...if anyone is interested.
Following my usual practice, I regret to inform you that I've reduced my investments in domestic equities. I think this play still has another unhappy act to run before the (perhaps) happy ending. But is there an intermission?
Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/11/my_investment_c.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/MxIaAfzYr04/watch4.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/MlA9rSEOIdU/watch.html
The headline number for this morning's PPI report was an 0.6% decline in the price of finished goods less food and energy ("core PPI"). In fact, core finished goods PPI has fallen for 4 out of the past 6 months. So if we just look at this number, inflation seems like it isn't a problem,
However, I prefer to look at a different statistic in the PPI report--the PPI for traditional service industries. Never heard of it? You are not alone. Starting a few years ago, the BLS aggressively broadened its coverage of the service sector. In particular, the "traditional service sector" includes everything from telecommunications and web search portals to health care to banking to management consulting to fitness centers.
So now the BLS publishes a PPI for these service sector industries (it's at the back of the report, pp 20-21). I wrote about the service sector PPI on my blog in February, in a post entitled "The PPI says: Service Sector Deflation is Almost Here."
Now, we have a really big divergence in the path of the core finished goods PPI and the service sector PPI. Core goods inflation is collapsing. But services PPI is slowly ticking up.
I think the service sector PPI is a better measure of the underlying inflation rate, because it covers a broader swathe of the economy. So this chart tells us that inflation is slowly starting to recover.
Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/11/service_sector.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/DEGRCYiFG1g/profile3.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/AmoGUwcvZlA/profile2.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/H2oX_w0KYgE/profile2.html
Source: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/press/business-institution-biomass-fuel-study/
Manolis Kellis is a member of Technology Review's newest TR35 "class." The MIT computational biologist studied pure computer science as a student, and as he recently explained to us, he believes his current work still fits that description. In fact, his goal is still to understand machines--living ones. You can read more about Kellis's work in our profile of him or in his essay, "Finding Evolution's Signatures."
Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/VideoPosts.aspx?id=17406
The economy is forecast to improve in 2013, but before then, the recovery is expected to crawl along with unemployment rising again above 8 percent, according to the quarterly survey by the National Association for Business Economists released Monday
The 44 surveyed business economists and others who use economics in the workplace project that the gross domestic product will wise 1.9 percent at an annual rate in 2012 before accelerating to a 3 percent pace by the fourth quarter of 2013,
After dropping to 7.8 percent in September, the unemployment rate is forecast to rise to 8.1 percent by the end of 2012. The NABE further that the economy will add 125,000 jobs per month over the course of the fourth quarter.
The economists expect single-family housing starts to increase 23 percent to 750,000 units in 2012, with a 13 percent rise to 850,000 forecast for next year. They project home prices to rise by 1.5 percent in 2012 and 2.8 percent in 2013, which is more optimistic than their May forecast.
A majority of the economists are confident that a deal will be reached on the fiscal cliff, the combination of about $1.2 million in mandated spending cuts and tax increases set to kick in at the end of the year. More than half (55 percent) believe the Bush-era tax cuts will remain in place for another year for all income levels, while just over one-third (36 percent) believe they will be extended only for lower income brackets. Just over three-fourths (77 percent) said the automatic spending cuts will be diminished by subsequent legislation.
The economists also forecast that inflation will remain low in 2013, while the Consumer Price Index is projected to increase 2.2 percent.
Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/us-economy-grow-slowly-through-2013-nabe
Source: http://singlemomrichmom.com/but-i-dont-like-roller-coasters/
Source: http://twitter.com/jpmorgan/statuses/244435955895902208
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-at-it.html
Do you feel good about the current state of your personal finances or do you feel stressed out about your financial situation?
According to a recent study done by KRC Research:
“Most Americans are not comfortable with the current state of their personal finances, including saving for education and retirement.
Overall, about half (52%) of American adults say they are at least somewhat worried about their personal financial situation and almost one in three (27%) would rate their concern as being very worried.”
At this point in my life I fit into the group of the 27% of people that are very worried about their finances. The last 3 years have been very difficult in regard to my financial life and I have noticed that it has caused a ripple effect in the rest of my life. By that I mean that my self-worth and self-esteem have diminished to the point where some days I feel lost and useless. But I am always looking for ways to deal with this stress and to make my life better as I dig my way out of this mess, and I wanted to share some things that have helped me get through the last few years. If you too are worried about your finances here are some ways to deal with financial stress.
Make sure you know exactly how much money is coming in every month, and exactly how much money is going out. As tempting as it might be to put your head in the sand, you simply cannot afford to. If you stay informed, you will make better decisions.
Make conscious choices so that your dollars stretch as far as possible. This doesn’t mean you have to skimp; it just means you have to make wise decisions. Take a close look at your expenses and make sure the money you spend is giving you a lasting return.
This is no time to let your nutrition or exercise fall by the wayside! If you do, you diminish your capacity to turn your finances around. So make sure you get enough sleep every night, take your vitamins, and keep your body moving.
These simple self-care rituals keep your personal foundation strong. If you do need to cut back on some personal care luxuries, replace them with an inexpensive alternative. For example instead of a personal trainer, you could workout with a friend.
If you’ve always wanted to approach a specific client or strike out in a new industry, now is the time. No matter what the results are, bold action has a way of increasing our confidence, reminding us to risk and stretch beyond our comfort zones. Being proactive is empowering!
If you find yourself thinking about how bad things are – or, worse yet, how bad they might get – get a hold of yourself.
As they say, “Don’t go there!” Remember, what we focus on is what we experience and create more of.
If you feel yourself dropping into a whirlwind of emotion, call a friend and borrow some sanity.
Whether that means your higher power or your own inner wisdom. This is one of the best ways to cope with financial stress.
What rituals or habits help you feel peaceful and connected? It might be prayer or meditation, journaling, or long walks in nature…whatever helps you remember that you are a naturally resourceful and creative person in an abundant world.
When people get stressed, they get tunnel vision. Our thoughts get caught in a loop, and we have trouble seeing any alternatives.
In times like these, the worst place you can be is stuck in your own head.
Try to step back and see the big picture. Your finances may be troubling, but if you have a roof over your head and food in the pantry, you’re still doing better than 90% of the rest of the world.
These parts of life are what refill your internal gas tank and keep you moving forward. It’s the times when comfort and inspiration are so scarce that we have to comfort and inspire ourselves. You could watch a fun movie, or invite your buddies over to watch a hockey game, have some friends over for a pot-luck dinner party, go to the park for a nice walk, go for a bike ride, read a good book, or bake some cookies. Obviously the point is to keep yourself busy doing things you enjoy instead of constantly worrying about money.
People are often reluctant or ashamed to admit how stuck they feel, but a secret burden is so much harder to carry. It doesn’t matter whether you call a friend or a financial advisor, a psychologist or a coach, just call someone you can be completely honest with. Sometimes it pays to be vulnerable.
What are some of the ways that you deal with financial stress, now or in the past?
Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/09/10/9-ways-deal-financial-stress/
Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/10/13/romney_on_the_rise_in_ohio_292962.html
Source: http://www.modestmoney.com/tempted-to-join-the-smart-phone-masses/
Shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) are down more than 8% in early trading today following a downgrade from Avian to Negative and a report that one of the components in the company's solar panels is displaying reliability problems. The worst part of the news is that the problem with the panels' junction boxes carry a 20-year warranty.
First Solar's stock price declined so quickly that it triggered Nasdaq's short-sale circuit breaker.
Other solar makers, particularly those based in China, are getting beaten up as well today, following a story in The New York Times detailing the difficulties facing the Chinese makers due to rapid manufacturing capacity increases. Prices for finished goods have tumbled by 75% in the past couple of years, to the point where negative gross margins are the rule among Chinese makers. One Chinese industry executive told the Times:
The problem lies in the eagerness of Chinese businesses to rush into any new industry that looks attractive and swamp it with investments. Chinese companies and their bankers are then far more reluctant than Western companies to admit defeat for investments that prove unprofitable.
Part of the problem for First Solar is that its thin-film technology was for a long time significantly cheaper than the silicon-based technologies used at competing firms. Now that the competition is selling for the same price (and willing to take the losses), First Solar's cost advantage has evaporated.
Shares of First Solar are down 8.8% at $20.55 in a 52-week range of $11.43 to $67.72.
Chinese makers Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP), LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) and Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) are also being hammered today. Suntech shares are down 4.1% at $0.90 in a 52-week range of $0.71 to $4.40. LDK's shares are down 3.6% at $1.05 in a 52-week range of $0.99 to $6.92 and Trina's shares are down 2.9% at $4.66 in a 52-week range of $3.95 to $12.19.
Paul Ausick
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/10/05/first-solar-gets-no-love/
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/SpThdw9hQJo/watch3.html
Since we launched, we've been reporting on the environmental threats of drilling in natural gas reserves around the country. (Here’s a good primer on the process of hydraulic fracking that is used to release the gas.) The potential risks of hydro-facking have been gaining attention, and we wanted to point to two on-the-ground stories that have recently come out.
This month's Vanity Fair has a long piece, "A Colossal Fracking Mess," on the human and environmental effects of the drilling. It follows Dimock, a town in northeastern Pennsylvania, where residents are fighting the hydraulic fracking that they say has contaminated the town's aquifer. The story reports that the water supply is so harmful that the town is "now known as the place where, over the past two years, people's water started turning brown and making them sick, one woman's water well spontaneously combusted, and horses and pets mysteriously began to lose their hair." We reported on Dimock multiple times last year. Our lead reporter on gas drilling, Abrahm Lustgarten, wrote that Dimock was "ground zero for drilling the Marcellus Shale, a prized deposit of natural gas that is increasingly touted as one of the country's most abundant and cleanest alternatives to oil."
Also, last night HBO premiered the film Gasland, a feature-length documentary that looks at how communities across the country have been affected by fracking. Filmmaker Josh Fox started his reporting when he was asked to lease his own land for drilling. In a much discussed scene, the film shows sink water with such high levels of methane, it ignites on fire from the small flame of a cigarette lighter.
Here's a trailer of the film:
Source: http://feeds.propublica.org/~r/propublica/energy-environment/~3/YMrLX-3POis/
Preface: I am not a Muslim or some kind of cheerleader for Middle Eastern countries. I was born and raised in America, and come from a Judeo-Christian background. Like the Founding Fathers, I am simply opposed to unnecessary war … … Continue reading
The Demonization of Muslims is “Completely At Odds with America’s Founding Principles” was originally published on Washington's Blog
Source: http://www.zdnet.com/why-the-ipad-mini-may-go-169-like-the-iphone-5-7000005074/
In the midst of the California gas hullabaloo (really, gas prices are a nationwide worry), Honda is dangling quite an attractive carrot in front of drivers: Anyone who buys a natural-natural gas powered Civic by Jan. 2 will get a $3,000 debit card good for purchasing natural gas at any of the Clean Energy chain of stations. Mmm, free gas.… [More]
Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/10/09/honda-dangles-3k-fuel-discount-on-natural-gas-powered-civics/
Source: http://www.modestmoney.com/how-do-you-envision-retirement/
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/9cvrX3bwf0E/watch3.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/mfrymU_Psho/profile.html
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-beyond-zebra.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/vOekFEldcsE/watch3.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/29e-q5txqKo/profile.html
Banks are getting savvier about finding ways to sell their products. More and more Canadians are turning to online sources for financial advice, and banks are getting in on the act by engaging customers on their websites and social media channels. One approach the banks have used for years is to conduct a survey about [...]
The post Can You Trust Advice From Your Bank? appeared first on Boomer & Echo.
Source: http://www.boomerandecho.com/can-you-trust-advice-from-your-bank/
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/SsfnHB6q-VY/watch4.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/FIM4vFxV2RU/watch3.html
Filed under: Investing, Investment, Crime
The Securities and Exchange Commission is going after the assets of dead money manager Joel David Salinas, accusing him and his partner, Brian A. Bjork, of defrauding investors of $50 million. The SEC sued Salinas's estate Monday in the U.S. District Court for Southern Texas. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/08/02/sec-claims-dead-money-manager-sold-fake-bonds/
Filed under: Technology
Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) will not have to face scores of suits over flaws with its initial public offering. A court has ruled that all of these cases should be put together, which should help the social network make a single defense and save on legal fees.
Facebook's shares have traded consistently below their $38 IPO prices. Wild and uncontrolled trading the first day the stock was available caused some investors considerable losses. And there is an open question about whether the company mislead investors about its prospects. According to The Droid Guy:
Facebook's wishes to defend itself against one consolidated case has been granted. The social networking behemoth will now face a legal battle in Manhattan, New York against dozens of lawsuits over its failed initial public offering.
There are estimated 50 lawsuits filed against the social network, Nasdaq exchange, and Facebook's underwriters. A panel of federal judges have decided that all of these cases will be collected throughout the United States as one and transferred to a district court in Manhattan headed by Judge Robert Sweet.
Douglas A. McIntyre
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/10/05/court-ruling-on-ipo-suits-is-good-news-for-facebook/
I'm about to go down to DC to attend this conference (I'm giving the after-dinner remarks as well)
Measurement Issues Arising from the Growth of Globalization
This is a very important conference as we try to figure what is *really* going on in the U.S. economy. I'll be writing more about it.
Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/11/globalization_a.html
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/3g0aMVm2XSU/profile.html
Filed under: Other Issues, Bad News, Rants and Raves, Competitive Strategy, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Market Matters, Money and Finance Today, Chevron Corp (CVX), Bargain Stocks, Chasing Value[TM], Oil, Stocks to Buy, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI), Southern Company (SO), Raytheon Company (RTN), EZCORP (EZPW), Stock Picks, Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A)
After five years, 900,000+ words and a lot of interesting ideas this will be my last AOL post; a casualty of the Huffington Post deal. Chasing Value will live on somewhere else. In thinking of what to write about today, I thought it had to be a "best of" post so that I could leave readers with something useful to ponder.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/06/chasing-value-the-very-best-investors/
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/6fKidkUcMyg/profile.html
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/09/sunday-night-chit-chat.html
Six years after a scathing 2001 internal review of BP's Alaska operations found that the company wasn't maintaining safety equipment and faced "a fundamental lack of trust" among workers, a follow-up study concluded BP had made little headway in addressing those concerns.
The 2007 review, obtained by ProPublica, is based on a survey of more than 400 BP workers and contractors across Alaska greater Prudhoe Bay drilling fields. Three of four workers surveyed said that BP's maintenance program was still not aligned with BP's business priorities. Workers said that while BP had chipped away at communication and training concerns, it had not reduced maintenance backlogs of key equipment.
Those findings take on new significance as Congress hears testimony from BP executives about what the company has done to improve its safety record and address a litany of operations failures over the last 10 years. In testimony yesterday, BP CEO Tony Hayward said that he had made significant changes in the company since taking the reins in 2007 and that he had focused on safety "like a laser."
The conclusions of the report were crystallized in two PowerPoint slides and a series of graphics that were given to ProPublica by a former senior BP manager. Their validity was confirmed by Marc Kovac, a current BP employee who was part of the original 2001 review team and helped conduct the 2007 follow-up and presented the data to senior management.
Nearly 80 percent of the workers interviewed for the 2007 study said that gas and fire detection systems -- perhaps the most important equipment to saving lives and among the most critical in preventing an environmental disaster -- were either not functioning or were obsolete.
"We found that 50 percent of everything that was originally brought up was not fixed, it was ignored," said Kovac. "BP plays the time game. People forget and they know that. So as long as they file reports and do investigations and produce paperwork, they know that people will eventually go on with their business."
Last week ProPublica disclosed that a series of internal BP investigations, including the 2001 Operational Integrity Review, had found that the company valued production and profits ahead of safety and maintenance. The reports, combined with internal e-mails obtained by ProPublica and several external government reviews of the company, showed that over a period of more than 10 years BP had allowed conditions of facilities to deteriorate in order to save money, and that it retaliated against workers who raised concerns about them.
The disclosure of the 2007 follow-up to that report stands in contrast to BP's public statements from 2001 to 2007, which asserted the company had learned from its mistakes in Alaska and seized the opportunity to change.
BP did not respond to requests for comment for this article, but in a statement made in early June about the apparent pattern of recurring issues at BP operations since 2001, BP spokesman Toby Odone told ProPublica that the "premise about continuing worker safety complaints is essentially groundless."
Source: http://feeds.propublica.org/~r/propublica/energy-environment/~3/Gi462fC6D8E/
