japan

Look Who's Buying America Now!

While Americans are still reeling from the housing bust, people from around the globe are scooping up cheap American homes. Over the 12 months that ended in March, nearly 9% of all real estate spending in the U.S. was done by buyers from abroad. Is it "Rising Sun" all over again?

Recession in Spain Breeds Pessimism in Global Markets

Markets dipped Monday after official data confirmed that Spain is back in its second recession in three years. Investors had initially bid up stocks on hopes that the Fed would provide more stimulus to the U.S. economy.

Is Corporate America Too Focused on Profit Margins?

I recently penned a column pointing out that when America "lost" the TV manufacturing industry to Japan, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because the business has become a low-margin money loser. A lot of readers disagreed.

3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die

One of this country's biggest economic problems is a tsunami of misinformation. You can't have a rational debate when facts are so easily supplanted by overreaching statements and errors. Here are three misconceptions about our economy that need to be laid to rest.

Why to Be Glad America Isn't Making TVs Anymore

It's hard to complain too much about how Japan "stole" the high-tech electronics business from the U.S. More accurately, they took a low-margin business off our hands. And you know what we should be saying to that? Good riddance!

What to Do First: Save or Pay Down Your Debts?

For many households, it's a personal fiance dilemma: Should they try to pay down debt first, or build up savings? In the aftermath of the Great Recession, opinions have clearly tipped toward the ditch-your-debt side. But that's not always the right answer.

How U.S. Debt Stacks Up Against Other Nations

It's true that the U.S. has racked up the largest debt of any developed country. But when you consider the debt in relation to the country's gross domestic product, it's only No. 7 on the list, according to Fortune. Here's what you need to know to make sense of all the numbers.

World's Millionaires Increased By 8.3% in 2010

Millionaires are back. The number of individuals worldwide with $1 million or more in assets aside from their residence grew by 8.3% to 10.9 million in 2010, topping pre-crisis 2007 levels, according to the World Wealth Report released Wednesday.

The U.S. Is Still Tops for Millionaires

When it comes to its population of millionaires, the U.S. still leads the world, but other countries have gained recently, The Boston Consulting Group reports. In particular, the report found a stagnation of wealth growth in developed nations, but rapid wealth growth in the developing world.

Expedia's AirAsia Partnership Is Just the Ticket

Expedia, the world's largest online travel agency, soon will be selling flights, hotel bookings and holiday packages in the world's fastest growing aviation and tourism market, thanks to an exclusive deal with AirAsia. Trefis takes a look at what the deal will mean for both companies.

Is GM's Rebound the Real Deal?

Detroit's revival is nearly complete: Chrysler recently made its first profit in five years, Ford has posted its best results since 1998, and GM is poised to retake the crown as the world's biggest automaker. But to hold onto that position, GM will have to adjust to a rapidly shifting auto market.

Automakers' Next Big Worry: A Sales Slowdown in China

The major players in the auto industry have had it rough in the past few years, first with the massive sales declines caused by the recession, and more recently, with the disaster in Japan. But the next challenge they face is already looming on the horizon: A slowdown in Chinese car sales.

The Dangers of Buying on Disasters

Days after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, some investing experts pronounced the country's woes a buying opportunity. A cash stampede into U.S.-based Japan exchange-traded funds followed. But these investments carry greater risks than the average Joe probably realizes.

Japan Disaster Creates Possible Windfall for U.S. Meat Exporters

Japan's domestic food supply faces plenty of threats, including nuclear radiation, a crippled distribution infrastructure and a shaky electric grid. But there's some good news for U.S. suppliers: A shortage of domestic beef and pork could increase the market for imported meat.