As people in Japan's earthquake-tsunami disaster zone deal with the additional danger of radiation from damaged nuclear reactors, nations across the globe are taking the crisis as a sign that it's time to get more aggressive in their development of safer nuclear power plants.
Some investors have been running scared after the quake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan and left it with an ongoing nuclear crisis. But when there's gloom in the air, there's also opportunity to buy on the dip and gain from the rebound.
As Japan's nuclear crisis deepens, Wall Street may begin to focus on a small group of almost-ignored young biotechs. Known as the bio-defense group, these firms develop products that help protect the population from radiation leaks resulting from nuclear accidents or attacks.
The Japanese are the world's most voracious consumers of luxury goods, from Louis Vuitton handbags to Cartier jewelry to Hermes high fashion. So purveyors of those luxury goods are justifiably worried about the effect of the Japanese quake and tsunami on their bottom lines.
Companies in the U.S. and elsewhere are ready with their donations to help the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. But experts say hard cash, and not services and supplies, are needed most in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster.
Japan suffered a massive 8.8 earthquake Friday, the strongest to occur in the past century, sending Asian stock markets tumbling. In Japan the Nikkei 225 Index spiraled down 1.7% and in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index dropped 1.6%. China's Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.8%.
A major earthquake in northeastern Japan hit stocks all round the world Friday, leaving investors on edge as they ponder the potential fallout.