Quite rightly, the world’s eyes are turned on the financial crisis in the US and its repercussions in Europe and elsewhere. Never have investors faced such uncertain and challenging times.

So it is good to hear that, in some quarters at least, former enemies are declaring temporary truces, even if it is not yet the case in the US. In the UK, for example, David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative opposition, has told his party that the wider interests of the country are not served by partisan bickering.