Barron's: Uncle Sam: Depending on the Kindness of Strangers

EVEN AS U.S. INVESTORS AND companies ramp up investments in faster growing emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India and China, these countries are reciprocating by snapping up record amounts of U.S. Treasuries. Total foreign ownership of Treasuries has grown to 48%, from 29% a decade ago. And, in a sign of their rising power, the BRICs now account for nearly a third of the foreign ownership, with China by far the biggest holder.