The financial crises is spreading like a seasonal flue. The real estate market has collapsed on some continents, financial sound and healthy banks are receiving financial back-up from their governments - just to be on the safe side - stock markets have plunged to dismay and complete production lines are being closed on industrial estates in China. All the reason to be pessimistic ….... one would think.

On the contrary, says the born optimist. Opportunities are now laying out there for the grabbing !

The larger auction houses are very careful with their predictions with regard to expected auction results for this autumn. The disappointing results of some recent contemporary art auctions in Asia might have been an omen, as the owner of a Cubist painting by Picasso thought when he retracted it this week from the Sotheby's  Impressionist and Modern art sale which is to be held on Monday 3 November. Estimated at a over $30 million the owner got cold feet and was not prepared to take the risk returning home with his masterpiece or having to sell it at the lower end of the estimate.

Approaching it from a buyers perspective I would think this is the ideal time.  The fine and decorative art market has probably [re]turned into a 'buyers market', opposed to a 'sellers market' were you fight to place the highest bid.

Leaded by our emotions, which by the way is partly responsible for the economical malaise, less biding competition may be expected in the auction rooms. Thus an opportunity has arisen and welcome back to the 'buyers-market'.