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In its latest report, the IMF applauds national policymakers for stabilizing credit markets and putting the global economy on a recovery track. However, thorny problems remain -- including how to prevent overheating in emerging markets, and how to cut the U.S. deficit while lowering its unemployment rate.

Without a doubt, this country's debt overhang needs to be chopped considerably. But does a large national debt doom a nation to economic ruin? Only if you believe that countries like Germany, France, and Japan are economic basket cases, too.

They're gearing up for a potentially damaging round of currency interventions to help keep their economies competitive, especially against China. Says Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega: "This is a currency war that is turning into a trade war."

General Electric Co. (GE) will buy Wellstream Holdings Plc (WSM), a British oilfield-services provider focused on the Brazilian market, for 800 million pounds ($1.3 billion). The deal is worth 786 pence per share of Wellstream, including a 6 pence special cash dividend, Bloomberg News reported....

Starbucks said Wednesday that it plans to grow its worldwide sales by expanding its 220 stores in mainland China to "at least" 1,500 by 2015. The world's largest coffee chain also is planning to add stores in Brazil, Russia and India.

Considering where the iconic carmaker has been in recent years, the pending IPO -- and robust investor demand for shares -- is a remarkably positive step. But GM still has plenty of problem spots that will need fixing if this historic event is to have lasting meaning.

The world economy is poised for more of the same in 2011: booming growth in China, India and Brazil, and a sluggish crawl in much of the rest of the developed world. Here are the five most important factors driving sluggish economic growth in the U.S.

The U.S. finds itself on the wrong side of the currency manipulation argument this week, as many G20 countries criticize the Fed's $600 billion bond buying plan, which could further devalue the dollar. World leaders say the move breaks the vow of unity made during the last G-20 summit.

Goldman Sachs (GS) economists defended Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's decision to pump billions of dollars into the economy, saying the move will boost economic growth. The Fed's plan to buy $600 billion of assets will improve growth and reduce the risk of deflation, economist Jan...

Sweet could get expensive. Raw sugar prices may rise to the highest in more than 30 years by March if dry weather hits the Brazilian sugar crop, broker Newedge USA told Bloomberg News.