With commodities prices still firm, these stocks should continue to benefit for some time. Commodities stocks have been leading the charge the past quarter.

With the market buoyant, there is always the incentive to seek capital.

It's mostly a function of the aging population, the increased spending of people over 55 on health, the whole skew in society toward litigation and the need for extra tests. If you happen to be the company that's doing the tests, well that's good for your revenue.

The world is a difficult place for phone companies. The margins and profits for companies like Telstra in earlier years were based on an environment that no longer exists.

Times will change, but not in 2006. It's not so easy for phone companies like Telstra to make money like they used to. They're a hard sell to investors.

Investors are set to close out the year with good gains.