But it's not over yet... Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling - please note.

i learned this evening:

1. Despite the USA offering to landfill all the 'toxic' debts and the UK guaranteeing £500Bn to banks, the 16 'major banks' which set interbank lending rates A) don't trust each other, B) have put up the overnight interbank lending rate to 6.75% (despite the 0.5% interest rate cut yesterday) and, most worryingly C) don't necessarily actually have any money to lend each other, it all being tied up in assets viewed as "risky".
   
   
2. Last September, 120 new Ferrari's or Aston Martin's were sold.  This September, 3 have been sold.
   
   
3. The cost of dry shipping physical goods (like steel or cars) has plummeted 80%.  For example, earlier this year, it would cost you $240,000 a day to charter a big vessel.  Now you can get one for as little as $35,000.
   
   
4. The view of a chap speaking on behalf of BCG, was that it will take at least 3 months for banks to start trusting each other again.
   
   
5. Finally, a US trader liquidated his gold position and took 'physical delivery' of the gold.  He couldn't fit it in his safe.

Interesting times indeed.  Once in our lifetime, one hopes.  i'm pleased people are still enjoing the King of Shaves without the ransom.  At least we help you shave and save.