MANUFACTURING

2011 is shaping up as a race to the bottom for currency values, writes Harvard professor Kenneth Rogoff in today's Financial Times. No wonder gold has been so attractive.

Industrial production continues to remain below expectations in the U.K., hurt by weakness in the oil and gas extraction sector.

The American economy closed out 2010 on a relatively strong note, suggesting an improving economy for this year, according to the Federal Reserve’s “Beige Book” report, a nationwide survey of economic conditions.

Summary of Fed Beige Book, January 12, 2011

Massive floods shut down the centre of Australia's third-largest city, sent thousands fleeing from their homes and sparked panic buying of food on Wednesday as rescuers searched for 43 people missing in floodwaters.

Ghana's inflation slowed to a new 18-year low of 8.58 percent in December, feeding expectations the West African economic heavyweight will keep its policy interest rate on hold in the short term.

Deadly rioting in the North African nations of Tunisia and Algeria underscore a clash between peoples’ anger over harsh economic realities and totalitarian governments’ clampdown on any dissent.

The devastating floods that have inundated Queensland may significantly reduce Australia’s overall economic growth this year, according to an array of economists and analysts.

German economy, Europe's biggest and the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak euro zone fiscal scene, grew at an impressive rate of 3.6 percent in 2010, official data showed.

Thousands of residents of Australia's third-largest city evacuated homes on Wednesday as massive floods began to inundate the financial district, sparked panic buying of food and left authorities despairing for nearly 70 people missing.

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, 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.

Advanced Micro Devices said Monday its chief executive Dirk Meyer has resigned with immediate effect and appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer Thomas Seifert as interim CEO.

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.

A celebrity gossip website on Friday posted a photo that it claims shows Inland Rep. Mary Bono Mack in a playful, but compromising position.

U.S. metropolitan areas which have suffered the steepest drops in housing prices are poised to endure long-term deterioration similar to how certain cities in the Rust Belt were permanently damaged by the decline of manufacturing.

In an annual survey conducted by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, India for the first time topped the list as the most attractive destination, overtaking China.

The UK service sector reported a drop in output in December, its first fall since April 2009, showing that the economy's growth had declined as the last year drew to a close.

Total global revenue from tablet devices like Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Tab will increase from 16 billion dollars in 2010 to a whopping 46 billion dollars in 2014, according to a report released Wednesday by U.S. technology research firm Yankee Group.

Intel takes the wrapping off its much anticipated Sandy Bridge processor.