Years of sluggish economic growth and the political deadlock of recent months have seen the US's AAA credit rating once again come under risk, but could the country's pro-FDI stance and shale gas-fuelled energy boom be about to alleviate some of this pressure?

Renewable energy has become big business in recent years, both in developed markets – where many companies use it as a cheap 'off-grid' option – and developing markets, where it is widely viewed as a long-term solution to electricity supply problems. However, is commitment to this source of energy weakening among the world's governments?

Huge opportunities exist in emerging economies for retailers, but expansion into these markets requires local knowledge, meaning that not even the largest global retailers are guaranteed success.

India’s political scene is in turmoil following a cabinet decision to relax the country’s foreign ownership rules.

Without clear evidence that the world has emerged from the economic crisis, FDI levels will remain low and cautious. A look at how major firms are proceeding in a tricky market