The World Bank predicts economic recovery for the region. 

Protesters disrupt the WTO's trade talks in Seattle.  The conflict between free trade and protectionism continues.
 

On the eve of the new millennium the U.S. and China have reached an accord to pave the way for China to join the WTO.

The Japanese yen has increased dramatically over the past year.  Watch for a bashing of the yen by the world's central banks in the months ahead.
 

The Netherlands is one of the most open and export oriented countries in the world. 

Gold has been demonetized, and the central banks around the world are dumping gold in the precious metals market.
 

The leaders of the world's largest industrialized countries convened for the 25th annual economic summit dealing with global issues.
 

Europe's new euro currency has fallen by 10 % since its inauguration in January.  Will it go down further in 1999?

The Strong US economy with its high imports lifts the world economies.  For how much longer will the US economy be the engine of global growth?

The US economy was almost perfect in 1998.  However, history teaches that perfection is the exception -- not the rule.

Some consider Europe's monetary union to be the most significant development in international finance since the end of the gold exchange system in the 1970's.

The United States and Europe skirmish over bananas, but a trade war between the two trade superpowers is unlikely.

The Brazilian currency devaluation should spur exports, bring back foreign investors, and help the economy recover from recession.

Baseball eases political tensions between the US and Cuba and applies basic principles of economic efficiency.

The Japanese economy is in its worst recession since the 1970s, and its recovery is expected to be slow.

Many Asian economies have dramatically reversed direction from rapid growth to severe recession.  For how long will the cyclical downturn last?

The global economy began to slow down in 1998 due largely to the problems of emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, and Russia.