To me, CWB is the poster child for a sound firm well-positioned and profiting steadily from a strong position in an area which over time can do nothing but develop and grow, caught in the malaise of a seriously sick sector.

It's astounding to see how beaten down even the best of the mid-size financial stocks have been. On the other hand, when this illness passes, probably CWB will be among the best positioned swiftly to recover its lost market value.

And at least the Canadian government isn't taking (or forcing the banks to give) high-yielding equity stakes in Canadian banks.

Adamantane