BUENOS AIRES, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Argentina's flourishing automotive sector is girding for a slowdown as fallout from the global credit crisis combines with high inflation and a local currency that is losing its competitive edge. Union leaders are warning of possible layoffs in Latin America's third largest car-manufacturing nation, and companies such as General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) have cut shifts this month to trim what has been extraordinary growth in production in the last six years. [more]

VietNamNet Bridge – While many senior foreign investment institutions are trying to sell stakes, new foreign investment funds are trying to purchase stakes. Experts have talked about the appearance of a new generation of foreign investors in Vietnam’s stock market.Senior funds out of cashRunning out of money or not having enough money to invest in listed and OTC stakes, in private equities or equitised companies is now a common trait of the investment funds managed by Dragon Capital VinaCapital and Indochina Capital.The funds have disbursed all the capital they raised in 2006-2007. Mid-term [more]

A few months ago my-brother-in-law bought a karaoke video game for my husband and me. I was a bit mystified by the gift because the only video game I’d ever played was old school Ms. Pac-Man. Fortunately, at-home karaoke requires no hand-eye coordination, just the ability to grab a microphone and sing along to on-screen lyrics. When I asked my brother-in-law why he bought it, he shrugged and replied, “You sing. I thought it would be fun.” It’s true. My husband and I do sing, though not publicly and not often. We met in high school when cast as the romantic leads in Cole Porter’s [more]