The rate cut may also have created an environment in which troubled firms can undertake the asset sales that are needed to strengthen their balance sheets.

ECONOMIST: The extraordinary edginess of crowds

With sales way up, the company expanded into fertilizers, plastic sheets, food processing and solar water heaters.

FORBES: Drop By Drop

This capital shortfall has already prompted asset sales by banks, which would rather shrink their balance-sheets than tap shareholders.

ECONOMIST: The ECB fills banks with funds

After atoning for the past merger wave's excesses with cost cuts and sales of unrelated businesses, many big companies have healthy balance sheets.

ECONOMIST: Mergers and acquisitions

The high-quality REITs with strong balance sheets and access to plenty of low-cost capital are positioned to capitalize on the sales of good assets by weak borrowers, thus fueling their growth.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Her name and image became so synonymous with style and strong sales that she signed a number of licensing deals that saw the DVF brand stamped on everything from sheets and towels to curtains and rugs.

CNN: From wrap dress to riches

Despite the recent weak readings, we expect business investment in equipment and software to grow at a moderate pace this year, supported by high rates of profitability, strong business balance sheets, relatively low interest rates and credit spreads, and continued expansion of output and sales.

NPR: Bernanke: U.S. Growth 'Moderate' as Inflation Rises