China is not immune to this global recession, says John Crooks. And as the ‘world’s manufacturing plant’ stumbles, it will take down many others with it. Emerging economies that relied on China buying raw materials will be hit hardest. And any developed nation with exposure to these markets will be dragged down too.

China’s economic rescue programs could be devastating for American investors, says Manraaj Singh. The country is sitting on $2 trillion in US dollar reserves. And it will likely sell a large chunk of this to fund its domestic bailout.  Manraaj says this makes US dollar-denominated investments a ticking time bomb.

Two of the top emerging markets are grappling with food production and costs – resulting in higher prices in the months to come. The outlook for China and Brazil could portend higher grain prices, giving investors a chance to cash in on a potential rebound.

America’s credit-based consumer economy is dead, says James Howard Kunstler. The government and its zombie banks are trying to preserve the status quo. But activities based on getting something-for-nothing will soon be replaced by those producing the things we need to survive. And in this economy, there will be enough work for everyone…

While China made headlines with a historic interest rate cut this week, the World Bank weighed in with a gloomy prediction about China that received scant coverage. For emerging-market investors who missed the story, the World Bank’s assessment of China’s economic performance in 2009 could reshape their strategy for portfolio allocation.

The G20 leader are wrong to blame reckless private banks for this credit crisis, says Martin Hutchinson. They were allowed to disregard risks by an overly accommodative monetary policy. Martin says this error means the focus of imminent new bank regulation will miss the key issues.

You can’t cure a bubble by reflating it, says Bill Bonner. But that won’t stop the Obama administration from trying. Bill says we should get ready for trillion-dollar budget deficits, huge infrastructure programs, and bailouts for “brain dead” businesses. But none of this will be able to stop the economic correction that has to happen.

President-elect Barack Obama won a historic election on a promise of “change.” James Howard Kunstler says Americans still have no idea just how big this change will be. He says we are heading into a “long emergency”, out of which a new, very different economy will emerge.

The record drop in consumer spending in October is clear evidence of a profound weakening of the US economy.  Even President Bush think thinks the situation is bad. At the G20 summit over the weekend, he said it was conceivable that the US “could go into a depression greater than the Great Depression“.

Not much. The world keeps turning. And the world economy keeps falling apart. Here in Australia, shares of port and rail outfit Asciano (AIO) fell off the table after a Citigroup analyst changed his valuation of the company and moved it from “buy” to “sell.” Asciano is down 93% from its all time high and was down nearly 60% yesterday before going into a trading halt.