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Palladium Likely to Outperform PGM in 2012

Palladium bars
The deteriorating global growth outlook has meant the underperformance of the platinum group metals relative to gold, although supply disruptions could provide some relief to weaker demand. Of the PGM group, palladium is more likely to outperform in 2012, given its stronger links to U.S. and Chinese demand.
BMW

BMW tops Mercedes for US luxury car sales crown

BMW grabbed the top spot in the U.S. luxury auto market in 2011, edging out Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand, as both German automakers took advantage of inventory problems for Toyota Motor Corp's Lexus lineup.
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gold and silver

Gold to Average $1,875 This Year: Barclays

Barclays Capital released its 2012 price outlook for precious metals Thursday. Despite short-term hurdles, a clouded macro-economic environment against a backdrop of low interest rates and political uncertainties continue to stoke investor appetite for a more diversified and less riskier portfolio.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures during his visit to speak in Shahrekord in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province

Iran Wants Nuclear Talks in Turkey

After more than a month of posturing, Iran said it's ready to restart nuclear talks with the European Union, adding that Turkey would be the best place for a dialog.
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Aluminum slump has Alcoa staring at quarterly loss

NEW YORK - Alcoa Inc , the largest U.S. aluminum producer, could end up posting a fourth-quarter loss due to a dizzying drop in the metal's price in the last six months as the euro zone debt crisis and an economic slowdown in China hurt demand growth.
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BMW tops Mercedes for U.S. luxury car sales crown

BMW grabbed the top spot in the U.S. luxury auto market in 2011, edging out Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand, as both German automakers took advantage of inventory problems for Toyota Motor Corp's <7203.T> Lexus lineup, according to company figures issued on Thursday.
Obama speaks from the White House in Washington

Obama Defense Budget Puts More Focus on Asia

President Barack Obama unveiled a defense strategy on Thursday that calls for greater U.S. military presence in Asia and envisions cutting troops in Europe as the Pentagon seeks to reduce spending by nearly half a trillion dollars after a decade of war.
Iranian naval vessel

Safe Haven Appeal of Gold Re-emerges

Gold was on course for a fifth straight session of gains on Thursday as growing anxiety on Iran boosted its safe-haven appeal and rising seasonal demand in China buoyed sentiment.

China is Right to Ban Trash TV

The worst, most vulgar aspects of American pop culture are spilling across the globe – even in distant, alien lands like China and India.
Iran Ramps Up Gulf Tension, Global Economies on Alert

Oil Price Hovers Near $103; EU Agrees to Iran Embargo

The price of oil has been rising due to mounting tensions between Iran and the United States and other western countries. On Wednesday the pressure on Iran continued to ratchet up, as European Union governments agreed on to ban imports of Iranian oil.
Jalousie Plantation Resort in Sugar Beach St. Lucia

Top 10 Most Wired Countries

South Korea is well known to have a nearly completely plugged-in society, but are they the most connected country in the world? As a percentage of the population, they are actually 15th. Every year, a Web site called Internet World Stats compiles the numbers of users across the globe and breaks them out into region, country and other demographics.
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Ten Surprises for 2012: Blackstone

Byron Wien, vice chairman at Blackstone Advisory Partners issued his list of surprises for 2012 on Wednesday. The tradition of giving his views on a series of economic, financial market and political surprises for the coming year started in 1986.
Jon Huntsman

Jon Huntsman Hopes to be New Hampshire's Santorum

The former Utah governor Jon Huntsman has put all of his campaign eggs in New Hampshire, hoping for a positive outcome in the state's primary next Tuesday. Despite languishing in the polls, Huntsman has made over 150 appearances in the Granite State, which he hopes will pay off and catapult him into the new Republican of Choice -- with Rick Santorum's success serving as the model.
Iran Ramps Up Gulf Tension, Global Economies on Alert

EU Agrees to Iran Oil Embargo; Joins U.S. Sanctions

The EU governments in the 27-nation bloc agreed on the Iranian oil embargo, but now need to plan a timetable for implementing the move. France has suggested a date for beginning the embargo is set at a scheduled Jan. 30 meeting of the EU foreign ministers.

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