A global economy on the mend means better days are ahead for Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE: KMB), hence I'm reiterating my Buy rating for the company, first recommended on June 22, 2009 at a price of $51.06. If you bought KMB's shares then, you're up about 16%.

Evidence is mounting that the global economy, particularly in emerging markets, is starting to gain traction, and global consumer products giant Kimberly, with a presence in more than 150 countries, is poised to benefit. Institutional Investors have sensed this, and have bid-up KMB's shares since March.

Looking for a new emerging market? Try Pakistan! Despite a continued sense of tension with India and open hostility along the Afghan border, the country's bond market is the best in the world, according to data from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM). Debt sold by Pakistan has surged 88% this year -- topping the 45 emerging markets that JPMorgan watches and the 19 that Merrill Lynch & Co. (NYSE: BAC) follows.

And, the stock market may be next.

Money managers, according to a report by Bloomberg, believe that the Pakistani equity market could become the next global superstar. The Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index is only trading at 9.6X earnings, making it the lowest in Asia (excluding Japan) . . . and this follows a 21% increase year-to-date.

8:02 a.m. As I wrote yesterday, Strategic Decision #1: Steve Ballmer's decision to speak today, "directly to investors." He'll be answering questions from the little guy and the question on everyone's lips: will he be defensive?

8:04 a.m. Ballmer wants to speak about the business from both the perspective of an investor and a manager, and he promises not to yell at the audience. Heh. He starts out by saying that the next 10 years has as much potential for world-changing strides in computers and software as the last 10 years, and he's excited to be part of a company which "invests, profits from, and takes advantage of the incredible opportunity there is to innovate."

8:06 a.m. The thing that will change in the next 10 years? Digital writing. "Pencil and paper will be replaced by superior technology that is digital. And somebody will have the ability to benefit from that technology." He already sounds both (a) angry and (b) frantic. Maybe it's just his thang.