The Asian crisis has apparently done little to dampen US optimism. According to the latest Business Week readers' survey, while 71 per cent believe Asia's economic troubles will harm the US, most believe the bull market will continue, and 60 per cent say the Dow Jones will climb beyond 8,500 this year. Mind you, last year, 57 per cent of the same readers predicted a recession in the US within two years.

Meanwhile, Forbes magazine's annual survey has again revealed the best and worst performing sectors in the S&P 500. Fastest growing were financial services (53 per cent), entertainment (39 per cent) and insurance (37 per cent).