Economy

French Economy, Industry and Employment minister Christine Lagarde (R) and French Foreign and European affairs minister Bernard Kouchner leave at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting on november 04 2009 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

Newly appointed Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Mohammed Safadi arrives to attend the first cabinet meeting at the presidential palace of Baabda, east of Beirut, on November 10, 2009. The new government was formed late on November 9 by Prime Minister Saad Hariri following more than four months of tough negotiations with the Hezbollah-led opposition on the distribution of portfolios and the choice of ministers.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama leaves after making a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama walks to the podium before making a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

French Economy, Industry and Employment minister Christine Lagarde (R) and French Foreign and European affairs minister Bernard Kouchner (L) leave at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting on November 4, 2009 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

French Economy, Industry and Employment minister Christine Lagarde (C) and French Foreign and European affairs minister Bernard Kouchner (L) leave at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting on November 4, 2009 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

French Economy, Industry and Employment minister Christine Lagarde (R) and French Foreign and European affairs minister Bernard Kouchner (L) leave at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting on November 4, 2009 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama walks to the podium before making a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

French Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Lagarde (R) and her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam exchange documents after signing a tax protocol in Singapore on November 13, 2009. Singapore cleared the final hurdle for complying with stricter standards for global banking centres after signing an agreement with France on the sharing of tax information.

French Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Lagarde speaks to media representatives after signing a tax protocol agreement with her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Singapore on November 13, 2009. Singapore has cleared the final hurdle for complying with stricter standards for global banking centres after signing an agreement with France on the sharing of tax information.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama leaves after making a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama leaves after making a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

French Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Lagarde (R) and her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam shake hands as they exchange documents after signing a tax protocol in Singapore on November 13, 2009. Singapore cleared the final hurdle for complying with stricter standards for global banking centres after signing an agreement with France on the sharing of tax information.

French Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Lagarde (R) and her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam leave a signing ceremony after they signed a tax protocol in Singapore on November 13, 2009. Singapore has cleared the final hurdle for complying with stricter standards for global banking centres after signing an agreement with France on the sharing of tax information.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

French Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Lagarde (R) and her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam sign a tax protocol agreement in Singapore on November 13, 2009. Singapore has cleared the final hurdle for complying with stricter standards for global banking centres after signing an agreement with France on the sharing of tax information.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the press on the economy in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia where he will make stops in four countries including China.

French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde (C) kisses Industry Minister Christian Estrosi as Foreign affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) looks on when leaving the weekly cabinet meeting on november 16 2009 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

French Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Lagarde speaks to media representatives after signing a tax protocol agreement with her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Singapore on November 13, 2009. Singapore has cleared the final hurdle for complying with stricter standards for global banking centres after signing an agreement with France on the sharing of tax information.

WARE, MA - OCTOBER 28: Charles Lask, owner of Nat Falk clothing, speaks about the economy and its effects on his store October 28, 2009 in Ware, Massachusetts. The store, which has been in Ware since 1936, has been struggling to compete with the discounts available at a nearby Wal-Mart and the economic downturn in Ware. Ware, an old New England factory town is struggling to find its place in an economy moving away from manufacturing. The unemployment rate in Ware is currently at 9.7 percent with negative job growth and over 11 percent of the population living below the federal poverty level.

WARE, MA - OCTOBER 28: Charles Lask, owner of Nat Falk clothing, speaks about the economy and its effects on his store October 28, 2009 in Ware, Massachusetts. The store, which has been in Ware since 1936, has been struggling to compete with the discounts available at a nearby Wal-Mart and the economic downturn in Ware. Ware, an old New England factory town is struggling to find its place in an economy moving away from manufacturing. The unemployment rate in Ware is currently at 9.7 percent with negative job growth and over 11 percent of the population living below the federal poverty level.

An Indonesian woman carries her shopping bags in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Jakarta's business district skyline is seen on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia , the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Indonesian workers at a building construction site in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumers can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Jakarta's business district skyline is seen on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia , the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

US President Barack Obama (L) is watched by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as he speaks during a bilateral meeting in Singapore on November 15, 2009, on the sidelines of the The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Asia-Pacific leaders including the US and Chinese presidents have vowed to remake the world economy after the worst financial crisis in decades, rejecting protectionism and old models of growth. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders, who together steer more than half the global economy, also said they would persist with hefty stimulus spending 'until a durable economic recovery has clearly taken hold'.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 02: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar talks to the news media outside the White House November 2, 2009 in Washington, DC. Salazar hosted a Clean Energy Economy Forum peole from 39 States across the country to discuss 'renewable energy and job creation on public lands, climate impact and adaptation, and efforts to support and maintain the treasured landscapes of America in the emerging clean energy economy.'

Indian labourers rest underneath a billboard advertisement in Amritsar on November 4, 2009. India's still relatively inward-looking economy, along with its vast domestic market of nearly 1.2 billion people, has helped shield India's economy from the impact of the global slump.

A new building highrise is constructed rise in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumers can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Two men work on an advertising board in Jakarta on November 11, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter, officials said. The spurt put Southeast Asia's biggest economy on course to achieve the government's forecasts of 4.3 percent growth this year, third only to China and India in the G20 club of rich and major developing countries.

Indonesian workers scale re-bar at a building construction site in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumers can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

An Indonesian workers deliver goods in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a bilateral meeting in Singapore on November 15, 2009, on the sidelines of the The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Asia-Pacific leaders including the US and Chinese presidents have vowed to remake the world economy after the worst financial crisis in decades, rejecting protectionism and old models of growth. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders, who together steer more than half the global economy, also said they would persist with hefty stimulus spending 'until a durable economic recovery has clearly taken hold'.

US President Barack Obama (L) is watched by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as he speaks during a bilateral meeting in Singapore on November 15, 2009, on the sidelines of the The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Asia-Pacific leaders including the US and Chinese presidents have vowed to remake the world economy after the worst financial crisis in decades, rejecting protectionism and old models of growth. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders, who together steer more than half the global economy, also said they would persist with hefty stimulus spending 'until a durable economic recovery has clearly taken hold'.

Indonesian workers at a building construction site in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumers can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

An Indonesian workers deliver goods in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Indonesian workers at a building construction site in Jakarta's busy Tanah Abang commercial center on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumers can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Jakarta's business district skyline is seen on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia , the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

Jakarta's business district skyline is seen on November 13, 2009. Indonesia's economy grew at an accelerated rate of 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter according to the latest figure from the National Development Planning Agency indicating that Indonesia is experiencing accelerated growth again. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick at the APEC summit in Singapore cited on November 13 Indonesia , the Philippines and Thailand who are able to borrow more if they have access to financing while US consumer can no longer be relied upon to drag the global economy out of the doldrums by returning to enthusiastic spending.

US President Barack Obama (L) speaks Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a bilateral meeting in Singapore on November 15, 2009, on the sidelines of the The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Asia-Pacific leaders including the US and Chinese presidents have vowed to remake the world economy after the worst financial crisis in decades, rejecting protectionism and old models of growth. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders, who together steer more than half the global economy, also said they would persist with hefty stimulus spending 'until a durable economic recovery has clearly taken hold'.