There’s something about having servants – even if they seem to love their jobs – that is vaguely disturbing. It offends many Americans’ sense of egalitarianism. But robots are different. They aren’t human. And that’s a big part of their potential appeal. They don’t eat, they don’t get offended and they don’t ask for pay raises. So if a robot could do what a human servant could do, wouldn’t you want a robot?

BEIJING, The People’s Republic of China – If there’s a recession here in China, I don’t see it. Granted, I just stepped off the plane here in Beijing a few hours ago, but already the city feels much more vibrant than I expected, given the dire reports that keep appearing in the mainstream Western financial-news media. The Beijing economy appears strong.

A new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that oil consumption will remain flat through 2030, shedding light on the slow growth of hybrid and electric vehicles.

The EIA report says that increases in fuel-efficiency standards, use of renewable fuels and advances in technology will translate into less dependence on imported oil. At the same time, the reports projects that hybrid vehicles will comprise 38% of total sales by 2030 – a hefty share if any investor is willing to wait 21 years for that kind of growth.

While some form of battery-powered vehicle will emerge in the coming decades, the U.S. market will also see a diversification in fuel consumption flex-fuel, hybrid, and diesel vehicles, according to the…

Forget the fact that you’re an investor with a penchant for green opportunities, and instead consider yourself a hard-nosed businessman looking for the best return on your money. You run a spread sheet to determine the ROI of electric cars, based on current gas prices, and suddenly you’d be looking elsewhere for investments that would ensure your retirement.

Fed sets target for buying mortgage-backed securities… Initial jobless claims fall more than expected… S&P 500 futures up 0.4 pct, Dow futures up 0.2 pct, Nasdaq futures off 0.3 pct

As I write to you this week, I am back at my parent’s house in Indiana. I have written before about New Castle and the struggles the town went through back in the ’70s and ’80s. Kind of ironic that I am here when President Bush announces that the automakers are getting a $17 billion bailout.

A price tag has emerged for President-elect Barack Obama’s infrastructure stimulus, $850 billion, according to one of his advisers. His team calculates the figure is necessary to create 2.5 million jobs, improve an array of infrastructure projects, and bolster unemployment, health-care, and renewable energy programs, lawmakers told Bloomberg.

Some form of managed bankrupcty for the Detroit automakers is looking increasingly likely, says Andrew Snyder. And investors need to be prepared to act quickly. Shares in the Big Three will soon be worthless. But Andrew recommends three strong suppliers that will be available at fire sale prices in the immediate aftermath of a bankruptcy filing.

Toyota Motor Corp. (ADR:TM) may not need a government bailout, but it’s hurting badly. The world’s top automaker said it will announce a revised 2009 sales forecast at its end-of-the-year news conference Dec. 22. The company is expected to slash at least 1 million cars from its original forecast of 9.7 million units, Reuters reported.

Dollar slides across board, hits 2-mth low vs euro… Dollar hits 2-mth low vs basket of currencies… Focus on fate of U.S. automakers, Fed rate decision