Who should we feel sorry for during the current financial upheaval? Chief Execs of big banks falling on their swords? Those who have taken huges bonuses whilst running their organisations in an appalling fasion? I'm afraid they don't get too much sympathy from me.

I think we have to worry about all those people who were on the brink of retirement who have seen their pension pots slashed in value. For people like me it hasn't really hit my pocket as hard as others. I dont have any share - but if I did I could sit it out and be fine in the long term. The value of the house we are trying to sell has been slashed - but we don't need to sell it, so again we can wait.

Some people aren't so lucky. They are coming up to retirment and are suddenly facing a shortfall. The house they were going to sell to fund their life after work just won't fetch as much as it used to. And then of course there could be those small businesses who may face cash flow problems and may end up going to the wall as they are unable to secure short term loans.

Obviously there are people who can always benefit from every financial sitaution - and that's just how the market works. Buy low and sell high.

My fear is that those who can afford it the least will yet again be hit the hardest.