Bearmove, mae culpa, I am the one saying that SARS is a non event, it still is, the fact that corporations are using it (as you stated yourself) as an excuse does not make it more of a reality. If at all, SARS has caused a small build up in inventories (fear of closures and lack of parts) and now that inventory will have to be worked out. I think that the big SARS scare, IMTO, will happen later this year in late Autumn, with a resurgence. Hopefully, W.H.O will know how to handle it better and an appropriate armamentarium is being devised right now to counter that threat.
Zeev