Loving Low Dollar, Europeans Come to Shop

Obama slams China over currency manipulation

(NEWSER) - G20 leaders have agreed to curb “persistently large imbalances” in saving and spending and set “indicative guidelines” against trade imbalances, but more specific decisions on how to identify and fix said imbalances were left until next year, reports the New York Times . The finance minsters are to agree on these guidelines by June; the IMF will then use them to analyze the cause and effect of the imbalances in advance of next year's G20 meeting. More»

Planning to travel? Head to a country where flashing a few dead presidents still means something

(NEWSER) - It hurts when even a dollar-friendly country like Canada is giving your green the cold shoulder. Get your money's worth in these countries from foXnoMad:

1. Morocco
2. Thailand
3. Mexico

Planned resort to feature signs in Mandarin, staff familiar with Chinese culture

(NEWSER) - With Chinese tourism to the UK booming, a developer is planning a resort village aimed at their specific needs. But it's not exactly a stone's throw from London's attractions: Instead, it's calling itself "just three hours away" in Wales. Pantglas Estate would house a 92-bedroom hotel and 80 cottages, with signage in Mandarin and English and staff knowledgeable about Chinese culture, the Telegraph reports. More»

Leaders also discuss North Korea

(NEWSER) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing today, and emerged with a number of deals—including one that will marginalize the US dollar in Asia. The countries agreed to promote direct yuan-yen trades, the Wall Street Journal reports; until now, the money has usually been converted to dollars first. Japan will also hold yuan in its typically dollar-dominated foreign-exchange reserves. More»

Polymer notes last longer, are harder to counterfeit

(NEWSER) - Starting this week, you can pay with plastic in Canada—without incurring any credit card debt. The Bank of Canada put a new $100 bill made out of polymer into circulation, the Globe and Mail reports, and banks stopped issuing the old paper notes Monday afternoon. Polymer $50 bills are coming in March, followed by $20, $10, and $5 bills in 2013. The notes, made of multiple layers of plastic and almost impossible to tear, will be more difficult to counterfeit and will last longer than paper money. They’re also recyclable, USA Today notes. More»