The result has been that over the last three years markets have been forced to focus not so much on the normal driving forces of markets, the economy and earnings, but on what the Fed is worried about, what its members are thinking, what tools it is discussing that it could bring into play if needed, and what might trigger potential market-moving action.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said the collapse should trigger action.

CNN: States warned to inspect bridges

Mr Vaz said the committee welcomed the government's work to speed up action against anti-social behaviour but a "powerful trigger" was needed to tackle persistent abuse.

BBC: Generic picture of hooded youths

Unfortunately for shareholders, a class of entrepreneurial class-action lawyers also frequent the Delaware courts, filing hair-trigger lawsuits whenever a takeover is announced, with hopes of collecting a fee to go away.

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