It’s a difficult question to ponder as the state of the world economy is so fragile. Right now, GDP growth stems exclusively from the government’s stimulus package. But once Obama and his cronies are finished fixing the economy, what will the fuel the next leg of the recovery?

In the near term, we think the prospects for job growth look incredibly bleak. Banks aren’t lending. Companies aren’t hiring or investing heavily in R&D, and corporate profits are up only because of cost cutting measures, like layoffs, rather than bottom line revenue growth.

In the long term, however, certain industries look primed to blossom like plastics did in the 70s and semiconductors, personal PCs, and telecom did in the 80s and 90s. Barry Ritholtz at The Big Picture points out ten niche industries he thinks will fill in the gaps and push the world economy forward. Here are his top ten (listed in order

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Artificial Life Inc. is a leading full service provider of award-winning mobile technology, games, and applications. Founded in 1994, Artificial Life Inc. went public in 1998. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the company has their production center in Hong Kong as well as additional offices in Berlin, Germany, and a sales office in Tokyo, Japan.

Artificial Life provides mobile broadband 3G technology, mobile participation TV, mobile gaming, content, and mobile business applications. They also provide mobile advertisement and product placements and mobile aggregation and distribution. Artificial Life provides 2D and 3D multi- and single player rich-media applications for 3G, 3.5G/HSDPA and 4G network-enabled mobile phones. The company has received recognition internationally for outstanding content quality and technology.

Artificial Life announced in 2008 that their mobile development tool MobileBooster™ now extends its support to the iPhone® and iPod® touch platforms. Created by Artificial Life for mobile 2G/3G applications and games, MobileBooster™

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Congressional Democrats and the White House yesterday (Wednesday) finalized a short-term package that’ll supply General Motors Corp (GM), and Chrysler LLC with $14 billion in emergency loans.

The bill clearly falls short of the $34 billion the Big Three were asking for, but should be enough to keep the automakers running through January, when the new Congress and Obama administration take the wheel.

As previously reported in Money Morning, there will be limits on executive pay, prohibitions for golden parachutes and requirements that the automakers get rid of their corporate aircraft and not pay dividends while loans are outstanding. The bill also provides a “car czar,” or presidential appointee, to oversee keep tabs on the companies’ restructuring efforts.

Of course, the bill is still awaiting congressional approval and there is cause to believe it may stall in the Senate.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL,

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I don’t know about you, but I could only pick my mouth up off the floor when I watched the Big Three’s CEOs beg for a taxpayer-funded bailout this week. Never mind the fact that they’re now asking for $34 billion (up 36% from $25 billion two weeks ago), or that they drove to DC in a caravan of new hybrids that would make the Keystone Cops proud. What got my attention was that Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally who, after admitting "big mistakes," attempted to sway Congressional members by saying "we’re really focused now." Perhaps I’m not the brightest bulb in the bunch here, but it seems to me that’s what the Big Three said in the 70s when Japanese cars invaded in earnest; that’s what they said in the 80s ...

Southwall Technologies, Inc., maker of energy-saving films and glass products, added to its string of increased sales and earnings reports today, with its announcement of third quarter 2008 results. Revenue for the quarter was $10.6 million, up 15% over third quarter 2007 figures. In addition, revenues were up a full 20% for the first nine months of 2008 over the same period last year. Third quarter net income increased to $0.9 million, compared to $0.1 million last year. And third quarter gross profit was $4.2 million, or 40% of sales, compared to $3.2 million, or 34% of sales, for third quarter 2007.

According to the company, the year-over-year increase was primarily due to higher sales of their energy efficient solar control film and glass products, across all major markets, including automotive and building products.

Southwall’s President and CEO, Dennis Capovilla, commented on the increased demand for the company’s products. “We are

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On June 10th, 2008, KaboomStocks.com President Bill Kawa met with Tom Zgoda, facilities manager, around 3 p.m. with a very warm and cheerful welcome. They discussed many aspects of the company before Tom Zgoda took Bill Kawa on a tour of the plant and its facilities.

Bill Kawa brought a list of questions from our community, KaboomStocks.com, and its staff & QualityStock.net’s staff. He left the list with Tom to forward to the appropriate personnel to answer. When Bill receives approval to release these answers, he will update the community ASAP.

Bill reported that the main shop to the plant was very organized, clean, high tech, and around 40,000 square ft. He was also informed they are in the process of renovating a 5,000 sq. ft. section of plant whose purpose will be disclosed at a later date. He said, “The moral was very high and positive, and I

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