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The article looks at problems associated with rising corporate-bond spreads, or increases in the difference between the interest rates paid by governments and blue-chip firms and those paid by borrowers assumed to carry more risk. According to the author, rising spreads may indicate investors' larger concern about the state of the economy. Decreases in commodity prices and emerging-market growth are also discussed.

The article discusses several economic and financial indicators of several countries in 1993. The rates of investment returns of the U.S. in venture capital, commercial property, corporate bonds, consumer-price inflation and small-company shares are revealed. The trade deficit of Great Britain between 1992 and 1993 is discussed. Meanwhile, the 12-month trade surplus of Australia rose to $1.7 billion in January 1993, while its current account deficit declined to $8.6 billion over the same period.