Thailand and East Asian stock market indicies rose 2 to 3% and other South East Asian indicies around 1% as investors put aside increasing jitters of a possible Iraqi invasion by US forces, after UN advice that Iraq had agreed to admit weapons inspectors back in with no strings. It may be false optimism. The US does seem intent on hitting Iraq and removing Saddam regardless...

Bush knows that now is the best time to regain lost pride and blast into Iraq. Every day after the anniversary of 9/11, local support will subside. In the meantime many of those who do business in Asia as well as the Middle East justifiably remain holding their breath...