electricity

Mid-Week Update 03-17-10

In the past few months several energy companies have expanded their holdings of natural gas resources. Exxon Mobil, for instance, bought natural gas company XTO Energy in December for $41 billion, while Total SA of France and BP PLC of Britain have purchased rights to gas fields in Texas. Earlier this week, a private company anonymously shelled out $320 million for Petrohawk Energy Corp.’s rights to gas fields in Louisiana.
 
Monday brought news of Consol Energy’s $3.48-billion purchase of Dominion Resources’ (D) natural gas and oil exploration and production business. As part of the deal, the Pittsburgh-based coal and natural gas producer will acquire 1.46 million oil and gas acres and 9,000 wells that are forecasted to generate 41 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent this year. With the purchase, Consol becomes one of the largest participants in the Marcellus shale formation.
 
Dominion, which is part of our Income Portfolio, wanted to focus more on areas of its business that offer regulated rates of return.
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Market Update 02-03-10

After a few shaky weeks, emerging countries equity markets appear to have stabilized, not surprisingly again led by the Chinese market. Most emerging markets had rallied so sharply in 2009 that a temporary correction was to be expected, and is not at all uncommon in an otherwise bull market. The fundamentals for growth in the developing world remain intact.
 
China, of course, is the most important emerging country. News of stoppage of loans for the final days of January and the potential for further credit tightening had sent ripples through global markets as investors feared that the Chinese demand would be stymied, hurting other countries’ exports. But China has repeatedly reiterated that it stands by its growth policies and was simply acting to target a desired range of growth—between 8 to 9 percent. It seems that, despite slightly tighter monetary policy in 2010, Chinese growth for the year could still hit double digits.
 
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, China’s central bank deputy governor Zhu Min reiterated China’s commitment to stable growth. While citing his government’s goal of keeping inflation in check and reining in overcapacity in a few industries, Mr. Zhu also said that China would keep its monetary and fiscal policies unchanged for the time being to foster growth of domestic consumption.
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Google's empty threat 01-25-10

Short-Term Key: Negative
Long-Term Key -90 (Negative to Neutral)
 
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Inside this week's update...
 
***** 4 high-potential Chinese stocks.
***** Real estate bubble or joint venture financing?
***** Top funds geared to China's growth.
***** Move over Wal-Mart, make room for Wumart.
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Speculation continues to run high on the issue of whether China is experiencing a bubble that threatens investors. Chinese real estate looks hugely overpriced and manufacturing capacity (according to some) has run far in excess of potential demand.
On the political front, an argument has erupted between the Chinese government and Google. Google claims China hacked the email accounts of some of its customers, who coincidentally were human rights crusaders.
Read more...

Market Update 01-25-10

 
Short-Term Key: Negative
Long-Term Key -90 (Negative to Neutral)
 
-------------------------------------
Inside this week's update...
 
***** 4 high-potential Chinese stocks.
***** Real estate bubble or joint venture financing?
***** Top funds geared to China's growth.
***** Move over Wal-Mart, make room for Wumart.
------------------------------------
 
Speculation continues to run high on the issue of whether China is experiencing a bubble that threatens investors. Chinese real estate looks hugely overpriced and manufacturing capacity (according to some) has run far in excess of potential demand.
On the political front, an argument has erupted between the Chinese government and Google. Google claims China hacked the email accounts of some of its customers, who coincidentally were human rights crusaders.
Read more...

3 ways to ride the precious metals boom 01-11-10

Short-Term Key: Negative
Long-Term Key: -95 (Negative-to-Neutral)
 
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Inside this week's update...
 
***** China's new solar initiative.
***** 3 ways to profit from silver's bright future.
***** Keeping an eye on our Master Key.
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If you read the New York Times last weekend, you may have noticed an article on China's new foray into the business of solar collectors.
Solar collection is a form of solar energy. However, rather than use photovoltaic panels to convert light directly into electricity, solar collection uses hundreds of thousands of mirrors (called heliostats) spread over a wide area to concentrate the sun's rays on tanks of water.
Read more...

Market Update 01-11-10

Short-Term Key: Negative
Long-Term Key: -95 (Negative-to-Neutral)
 
-------------------------------------
Inside this week's update...
 
***** China's new solar initiative.
***** 3 ways to profit from silver's bright future.
***** Keeping an eye on our Master Key.
------------------------------------
 
If you read the New York Times last weekend, you may have noticed an article on China's new foray into the business of solar collectors.
Solar collection is a form of solar energy. However, rather than use photovoltaic panels to convert light directly into electricity, solar collection uses hundreds of thousands of mirrors (called heliostats) spread over a wide area to concentrate the sun's rays on tanks of water.
Read more...

Why the Chinese bubble is a mirage 11-23-09

Some of today's brightest investors have decided the world has gone crazy. To them, it makes no sense that commodity prices are rising so sharply while economic growth remains sluggish. Something is not as it appears, and they've decided the impostor is China. Read more...

Weekly Update 11-23-09

Some of today's brightest investors have decided the world has gone crazy. To them, it makes no sense that commodity prices are rising so sharply while economic growth remains sluggish. Something is not as it appears, and they've decided the impostor is China.Read more...

Surprising shortfalls in the resource sector 10-26-09

Short-Term Key: Negative Long-Term Key: -16 (Neutral)

Last week we mentioned the scientific principle that when the scale of things increases, new and unexpected phenomena emerge. And we pointed out that this will have profound implications for investors in the resource sector.

Coincidentally, the November issue of Scientific American came out last week bearing the cover story, “A Plan for a Sustainable Future,” that unfortunately misses this point. Nonetheless, the article is an important read because it speaks to some exciting opportunities in companies developing alternative energy. And, even more important, despite its faults, the article does give us hope that our children may be able to live a good life on this planet. And, who knows, it may not be too late for us as well.

Let us explain...

WIND ENERGY: WILL IT STAY CHEAP FOR LONG?Read more...

Market Update 10-26-09

Short-Term Key: Negative Long-Term Key: -16 (Neutral)

Last week we mentioned the scientific principle that when the scale of things increases, new and unexpected phenomena emerge. And we pointed out that this will have profound implications for investors in the resource sector.

Coincidentally, the November issue of Scientific American came out last week bearing the cover story, “A Plan for a Sustainable Future,” that unfortunately misses this point. Nonetheless, the article is an important read because it speaks to some exciting opportunities in companies developing alternative energy. And, even more important, despite its faults, the article does give us hope that our children may be able to live a good life on this planet. And, who knows, it may not be too late for us as well.

Let us explain...

WIND ENERGY: WILL IT STAY CHEAP FOR LONG?Read more...