Here at The Panelist, we have noticed that it has become fashionable to trash the U.S. dollar, which is why it doesn’t surprise me that supermodel Giselle Bundchen has asked to be paid in any currency except the greenback. Fashion is the consensus of a small group of people, and we sometimes need, as Derek…
When will oil prices correction mean that Big Oil stocks will head down?
a burgeoning economy and fending off pressures of global warming has, is, and will continue to be an interesting challenge for the Chinese government. China is a ratified member of the Kyoto Protocol (has been since 2002), yet is now the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases. Just three years ago, China had emitted approximately…
Chevron stock buyback gives CVX stock a boost.
Photo:futureatlas, Creative Commons, Flickr Why can’t BP keep up with the other Big Oil companies?
Coal is an interesting substance. In simple terms, it is a material comprised of long carbon chains of a sinister, jet black color. It will leave a black mark on everything it comes into contact with, both metaphorically and literally. Yet, when put in a high temperature and pressure environment, these sheets of carbon become…
Just like nearly everyone else, Big Oil is doing a victory dance on the stock market. And why not? The Fed rate cut made money cheaper, so that helps earnings. And oil prices are at record levels. That supposedly eats into Big Oil profits, but it never seems to really reduce profits, and the Fed…
Press releases are like first dates. Everybody tries to make a good impression until that unavoidable awkward moment at the end of the date (Run away? Handshake? Hug? Kiss? Your place or mine?) Just like singles on a first date, press releases rarely talk about the bad stuff. After reading a recent press release from…
Are CANROYs a good investment idea?
Will the fact that oil prices continue to rise actually hurt Big Oil?
Petroleos de Venezuela SA (also known as PDVSA – PVZ.YY), the state-run oil company (and parent of the U.S. Citgo) of Venezuela is being instructed to switch its accounts from U.S. dollars into euros. This is just another country in a line of countries that are steering oil from the U.S. dollar and requesting that…
Can green mortgages help the lending industry overcome the subprime market crash?
Yesterday, the World Bank said that China has the capacity to absorb the impact of the recent international financial market turmoil if it spreads to its robust economy. “Even if the financial crisis brings about a global economic slowdown, it will help China to adjust its pace of economic development,” said Louis Kuijs, senior economist…
MEMC Electronic Material (WFR – Last trade $58.82) reported last week that a construction incident at its Pasadena, Texas, polysilicon facility resulted in a power outage to the entire site. Although the power was eventually restored later that day, the unplanned and abrupt shutdown of high temperature and pressure chemical operations caused considerable complications. The…
Is Big Oil truly ready to take on what the future holds?
The NYTimes is featuring an article today on Bjorn Lomborg's take on climate change. While the content won't be unfamiliar to most people who follow the issue, let me quote the gist of it: “Wealth is a more important factor than sea-level rise in protecting you from the sea. You can draw maps showing 100…
Photo:ASurroca, Creative Commons, Flickr So the ethanol industry continues its uphill battle. United States-based ethanol pureplays such as Aventine Renewable Energy (AVR), VeraSun Energy (VSE), and USBioEnergy (USBE) continue to receive a blind eye from investors as their stock prices languish. In previous postings, we have discussed how the ethanol industry is at an inflection…
Photo:dsb nola, Creative Commons, Flickr I can't believe that it has been six months since my son was born, and that can only mean two things: shots for the baby and a checkup on the college fund. Let's just say that the baby is doing better than the college fund.
A Canadian company is hoping to challenge Big Oil with a mini biofuel refinery that can be sold to individuals as well as to concerns such as trucking companies, mining operations and agricultural institutions. The idea is that recycled or virgin vegetable oil can be turned into usable green biofuel with the help of the…
Alaska Governor Palin wants to tax Big Oil. Does this mean other investments need to be examined?
Here’s some great news for solar investors: Despite the recent market turbulence, oil fundamentals remain tight and prices are finding a solid footing in the face of aggressive short-selling by some speculators. Even if prices on Wall Street nosedive, solar stocks could remain well-supported as a hedge against higher energy costs.
Photo:Ben Bawden, Creative Commons, Flickr The drive for carbon reduction has many critics. Brace yourself for a heated lecture if you are lucky enough to bump into one of these critics at your next house party. They will spend hours telling you about the true origins of global warming, and they will blame rising food…
One of the things that I wondered during the summer of 2006 as a gas price spike pushed prices higher was whether Big Oil was engaging in a little gouging. Apparently plenty of other people, including some in the government, wondered whether Exxon (XOM), Chevron (CVX), Conoco-Philips (COP) and other Big Oil players had conspired…
Real estate sector stocks and other housing related stocks are struggling on the stock market. For the first time in about 50 years, says Realty Times, housing prices are actually dropping. This means that housing stocks and stocks related to the real estate market (like solar stocks) are taking a bit of a beating. Or…
Have we now found a bottom for stocks? In Part 2 we recommended the "wait-and-see" approach, as more economic data is needed to show the impact of the subprime meltdown. I'm not going to pretend that it's easy to call a top or a bottom, but I believe that there is good value out there.