We can no longer look at emerging countries as just markets for American and European companies or cheap sources of labor for products.

FORBES: Globalization

Mr. Strauss also expects emerging-market countries such as China to buy more gold for their reserves, further boosting demand.

WSJ: Upside: The Great Gold Divide: Which Side Are You On?

The final shape of global banking regulations is yet to be seen, as it is really a work in progress, and, for most of the emerging market countries of the world, the true impact is still a couple of years away.

FORBES: Banking From A Venezuelan Perspective

Still, there was some valuable symbolism in having leaders from emerging markets at the same table as leaders from industrialized countries--apparently for the first time ever on these issues.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The shift in global economic power to the big emerging countries in Asia means prospects look much brighter for the newer breed of financial hubs, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, than for established centres like London or New York.

ECONOMIST: Britain��s financial industry

But the figures for the final quarter of last year actually show a decline for the first time in nearly four years for the OECD as a whole - which is nearly all the rich countries and a few of the more developed emerging economies.

BBC: OECD economies in 0.2% quarterly decline