These trends, along with recession in developed markets (U.S. and Western Europe), has provoked major specialty retailers across the world to fast-forward their expansion plans in Asia.

FORBES: Gap Gets To $34, Making Stops In Italy And China

The success of high fashion specialty retailers is a major contributor to this result.

FORBES: Department Store Pricing -- No Easy Task (Part 4 Of 4)

Independent studios, including the small-budget "specialty" divisions of the major studios, saw their share of box-office revenue decline to 19% in 2010, from 33% in 2001, according to an analysis conducted for The Wall Street Journal by entertainment-research firmNash Information Services LLC.

WSJ: Independent Films Increasingly Rely on Video on Demand

There are currently 28 channels available over-the-air in New York City, including major networks, subchannels and specialty channels like NYCTV and iON.

WSJ: For Live TV on the Go, Aereo Is Impressive But Limited

The communications sector, which includes major telecommunications, as well as specialty and wireless telecommunications, also edged up, rising 0.47%, according to FactSet.

FORBES: Investors Are Tip-Toeing Back Into Stocks

Virtually all of the major brokerage firms offer soft dollar services: in addition, there are numerous soft dollar specialty firms.

FORBES: Soft Dollar Zone: A Sensitive Area (January 1, 1997)