Consolidation--The Juggernaut Hits the Wall

Companies that made a habit of announcing new acquisitions on a regular basis have not done so for months; companies that went public with great fanfare have seen their stock's value drop precipitously; and a few companies that once publicly predicted grandiose futures have all but collapsed.

Most of the industry's main players agree that what is taking place now is a vicious cycle being spun by the machinery of Wall Street.