President-elect Barack Obama has made no bones about wanting to jump-start the renewable energy markets – pledging $150 billion for the development of biofuels, solar and wind power, other alternative energy sources during his first term.

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.

A “Lost Decade” doesn’t have to translate into lost profit opportunities.As the global financial crisis continues to escalate, the United States is increasingly facing the prospect of a long malaise that could easily eclipse Japan’s Lost Decade of the 1990s in both duration and depth.

Japan’s Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (OTC ADR: SANYY) has become the latest company to become part of the industry cadre that’s buying liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels from Sharp Corp. (OTC ADR: SHCAY) for use in flat-panel televisions.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yauo Fukuda met recently and signed some modest cooperation agreements.