We've seen quite a few financial results in the past couple of weeks, as the reporting season unfolds, and it looks like mostly good news. It hasn't been unusual to see revenue and profit growth of 20% or more, year on year, among the major manufacturers, which is quite impressive considering the gloom and doom on the broader economic front. Part of the reason must be the diversification of the major players, most of whom sell a range of products to many different markets. So while the housing sector may be slow in one region, it is going strong elsewhere. Similarly, retail may be off the boil in a particular market, lowering demand for warehousing products, but the shortfall could be made up by a surge on the manufacturing side. It's classic swings and roundabouts and while it may be nerve-wracking for individual players, the diversity must surely be one of the strengths of the industry as a whole. Here's hoping we all stay on the right side of the economic cycle...