An uncertain start

We begin the year with uncertainties - most of them having little to do with the fundamentals of our business, most of them surrounding financial matters that focus on tight credit markets and volatile currency markets. Reactions by central banks in the industrialized world to the US dollar's weakness and solvency issues were late in coming, but with the conversations having begun perhaps we'll see a beginning to a degree of normalcy before too long.

We also have to wonder about the sustainability of China's growth, and yet again we hear rumblings that its government is intent on tempering expansion, perhaps by increasing interest rates along with other financial manipulations. Despite this, 2008 will most likely see continued good demand from that country as it continues to expand its infrastructure, especially in respect to growth related to the Olympic Games being held in Beijing in August.

Seethe monthly world wide market update in our Members only section withreports from key countries.