Year after year, China has proved the worriers wrong, although there have been a few missteps along the way, most notably when inflation surged temporarily and foreign exchange reserves withered in the early 1990's.
(In comparison, the Amsterdam Exchange Index rose 30%, and rival Fortis added 61% to its market value last year. Other bank/insurance combines, notably Aegon, have also surged in value).
The average of polls shows Labour with a three-point lead, sufficient to secure an overall majority of 30, but these figures do not take into account specific factors, notably the surge in support for the Scottish National party – now on course to win anything between 25 and 40 seats.
Most notably, the number of personal insolvencies surged by almost 60% in 2006.
"Risky assets, notably stocks, oil and the British pound have surged whilst haven positions in gold and the Japanese yen have been liquidated".
The Lydians were dreaded warriors on horse and chariot, controlling the middle ground between the Greeks to the west and marauding nomads and surging empires, notably the Persians, in the east.
