This was a very good quarter in a tough environment. We were looking for much lower numbers.

The outlook for steel is still extremely difficult.

If you're not in the sexy area of the market, investors have a hard time with you.

I see nothing wrong with the numbers. The volumes may have been off a bit, but the margins improved a bit. It says their cost-cutting continues to work.

American vehicle makers are in the middle of a very hard market environment — overseas companies are attacking them with strong products and good prices, and more of them are coming onto the market each day.

Even corporate executives who have been hostile to the environment are waking up to the realities. The challenge is what do they do about it. And there is still a huge gap between recognizing the problem and doing something about it.