In a sign that the planned construction of new nuclear reactors in the U.S. market could jump-start the nation’s moribund manufacturing sector, France’s Areva SA and defense-industry giant Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) have formed a joint venture to make nuclear reactor vessels, steam generators and other related components at Northrop’s Newport News shipyard in Virginia.

Traders remain nervous today despite approval from Congress on the final draft of Hank Paulson’s bank rescue bill. European stocks are heading towards three-week lows. US futures are down. Floyd Brown at Investment U says this is distracting from the long-term picture, and some great bargains, for contrarian investor.

Investing icon Warren Buffett took his own advice Tuesday - getting “greedy when others are fearful” - when he ignored the banking-sector bonfire and slapped down a cool $5 billion for a stake in Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS). By literally putting his money where his mouth is, Buffett’s actions - and reputation as a shrewd bargain hunter - restored some of Goldman’s luster and helped bolster investor confidence in the U.S. banking system.

Circuit City Ousts CEO; Huge MSFT Buyback; McAfee Buys Secure Computing; Buffett’s Cash Wins Out; WaMu Downgrade; CarMax Crashes; Krawcheck Out at Citi; Legg Mason Not Going Private

Having savaged the U.S. financial sector since it surfaced in the summer of 2007, the credit crisis evolved into a crisis of confidence - which has manifested itself as a liquidity crisis. And that liquidity crisis is no longer confined to the financial sector. It’s spilled over into the energy sector, as well.

Oil Continues Slide; FDA Blocks Ranbaxy, Best Buy Profit Declines; Bristol-Myers Bid Uncertain; Pandit’s Reassuring Memo; GM Showcases the Volt; Adobe Beats the Street; Constellation Plunges on Debt Worries

High energy prices make companies both rich and greedy. Electricite de France (NYSE:EDF) has $54 billion to spend on investments over the next two years. If it doesn’t spend this war chest on external acquisitions, it will spend it on internal expansion. Either way, EDF will remain a top energy company in Western Europe, says Sara Nunnally in Taipan’s Emerging Markets blog…

A merger that would have united the two largest U.S. independent power producers has hit a roadblock.