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Mid-Week Update 03-24-10

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Mid-Week Updat 03-24-10

One of the consequences of the global economic recovery has been a rebound in oil demand and, consequently, oil prices. With energy- and resource-intensive growth taking placing in China and other developing economies, oil and other materials companies are reaping the rewards. This is certainly true for the Brazilian oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR). While the company’s net profit for all of 2009 fell to BRL28.9 billion ($16.1 billion) from BRL33.9 billion ($18.9 billion) in 2008, its fourth-quarter earnings rose to BRL8.1 billion ($4.5 billion) from BRL7.36 billion ($4.1 billion) a year prior. The company, which is a member of our Growth Portfolio, benefited in part from the improving economic conditions in Brazil, where demand for oil rose by 2.3 percent, and also from oil’s role as a global commodity. Petrobras’ domestic market accounts for roughly 30 percent of its gasoline and diesel fuel sales volume.
 
Petrobras executives placed blame for the decline in annual earnings on the drop in crude oil prices and the appreciation in the real. Though the company’s production of crude oil and natural gas rose 5 percent in 2009 to 2.526 million barrels of oil equivalent, the gains were offset by sharply lower oil prices that only rebounded in the latter part of the year.
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Mid-Week Update 03-03-10

Qualcomm (QCOM), the newest addition to the Growth Portfolio and a part of our FundFinds Portfolio, is a tech franchise whose business revolves around wireless technology, in particular, CDMA, the heart of the new generation of cell phones. After posting disappointing earnings guidance in January, the company had some goods news this week. Read more...

Market Update 03-02-10

The bifurcated economy continues to plod along. The manufacturing segment is doing fairly well thanks in large part to strong export demand, which has risen for seven consecutive months. The service sector, however, continues to struggle.Read more...

Mid-Week Update 02-24-10

Despite some positive economic news that has come out in recent weeks, one area of the economy that has yet to show real signs of improvement is retail spending. American consumers are still reeling from the near collapse of the U.S. economy, and nearly 10 percent of them don’t have a job (many more if you count partially employed). This raises doubts about the sustainability of the recovery, given that personal consumption accounts for roughly 70 percent of U.S. GDP. Read more...

Market Update 02-16-10

Short-Term Key: Negative    Long-Term Key: -85.5 (Neutral to Bearish)
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The top asset class to buy today 02-16-10

Short-Term Key: Negative    Long-Term Key: -85.5 (Neutral to Bearish)
 
Chinese New Year began two days ago and marked the start of what Chinese astrologers call the “Year of the Metal Tiger.” In light of this, we have decided to review some of the major investment themes for the months ahead.
 
First among these themes, we now feel you should regard precious metals – and especially gold – as an asset class unto themselves. Over the past 40 years (and especially the last 10), they have proven themselves to be important holdings in good times and bad. By good times, we mean periods of inflation and growth. By bad times, we mean deflation and recession.
 
Admittedly, gold does lose its value as an asset class during the very best of times, such as we had from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. Unfortunately, those days are not likely to return. Instead, we will likely see cycles of inflation/deflation from now on, in which gold shines.
 
Naturally, your gold portfolio should be diversified to maximize safety and growth.
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Market Update 02-16-10

The European Union’s plans for aiding the ailing Greek economy continue to dominate the financial headlines this week. Last Thursday, EU member states pledged to come to Greece’s rescue—should they ask for it—without offering solid details on an aid package. That news settled equity markets while simultaneously hurting rather than helping the euro. The news also buoyed precious metals.Read more...

Mid-Week Update 12-02-09

BHP Billiton (BHP), which is featured in both our Growth and Income Portfolios, failed to consummate a marriage with Rio Tinto (RTP) last year. But a subsequently proposed joint venture between the pair, the second- and third-largest iron ore producers in the world, could be nearing reality. The partnership between the two companies, if the deal is finalized, would merge their iron ore operations in Australia and create a synergy that could save around $10 billion a year on capital and production costs. The two companies are expected to ship more than 300 million tons combined of iron ore worldwide this year.

The joint venture is not written in stone yet. The companies are looking to finalize the deal by a December 5 deadline stated by Rio, while BHP’s CEO Marius Kloppers is less concerned about the date and is looking for completion before year-end. Regardless, the joint venture makes sense for both companies. Moreover, BHP could potentially revisit plans for a takeover if negotiations fall apart now that Rio Tinto has reduced its debt and commodity prices are stronger—the main reasons BHP had abandoned initial takeover plans—so a merge between the two companies in some form appears to be in the works. Read more...

Mid-Week Update 11-25-09

Petrobras (PBR), the Brazilian oil giant and one of the largest oil producers in the world, recently announced its third quarter results, bringing in R$7.3 billion ($4.2 billion) in earnings. Although down from R$9.84 billion in the same quarter last year, the figures narrowly beat Bloomberg’s average analyst estimates of R$7.25 billion. Read more...