And in Uzbekistan, the historic centerpiece of Central Asia and its most densely populated market, Coke teamed up with a son-in-law of strongman President Islam Karimov--and came to regret it.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

Among them: a common desire to evolve from a command to a market economy, a mutual interest in containing Islam-fired nationalism in the new republics of Central Asia, and growing economic ties.

CNN: ALLIANCES

In an effort to stave off more market panic, central banks in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. have been pumping billions of dollars into financial markets to boost confidence.

NPR: British Bank Buys Rival To Help Calm Jitters

Free-market reforms have turned his oil-rich country, despite the plague of persistent corruption, into the economic locomotive of Central Asia.

ECONOMIST: Still going strongman at 70