As the dust settles; the real market picture begins to emerge
In the two weeks since the last Market Intelligence, the mood of uncertainty that has characterised the world economic outlook since the beginning of year showed few signs of lifting. Few businesses have the confidence to commit themselves to anything more than short term decisions and - of those brave enough to say that they can see some form of pattern emerging - none have been able to say what its significance might be. Indeed, some idea of the continuing fragility of business confidence was demonstrated in the immediate aftermath of last Monday’s tragic plane crash in New York. Literally within minutes of the news breaking, the world economic markets had come to a virtual standstill for fear of a new wave of terrorist attacks. So business nerves can be described as jittery, at best.
