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The port of Singapore, the second busiest container port after Hong Kong, lost a huge chunk of the traffic from the biggest shipping container lines (Maersk and Evergreen Marine) and numerous feeder lines. Tanjung Pelepas, in Malasia, is their new port of choice. Dubai also lost its role of Middle East trans-shipment hub to the port of Salalah, in Oman.

Maersk says that its loading operations in Tanjung Pelepas are 25% faster than it was in Singapore, giving a better reach in logistics and better deals with retailers like Walmart and Target, and Reebok and Ikea. Tanjung has larger cranes and deeper water to accommodate the next generation of huge container vessels.

PSA, Singapore's state-controlled port operator, had to cut its rates and sold stake on two terminals to the shipping line Cosco.

However, according to ACNielsen, the majority of people in Singapore think their economy will improve next year. The same happens in Hong Kong and South Korea. Asian consumers still have been tightly holding their wallets though.

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As the Thai stock market soars, government is looking for ways of curbing speculation to avoid another meltdown. In 1997, Thailand's growth spurt ended abruptly, triggering the Asian financial crisis. Now the government is wary of the boom in the property and equity markets in Thailand, curbing stock purchases made on credit, limiting the amounts held in foreigner's bank deposits and considering limits on real-estate credit. Thai property stocks more than doubled this year, land sales values increased 36% in the first semester. S&P says there is a lot of bad loans secured by nonproductive assets infecting 30% of the Thai financial system.

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As per CSM Worldwide, the real profit in US is based on volume sells of V-8 engines, SUVs and pickups. Toyota's new Prius hybrid (55 mpg and a lot more power) was named "Car of the Year" and it is selling 25% above projections, but Toyota is investing in pickup-trucks too. Hopefully, Prius will gain more mass appeal.

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US and foreign markets often rise and fall together, but large-cap US and foreign stocks often generate very different annual returns. Over the past 2 decades, there were 13 years when the performance differed 10%, according to a study by Meir Statman and Jonathan Scheid.

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After 3 years of rising rates, insurance rates for commercial property are expected to drop 10% to 20%. There are more of that kind of insurance in the marketplace now due to an influx of insurers from Bermuda and London and other factors.