The large cos have lots of money, they know the economy is down and will be for some years. Regardless of this, there will be some aspects of our existence that will require resources, to maintain infrastructure, energy production and defense programs, never mind cell phones for kids and LCD screens for the boob tube...... er flat screen. The cos likewise know this and though their plan is longer term, the issue for them is when they feel that some companies they'd like to swallow up are on someone else's menu, requiring them to move sooner than later. The "sooner" will take place when a company reveals enough value to become desirable to a number of hunters. Until that time the sp remains at the mercy of the market and those playing games with it in between. So we'll potentially be affect by the market, game players, news or lack of and those interested in take outs.... to name a few. In other words, everything the human condition has to throw at us.