CHINA

China would welcome assurance about the security of its financial assets in the United States, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday ahead of President Hu Jintao's visit next week, while playing down rifts between the two powers.

It would be reasonable for China to raise interest rates in the first quarter because price pressure tends to be high for seasonal reasons during the opening months of the year, a central bank adviser said on Wednesday.

Aluminium output in China, the world's top producer, may be trimmed further this month as smelters in southwest Guizhou province face power cuts to offset soaring energy demand linked to freezing weather, industry sources said on Wednesday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates played down the possibility of a rift between China's civilian leadership and its military.

Volvo Car expects China to become its biggest market as early as next year and its second home market after Sweden as the Chinese-owned automaker looks for sales to grow more than six times by 2015, a top company executive said.

Even before it launches the first passenger cars under its own brand at home, China's BAIC has set its sights on expansion overseas.

China told the United States on Wednesday that its first test-flight of a stealth fighter jet should not be seen as a threat, reiterating that it had no intention of challenging U.S. military might in the Pacific.

The iPhone on Verizon's network will be a big win for Apple, as pent-up demand driven by users who were waiting for an alternative to AT&T drives sales of the iPhone 4.

Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the American Farm Bureau on January 10, 2011.

China, one of the largest buyers of energy, and Russia, a leading exporter of it, are quickly cemeting their natural friendship.

Douglas Clayton, chief executive officer of investment fund manager Leopard Capital, is one of the premier investors of the frontier markets. Based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Clayton speaks to IB Times about the ramifications of Laos opening a stock exchange.

China is studying a proposal from the U.S. to begin strategic security talks that would cover nuclear arms, missile defense, space and cyber issues, as the countries seek to improve their military-to-military relations.

UBS Securities upgraded PC giant Hewlett-Packard to buy from neutral, citing improving growth prospects for the majority of HP's segments through 2011.

Traders are talking about buying dips again, concurs a Hong Kong dealer, noting that Asia physical market remains very tight for Gold Bars. Reuters says the Hong Kong premium for wholesale Gold Bars over benchmark London prices today held at $3 per ounce, a near 30-month high.

Topics of this interview include Scott Carter highlighting the global dynamic of today's interest in gold, and how macro-economic trends continue to drive the decade long bull market of the precious metals. We also evaluate the possibility of seeing QE3 in 2011.

Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega has accused the United States of engaging in currency manipulation, and said his country would raise this issue at the World Trade Organization (WTO), adding that the U.S. and Chinese policies are fomenting a trade war.

Britain now intends to focus on growth as Prime Minister David Cameron urged the importance of trade to the country's business ambassadors. Cameron urged the ambassadors to 'sell Britain' to the rest of the world, and emphasized on the importance of growth.

Statistics released by the People’s Bank of China on Tuesday showed the Chinese forex kitty is bursting at seams with an 18.6 percent growth in 2010 which made it zoom to a record $2.85 trillion.

China has carried out a test flight of its advanced laser-evading stealth fighter J-20, media reports have said, perfectly timing the event to coincide with the visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the country.

As the European debt crisis worsens there appears to be more help coming from Asia, with Japan on Tuesday offering to buy Irish bonds coming up for sale this month.

Dr. David Lynn, author of a book on commercial real estate investing in emerging market countries (specifically China, India and Brazil), shares his insights with IBTimes regarding why this class of asset is an attractive investment.