"It's easy to jump to the conclusion that it's exceptional because it's the first time we've recorded it, but we do need a baseline of how things have been in the past so we do need to be cautious, " said the University of Kansas researcher.

BBC: East Antarctic ice sheet may be losing mass

Bullish players are in attendance, although a number of strategists do appear to be initiating cautious if not outright bearish positions on the stock.

FORBES: Disney Bulls And Bears Play Mickey Mouse Games In Options Pits

Companies thinking about their public privacy language may well look at this result and decide that the legally cautious thing to do is to be as vague and imprecise as possible in their privacy statements.

FORBES: Will FTC Online Privacy Settlements Do More Harm Than Good?

Already, Mr Howard has proposed spending more on defence, and he is cautious about making Australia an Asian power, as Mr Keating seemed to be ready to do.

ECONOMIST: Australia

Do you want -- look, I would rather know and have to be cautious than to go out here and say something that turned out to be false.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing