"A sophisticated appearance and practical design make our all-in-one form factor very popular with consumers, " said Irene Chan, senior business manager of consumer desktops for Acer America.

ENGADGET: Acer outs AZ3, AZ5, Veriton Z Series all-in-ones, starting at $650

Germany's "dual" education system, combining numerous practical apprenticeships with classroom studies, is widely admired in Europe and seen as a vital factor in Germany's export success.

BBC: Germany to help Spain give skills to jobless youths

In his view, benchmarking is not practical for securities traded off-exchange, especially in thin markets where price is only one factor in a deal.

ECONOMIST: Europe's investment regulations: Ready or not | The