Gulf stocks may remain robust

Gulf Arab stocks will probably hold their value this year as oil earnings boost the region's economies even after benchmarks jumped in 2007 leaving "few bargains" for investors, according to Nomura Holdings Inc.

Japan's ghosts of bubbles past haunt US in 2008

In early 2001, economist Stephen Roach raised a warning flag that enraged many peers: The US risks repeating Japan's mistakes of the 1990s.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Business International

Business International

Beef goes off the menu for Argentina's farmers

Argentines are passionate about their beef - from cattle grazed on the sprawling pampas grasslands, it's a national staple, delivered inexpensively and received with religious fervor at Sunday barbecues nationwide.

Fed worried credit woes could hit growth

Federal Reserve policymakers worried that a credit crunch could sharply brake economic growth and require big interest rate cuts, according to minutes of the Fed's December 11 policy meeting, released on Wednesday.

There's no reason to expect US will go into recession in '08

Some analysts were predicting a recession would hit the US economy in the fourth quarter as consumers, hurt by falling house prices and the high cost of gasoline, cut spending.

Will Wien's prognostications prove right?

Byron Wien, the strategist whose New Year's predictions have influenced investors for a quarter century, said the US economy will fall into a recession and stocks will tumble 10 percent this year.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Business International

US auto giants to end '07 on flat note

General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co will probably say December US auto sales fell as consumers reined in spending, ending a year with the lowest demand for cars and trucks in a decade.