Editor's note: High noon
I was first surprised by the state of affairs when I was spending my vacation in a hot country on the Atlantic Ocean. I was going there with mixed feelings as my friends warned me against the unbearable heat wave that was forecast. It wasn't that bad after all and the refreshing Atlantic breeze whisked my cares away.
In the meantime, disquieting text messages started to come from my mates in Warsaw who complained about the scorching heat making it impossible for them to leave home before sunset. And when at last the rain fell, steam rose from the pavement.
Even though I had solemnly sworn myself to an information detox, I broke my promise one day and glanced at the Wall Street Journal Europe. On the first page you can always find the major cities with current temperatures. Warsaw turned out to be the hotest one. Well, it was equally hot only in Jakarta.
As soon as the weather cooled down a bit, the Warsaw Stock Exchange commenced its record-beating quest. In the middle of summer investors should be lying on the beach and sipping drinks. Instead, they buy and sell in frenzy.
The WIG (the WSE's main index) has recently reached unprecedented levels (see page 25). The news is even more optimistic as not only blue-chips, banks, KGHM, Orlen or TP warm up the market, but medium-sized enterprises contribute even more.
After the stock exchange, yet another record was beaten. Poland is one of the most attractive countries for foreign investment according to Ernst & Young's European Attractiveness Survey (see page 4). In comparison to 2004, 50 percent more investors pointed to Poland as the potential investment area of their choice.
And even though we shouldn't get too attached to survey results, it does show that Poland's hay days are approaching. The question remains to what extent we'll be able to profit from it. For the time being, let's enjoy the sunshine, the records and gather forces to turn the positive signals coming from the Polish economy into sustainable growth.
In the meantime, disquieting text messages started to come from my mates in Warsaw who complained about the scorching heat making it impossible for them to leave home before sunset. And when at last the rain fell, steam rose from the pavement.
Even though I had solemnly sworn myself to an information detox, I broke my promise one day and glanced at the Wall Street Journal Europe. On the first page you can always find the major cities with current temperatures. Warsaw turned out to be the hotest one. Well, it was equally hot only in Jakarta.
As soon as the weather cooled down a bit, the Warsaw Stock Exchange commenced its record-beating quest. In the middle of summer investors should be lying on the beach and sipping drinks. Instead, they buy and sell in frenzy.
The WIG (the WSE's main index) has recently reached unprecedented levels (see page 25). The news is even more optimistic as not only blue-chips, banks, KGHM, Orlen or TP warm up the market, but medium-sized enterprises contribute even more.
After the stock exchange, yet another record was beaten. Poland is one of the most attractive countries for foreign investment according to Ernst & Young's European Attractiveness Survey (see page 4). In comparison to 2004, 50 percent more investors pointed to Poland as the potential investment area of their choice.
And even though we shouldn't get too attached to survey results, it does show that Poland's hay days are approaching. The question remains to what extent we'll be able to profit from it. For the time being, let's enjoy the sunshine, the records and gather forces to turn the positive signals coming from the Polish economy into sustainable growth.
