Confidence can be a capricious companion, for although it's a commendable trait in almost every walk of life, doubt can rapidly undermine expectations. Consider the current state of the banking sector, for example. Can depositors be absolutely certain the creditworthiness of another high street bank will not be rigorously questioned at some point over the coming year?

Of course not, because doubt and uncertainty currently casts a dark cloud across virtually the entire financial sector.

On occasion, it may be brittle enough for part of it to crumble, but confidence in our financial institutions and structures is essential.

Should they suffer severe debilitating cracks which affect their foundations, there could be enormous implications for us all.

At the moment, it is probably fair to say that when it comes to restoring confidence and trust, the regulatory re-building team has a sizeable job on its hands.

Bold displays of confidence that often take place during uncertain times are inevitably identified retrospectively, mostly in admiration - "What possessed him or her to do this or that when all the signals suggested otherwise? What a brave move!"

This is because during periods of stock market turbulence most investors become justifiably cautious, which is why I have been trying to fathom the motives driving a Czech coal mining giant called New World Resources (NWR) towards an intended stock market float sometime this summer.

According to several reports, NWR delayed an initial public offering originally scheduled for late last year, due to concerns regarding the turbulent state of financial markets.

Perhaps they have seen a marked improvement since, although few investors have.

Last year, NWR reported profits of £280m on sales of £1.1bn.

The company has said it intends offering up to one third of its shares for sale via a London float in what is likely to prove a genuine test of the market's stomach for new issues.

In addition, the company plans a listing in Warsaw and Prague. This is either a display of terrifically confident intent on NWR's part, or an act of commercial madness.

Nonetheless, it would appear the company has done its sums. Chief financial officer Marek Jelninek told a news conference that plans to pay shareholders 50 per cent of net profit in dividends will be effective "immediately", suggesting the inaugural payment could be made from this year's profit.

Mr Jelninek said: "We are optimistic about implementations of some of our (mining) projects in Poland which will require substantial investments."

NWR currently mines coking and steam coal in the Czech Republic and plans two further mines across the Polish border.

A combination of infrastructural development in eastern Europe and Asia has maintained levels of demand for coking coal, an essential element in steel manufacture.

NWR, chaired by former BHP Billiton executive president Mike Salamon, says it has 419 million tonnes of provable reserves, enough to last at least 32 years.

On balance, I suppose you must admire NWR's boldness.

Confident that demand from what has been referred to as "the new Detroit" - the colossal automotive plants and other manufacturing facilities located in central and eastern Europe - will continue, the company requires the float's proceeds to expand its business.

Depending on the appetite for NWR shares in what is likely to remain an uncertain market, it is entirely possible the company could find itself elevated to the FTSE 100 before the autumn.

Brave investors might feel such status would be a justifiable reward for boldness.