Challenges
New York, 17 Oct. Whichever US presidential candidate makes it into office will face massive economic hurdles.

World Economy: Stock Markets Worldwide CrashAgain
Singapore, 16 Oct 2008. Now we know the answer to Monday's question: No, the markets will not hold their recovery.

US Economy: Treasury Persuades US Banks to Sell Shares
New York, 15 Oct 2008. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson cajoled the nine largest banks in the US to sell $250 billion of shares yesterday, but not everybody is happy.

World Economy: Markets Recover after European Rescue Plans Announced
Tokyo, 14 Oct 2008. Major markets were up more than 11% after losing almost as much in the past week following news of European plans to resuscitate credit.

US Economy: An End to the US Dollar?
New York, 13 Oct 2008. German, Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan leaders have all warned that the US dollar will not be the global currency standard in the future.

Asian Economy: Rates are Cut but Panic Ensues and Markets Crash
Singapore, 10 Oct 2008. Ever since this massive financial crisis began, the Asian markets have been up and down. Investors still aren't sure how the recent bailout plans are going to affect them in Asia.

US Economy: Obama McCain Debate
Nashville, 9 Oct 2008. Popular polls say Obama won the recent presidential debate, and much of his success could be attributed to the current economy.

European Economy: Hit Hard by US Financial Crisis
London, 8 Oct 2008. The European economy has been affected by the financial crisis in the US, with Germany and Iceland being the hardest hit.

India Economy: Outsourcing Alive and Well
New Delhi, 7 Oct 2008. There may be global uncertainty overall but Indian outsourcing is not in any immediate danger.

US Economy: $700 Billion Bill Passed but More Measures Needed
New York, 6 Oct 2008. Friday's $700 billion bailout plan is designed to create credit liquidity in the market, but is it enough to restore confidence?

Russia Economy: Effects of the US Financial Crisis in Russia
Moscow, 2 Oct 2008. In the aftermath of the Dow collapse and failure for the $700 billion bill to pass through Congress, the world is reacting differently. In this installment, we examine Russia's condition.

China Economy: Effects of the US Financial Crisis in China
Beijing, 1 Oct 2008. China and the rest of Asia have fared remarkably well despite Monday's Dow plummet of 777 points. Although yesterday before the markets had closed we reported that the impact on India was considerable, the Indian markets closed with gains.

India Economy: Effects of the US Financial Crisis in India
New Delhi, 30 Sep 2008. It is often said that when the US sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold. This three-part series looks at how India, China, and Russia have been affected by the US financial crisis.

Singapore Economy: F1 a Success but more Tourism Needed
Singapore, 29 Sep 2008. The Singapore Grand Prix contributed to revive tourism in the country, but more has to be done if Singapore is to sustain healthy tourism figures in the future.

World Economy: Hungry Emerging-Market Firms Compete
Beijing, 26 Sep 2008. Firms from developing nations are rising to the top of global business, even acquiring the biggest and best from the west.

US Economy: $700 Billion Bailout Imminent but Opposed
New York, 25 Sep 2008. The past few weeks have made history in the financial markets. Some say the only way to recovery is through a government bailout, while others oppose it.

World Economy: Six Investing Pointers during a Volatile Market
Singapore, 23 Sep 2008. The recent turmoil in the markets has left investors unsure what to expect and how to react. The six points in this piece provide a rational approach to investing during such turbulent times.

China: Post-Olympic Economic Future Challenging
Beijing, 19 Sep 2008. Olympic excitement has worn off, and now the country is back to reality. Despite having organized the biggest, costliest, and most-publicized Olympic Games ever, with nary a hiccup, economic worries are setting in.

World Economy: Market Troubles can be seen as Opportunities
Singapore, 18 Sep 2008. No doubt the recent market swoon has unnerved a lot of people. It wouldn't be surprising if pretty soon people started stocking up on rice and canned soup.

Iraq: Economy Recovering, Iraqi Property Market Booming
Baghdad, 17 Sep 2008. The economy of Iraq is slowly starting to recover after years of war and instability.

Banking: The Fed, the Banks, and the Buyers - who is to Blame?
New York, 16 Sep 2008. The financial meltdown has hit an all-time low with Fannie May and Freddie Mac being bailed out by the government and Lehman Brothers collapsing. Who is to blame?

Pakistan Economy: The Country's new President Zardari Faces Major Economic Challenges
Karachi, 15 Sep 2008. Zardari, the controversial new president, has seen his share of troubles - and now he has a whole nation's set of problems to fix.

US Economy: Oil Profits Rise as Corporate America Declines
Cheyenne, 12 Sep 2008. The increasing cost of oil over the past few years, has been hard on consumers. But it has been good for many Big Oil companies.

US Economy: Palin's Alaska Drilling at the Cost of the Environment
Anchoarage, 11 Sep 2008. When John McCain announced his vice-presidential running-mate, Alaskan Governor Sara Palin, not many Americans had heard of her. But now she is a household name, with controversy surrounding her family life, religious views, and oil-drilling agenda.

North Korea: Who says they don't want Foreign Investment?
Seoul, 10 Sep 2008. While North Korea may be closed-off to the rest of the world, the nation is seeking foreign investment - but it has a lot of convincing to do.

World Economy: Will Globalization Polarization Change what we Thought we knew about Outsourcing?
Singapore, 9 Sep 2008. Now we may be seeing reverse globalization in certain sectors, while others will only continue to use outsourcing as the cheaper alternative.

US Subprime: Government Bailout and its Effects
New Delhi, 8 Sep 2008. The US government has announced its bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie May. How will this affect markets?

Asian Currencies: Why are Asian Foreign Reserves so Massive?
Singapore, 5 Sep 2008. Foreign reserves in various Asian countries are enormous, and they are getting bigger. What does this mean to the rest of the world and the global economic landscape as a whole?

Indian Agriculture: What is the Economic Effect of the Flooding in Bihar?
Patna, 4 Sep 2008. Recent flooding in India has been disastrous for millions. And while this may not significantly affect the Indian economy, it is affecting the economies of hundreds of villages.

China: Shanghai vs. Beijing - Financial Rivals
Beijing, 3 Sep 2008. Shanghai may be the most cosmopolitan city in China. Beijing, however, has gained unparalleled global exposure from the Olympics. Which can emerge as China's preeminent metropolis?

US Economy: GDP Increase of 3.3% - What does it Mean?
New York, 2 Sep 2008. Seemingly never-ending woes about oil, war, and inflation have had the world bracing for recessions and hard economic times in general. But the US has experienced an unexpectedly high annualized growth rate of 3.3% in Q2.

Energy: How the T. Boone Pickens Plan may have the Water and Wind Power Solution the US Needs
Dallas, 1 Sep 2008. If you've ever played the board game Monopoly you would have noticed one of the most strategic moves is to own both the utilities companies: Water Works and Electric Company. T. Boone Pickens seems to be well on his way to doing just that.

GDP and Olympic Medals: What is the Relationship?
Beijing, 29 Aug 2008. At any Olympic games, the big powerful countries always seem to win. How were the Beijing games any different? Were GDP and winnings comparable?

Spanish Property: The Effects of its Collapse
Vic, 28 Aug 2008. Foreign property investment has underpinned the Spanish property market in past years, but will it collapse in the face of the global economic downturn?

Oil, Food, and Inflation: How they are Interlinked
Singapore, 27 Aug 2008. In the last decade, the world has seen tremendous growth, and in the past five years, world GDP has outpaced inflation - but all that is changing now.

Economic Policy: Obama vs. McCain
Denver, 25 Aug 2008. The tightly-contested presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain may ultimately boil down to one issue: Economic policy. The subprime mortgage crisis and the increasing cost of gasoline have contributed to the widespread escalating economic worry and fears of recession. How does each candidate address the most pressing economic issues?

Zimbabwe Economy: Inflation, Famine and Instability
Harare, 20 Aug 2008. Zimbabwe has been experiencing ridiculous inflation, widespread famine, social instability and an uncompetitive economy. What was the cause of these disastrous conditions, and what can be done to avoid them in the future?

Indian Economy: High Inflation, Slower Growth, an Indian Economy of Gloom?
New Delhi, 19 Aug 2008. Some Indians believe that India is protected from the economic hardships of the outside world, but With inflation reaching 12.44% in August 2008 India suddenly seems human.

Energy: Russia, Georgia & Azerbaijan - Linked & Divided by Oil Pipelines
Baku, 15 Aug 2008. Why was Russia so quick to attack Georgia? What will be the result of Russia bombing the BTC pipeline that runs through Georgia? And what can we learn from history if we look at Azerbaijan's troubles in the region?

EconomyWatch Special Report - The Global Carbon Market
The worldwide carbon market developed as a response to the threat of climate change caused by the excessive emission of greenhouse gases, and in particular carbon. Today 182 countries are working to limit carbon emissions, although the biggest polluter, the USA, has yet to ratify the accord.

Investing: Are There any Bright Spots left for Investors?
New York, 12 Aug 2008. 2006 and 2007 were particularly good years for most investors, with emerging markets powering ahead the world over, and developed nations bolstered by rising stock and property markets. If 2006 and 2007 were particularly good, 2008 has been particularly bad.

Sports Industry: The Economics of the Olympics
Beijing, 8 Aug 2008. The Beijing Olympics will be the most expensive ever hosted. After the last medals are given out and everyone goes home, what will the impact be on the Chinese economy?

UK Economy: UK on the Precipice of Recession
London, 6 Aug 2008. The latest UK economic data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) continues to be gloomy, and points the way to a recession could kick in this year. If the economy does contract this quarter as most analysts expect, it would be the first time it has done so since 1992.

World Economy: Where Now for WTO World Trade Talks
New Delhi, 5 Aug 2008. After the break up come the recriminations. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round trade talks in Geneva had been billed as a last ditch effort to save the talks. When they failed, fingers were pointed.

Energy: The Price of Oil
London, 1 Aug 2008. Crude oil has dropped from its mid-July high of $147 to $123 as of 1 August 2008. Is this merely a Fibonnaci Correction on the way to ever higher prices, or has the air been let out of the oil-dot com bubble?

EconomyWatch Special Report - Surge of Interest in Methods of Reducing Petrol and Gasoline Costs
Sky high oil prices are leading to a lot of innovation in the world of energy efficiency, with new methods to extract hydrogen from water and mix it with petrol & gasoline attracting a lot of attention.

Latin America Economy: Latin Amercian Growth Slowing - But Still a Safe Haven for Investors
Rio de Janeiro, 28 July 2008. Latin American growth is slowing thanks to rising inflation, with the causes of its economic growth over the last few years threatening to derail its efforts. It remains attractive as a region to investors, however, thanks to its positive carry trade.

Japan Economy: Japan Exports Fall for First Time in Five Years
Tokyo, 25 Jul 2008. Amid further worrying signs of a global slowdown, Japan's export figures have fallen for the first time in five years, led by big drops in US and European orders.

Vietnam Economy: Vietnam Grapples with 27% Inflation Rate and Collapsing Markets
Hanoi, 24 Jul 2008. Vietnam is battling with 27% annual inflation and a stock market that has fallen 47% this year alone.

Indian Economy: Update - History Will See This as a Crucial Milestone for India
New Delhi, 23 Jul 2008. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has won the No Confidence vote. Despite the sully of vote buying allegations, being able to push through the US-India Nuclear Deal is a milestone.

World Economy: Last Chance for WTO Negotiations in Geneva
Geneva, 22 Jul 2008. The World Trade Organisation is about to start last-ditch Doha round negotiations in Geneva. Success could add $1 trillion to the world economy, but is far from assured.

Indian Economy: Why Risk Office Over a Nuclear Deal?
New Delhi, 21 Jul 2008. Frantic deal-making is in play ahead of Tuesday's no confidence vote. Why is the Prime Minister ready to stake everything to try and push through the India-US nuclear deal?

India Special Report - The Wealth Tax
An EconomyWatch.com India Special. What the Wealth Tax is, what is it covers & excludes, and how it is assessed.

Chinese Economy: Chinese Economic Growth Slows - But Still Over 10%
Shanghai, 18 July 2008. China's economic growth has slowed to 10.1% in Q2 2008 - a problem that most governments in the world would love to have right now.

World Economy: IMF Revises World Economic Growth Forecasts
New York, 18 July 2008. The IMF has revised its world GDP growth forecasts to 4.1% in 2008 and 3.9% in 2009.

Singapore Economy: Good Prospects for Singapore Property Despite Global Economic Slowdown
Singapore, 17 July 2008. The Singapore property market was the fastest growing last year and indicators are good for the mid term.

Australian Economy: Australia Plans to Start Carbon Market in 2010
Sydney, 17 July 2008. Australia has announced plans to create an official carbon emissions trading market, which will launch in 2010.

UK Economy: UK House Sales Slump
London. 16 July 2008. The UK property market is posting some of its worst numbers on record; lowest number of transactions, biggest drop in prices, most sellers to buyers and largest amount of unsold stock on hand.

US Economy: Frannie & Freddie - Differing Views from Krugman and Rogers
New York, 15 July 2008. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have in effect received a government bailout. Krugman believes it is to be expected but Rogers has blasted the move.

Indian Economy: Indian Inflation Rate Through the Roof
New Delhi, 15 July. Indian inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index, has reached 11.89%, almost three times the RBI's target and the highest figure in 13 years.