marketwatch TECHNICAL UPDATE (TT JulAug08 p8-9)

It is difficult to avoid all the doom and gloom about the losses and write-downs from the credit crunch, the impact on the financial systems across the globe and the consequent feed through into economic activity and personal hardships.

That said, though, the optimist in me searches out the silver lining in today’s clouds. Perhaps we should reflect on some of the positives. The shocks to the financial world have shaken us all – treasurers, bankers, regulators, whoever – out of whatever ruts we were in and given us a spur to re-examine what we are doing, reconsider our strategies and the risks.

This is no bad thing to be doing from time to time, but it is a shame if it takes a disaster to force this on us.