Massey Energy is one of the great plays on coal for numerous reasons. The growth rates the company posts are out of this world, its position in low sulfur or clean coal technologies is second to none and its poised to do well both as coal prices rise and the world population becomes more interested in clean technologies. Not to mention that it has a heavy stake in the sale of metallurgical coal, or coal that is clean enough to use for the creation and preparation of steel. Positioning in metallurgical coal also means a position in emerging markets and steel. Higher prices for steel means higher prices for its coal. Read more…
Stocks
MEE
Though this is no political blog and I’m not attempting to sway your vote to any particular candidate, it is important to highlight the advantages and disadvantages that each presidential candidate brings to the table. Obviously each candidate has an effect on the investing class, your vote as an investor may be more important than as the average citizen. Each candidate will have a profound impact on which stocks are hot, and simply the stocks that are not. Read more…
Investing
Pretty much as good as nationalization of the banking industry, new indications from the FDIC have stated that they might have to borrow from the treasury to get back on track. New loans from the Treasury will allow the FDIC to wade through a bulk of regional bank failures as depositors are guaranteed up to $100,000 per account per bank per person. Read more…
Investing
I’ve been following Chinese stocks more closely ever since the market meltdown last fall. Sohu.com has reached my target list after falling from its peaks and now to a respectable valuation even with a very strong growth rate. Sohu.com is growing quickly, has a marketplace with plenty of organic growth and will make more money as China transitions from central planning to free market capitalism. Read more…
Investing
SOHU
With stagflation just a definition away, the Fed is signaling that this next meeting will bring rate hikes to combat higher inflation. The Federal Reserve is now warming up its talking points to investors who are weary of inflation especially with the Federal Funds rate at 2%. Some input from the Federal Reserve Board might have merit, that even with a lower rate, the inability to get credit for most consumers is keeping inflation lower than what is expected. -
Investing, Real Estate
It was only a matter of time before oil touched its strong support near the $110 level and rebounded quickly. Stock traders were taken off guard as the commodity jumped $5 per barrel on tensions between Russia and Georgia and capitalizing traders pushed prices higher. If oil prices continue this what seems like never ending climb, the stock market is due for a tailspin. With the Dow rushing towards 11700 on what seemed like thin news events, the oil market is livening up and proving that it will be a player in today’s stock market. Read more…
Futures and Commodities
oil
In a slowing economy you might not think that pawnshops would be the best business to be in, but with huge growth coming from EZCorp, you might think twice about that assumption. First, with a tight economy more people succumb to easy but expensive cash loans from what might as well be known as legal loan sharks. High interest collateralized and non-collateralized loans are proving to be extremely profitable for EZCorp which trades under the ticker symbol EZPW. Read more…
Stocks
EZPW
Exchange traded funds are becoming a favorite of mine for harnessing the returns of a whole sector while only monitoring the performance of one instrument. The exchange traded fund KOL is the best on the market for simulating the returns of the entire coal industry, from refiners to coal burning power generation units, KOL is an excellent opportunity to be invested in the coal industry from top to bottom. Read more…
ETF
A short term gain in the dollar which amounts to just a few percentage points has completely taken the floor under the commodity markets. Its ridiculous to think as the fundamentals that drove commodities higher exist at even greater levels. Gold and silver have fallen sharply which should add to the many reasons why investors should still favor these levels. Read more…
Forex, Futures and Commodities
The Chinese markets have been beaten severely this year, its key index is still 50% off its highs set late last year. With this kind of large scale correction the Chinese investing scene looks to be primed for a well paying investment.
The Chinese economy is growing like no other around the world, its June trade surplus clocked in at $25 Billion beating expectations of analysts who expected a slowdown due to Chinese energy imports. The Chinese economy is facing a struggle to power itself and its manufacturing industry after the costly repairs from earthquake damage have sucked electricity from underneath the country. Read more…
ETF, Investing
FXI
Fujifilm Holdings (FUJI) better known for its cameras than its drugs is making a gradual switch into pharmaceuticals. The CEO is optimistic about the company’s future saying that the company will be able to switch from cameras and chemicals to pharmaceuticals because of the way their current chemical processing works. Apparently the switch isn’t as hard as investors think, at least that is in the eyes of the CEO. Read more…
Stocks
FUJI
Bidz.com is a stock I like mostly for the reason that it caters to people seeking luxury on a shoestring budget. Its business has been extremely profitable, making money by selling jewelry and watches at discounted prices through auctions all starting at $1 per item. The company is growing quickly and its earnings reports continue to beat analysts estimates. Read more…
Investing
BIDZ
When one bubble ends, another one begins and there is no doubt that yet another will begin. The trouble is finding it, and getting on it before the rest of the market does. Here are a few ideas of where that oil money just might go: Read more…
Investing
Mastercard is apparently tied to the price of oil, or so you might think. The stock enjoyed its heyday run from $140 a share to $320 in just a matter of 10 months, but it seems now that the stock is a falling star. You could make the case that Mastercard is a bubble, sure its got fundamentals to back but the analysts following the stock are all too optimistic. Tightening credit in the US is something that will slow down its profit margins, the less people can spend the less Mastercard ultimately earns. Read more…
Investing
MA
Surely we can all remember the Reagan bailout of Chrysler in the 1980s and the talk is that the democratic presidency might feel some pressure to start working with US Automakers. Democratic challengers are a favorite with unions, especially with industries that are considered “American.” There is no business out there in a need of some financial help than the US automakers, while it would probably not be a sound financial decision for a country so heavily in debt there is going to be some pressure from politicians and union directors alike. Read more…
Investing, Round Up
As I sit here with the headlines, GM’s $15.5 Billion loss strikes me as one of the biggest problems facing the US stock market and its own existence. There are so many variables in the failure of GM to keep up with the automobile market. Their pension programs grew far too big, far too fast, the majority of their top selling cars are gas guzzlers and now they’re taking a huge hit just to bring back their off lease cars trucks and SUVs. Read more…
Investing
GM
