Nintendo shares up 88%

Since the start of the 2006 calendar year, Nintendo has seen good fortune in the sales of the DS - and the anticipation for their next generation console, Wii, is high.

Such good fortune is reflected in the company's shares - having risen by a huge 88% since the start of the year, to a nice Y26,770 (around $120).

Nintendo have enjoyed a steady flow of good press after good press - infact this reporter can't even remember the last time he heard negative press against Nintendo.

A good example of this continuous good press is a recent article in Time Magazine - claiming that Nintendo's Wii Sports could well be the 'best game ever made'.

Nintendo have also announced an increase in their global merketing spend - putting it at a pant-wetting $105.1 Million.

As for Christmas, Nintendo can only really smile. The Wii will almost certainly fly off shelves, and DS sales have yet to show signs of wavering. Nintendo need not dream of a white Christmas - they'll get a shiny golden holiday season to contend with.