Bangkok- The good news is that almost a decade after the 1997 financial crisis swept through South-East Asia, devastating economies and wrecking millions of lives, the region's macro-economic pictu

Tokyo - Japan is facing slowing economic growth as the shock waves from global financial turmoil finally shake the foundations of its economy.

Buenos Aires - Latin America watches intently as the current US mortgage and credit crisis continues to unfold: Mexico is bracing itself for a rough ride, while Brazil hopes to emerge unscathed fro

Berlin - Despite sagging global growth, soaring oil prices and the threat of renewed turmoil hanging over share markets, Europe appears to have managed so far to weather the storm unleashed by the

Moscow - Like a teenager at the wheel of his diamond encrusted Mercedes, Moscow feels invulnerable, set to swerve past the US housing slump and slam through the global credit crunch.

Berlin- End of 2006 - The long-running US real estate boom comes to an end a