Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/05/consumerist-friday-flickr-finds-149.html
dinsdag 29 mei 2012
Trend Channels In Play
The chart below is as of 2:00 p.m. EDT Friday. The 1280 price level was derived using a point-and-figure chart for the S&P 100 Index.
Source: http://ciovaccocapital.com/wordpress/index.php/stock-market-us/trend-channels-in-play/
maandag 28 mei 2012
change for the month
Earlier this month I rolled the change I had accumulated in my special piggy. He's the one who holds the loonies and toonies. I hadn't checked for awhile and was pleased to find there was enough for one roll each. A happy $75 to take to the bank.I took it in as part of a lump sum I was putting down on my loan. I love the dents change can make :-)
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/05/change-for-month.html
Should You Invest in Commodities?
One of the ways that more adventurous investors attempt to add diversity and growth to their portfolios is to invest in commodities. Commodity investing is attractive to many because of the perception that commodities are tangible assets that are backed in a way that a fiat currency can never be. These assets include such items...
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Source: http://canadianfinanceblog.com/should-you-invest-in-commodities/
A Struggling Brokerage House? Ex-Gov. Jon Corzine Should Fit Right In
Filed under: Company News, People, Media, ETFs
Former New Jersey Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine has more friends on Wall Street than he wound up with in the Garden State. Although the former Goldman Sachs (GS) co-chairman lost his bid for reelection in November to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, that hardly made him unemployable: He's now becoming chief executive of the struggling brokerage firm MF Global Holdings (MF), based in New York, which has reported four consecutive quarterly losses, The Wall Street Journal reported today.Corzine succeeds Bernard W. Dan, who resigned as CEO and as a member of the board for what the company calls personal reasons. MF Global shares, up more than 90% over the past year, surged on the announcement, despite disappointing fiscal fourth-quarter revenue guidance of between $235 million and $245 million.
"Though we are surprised by current CEO Bernie Dan's departure. . . we consider Mr. Corzine's appointment as CEO and Chairman of MF a positive event for the company and the stock," wrote Keefe Bruyette and Woods analyst Niamh Alexander, who rates MF's shares as outperform, in a note to clients. "We see many parallels between Mr. Corzine's tenure at Goldman Sachs, running its fixed income institutional business and then later, running the company (and MF Global)...Importantly, Mr. Corzine's vision for MF appears to be inline with the goals MF has been targeting."
A Bad Bet on Wheat
Corzine, who went into politics after losing a power struggle at Goldman Sachs, also was appointed an operating partner at J.C. Flowers & Co., the private equity firm that acquired a stake in MF Global for $300 million in equity in 2008 to help MF pay down debt resulting from unauthorized bets on wheat futures. Corzine will also be a lecturer at Princeton University.
Since losing the election, Corzine has hardly hidden from the media. He has been a frequent guest on CNBC and energetically denied rumors that he was in line to replace Kenneth Lewis as chief executive of Bank of America (BAC).
But for Corzine, another run at public office seems unlikely at this point. As governor, he failed to convince New Jersey voters that he could tackle the state's financial problems -- despite his decades of experience on Wall Street. Gov. Christie has more of a common touch and has proposed a budget that critics consider Draconian and that he himself calls painful. Whether Corzine or Christie will be more successful in their respective new jobs remains to be seen.
Waiting for Godot… and kids to grow up…
Welcome New York Times readers! For regular readers, here’s the NYT article that talks about the Person Under the Stairs (aka my son who lives in the basement):
Rules for When Your Child Moves Home
Here’s the stages of learning myself and my kid had to go through to learn about money since it wasn’t a talent [...]
Rules for When Your Child Moves Home
Here’s the stages of learning myself and my kid had to go through to learn about money since it wasn’t a talent [...]
Source: http://singlemomrichmom.com/waiting-for-gdt-kids-to-grow-up/
My Favourite Takeaways – Guide to What’s Good, Bad and Downright Awful in Canadian Investments Today – Part 1 of 2
I’ve been meaning to post a review of Rob Carrick’s Guide to What’s Good, Bad and Downright Awful in Canadian Investments Today for many months now. After meeting Rob at dinner the other week, and hearing about his new book, I figured it was time to get my butt in gear and comment [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myownadvisor/CsCc/~3/N4vZCyBItHU/
Consumer Sentiment at Highest Since 2007
Author(s):
Donald Liebenson
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s index on consumer sentiment rose in May to its highest level since October 2007. Consumer confidence has improved in each of the past nine monthly surveys.
The final May reading on the overall index topped the initial May reading (released earlier this month) of 77.8, rising to 79.3 from 76.4 in April. This represents a 6.7 percent increase over the same period last year.
The index of consumer expectations rose from 72.3 in April to 74.3, a 6.9 percent gain over last year, while the current conditions index rose to 87.2 from 82.9, a 6.5 percent gain over last year. These indexes are at their highest levels since January 2008, and July 2007, respectively.
Rising gas prices, bruising economic policy debates, such as the debt ceiling battle last summer, and changes in job expectations played a role in reversing consumer confidence gains that had been made in the past two years, noted Surveys of Consumers Chief Economist Richard Curtin. But he cited favorable job and wage prospects for the improved outlook.
Despite the April jobs report that found a disappointing 115,000 jobs were added to the economy, record numbers of consumers mentioned that they heard of favorable employment trends, Curtin said in a statement. “The continued revival of consumer confidence critically depends on renewed job growth.”
In each of the past three months, the survey found, a majority of consumers reported an improved economy, and twice as many expected further improvement in the year ahead. They did, however, expect the gains to be modest. And with another debt ceiling battle brewing, confidence in the government’s economic policies remained relatively low, with 41 percent holding negative views, Curtin observed.
A majority of consumers (63 percent) also expressed favorable views on buying conditions for household durables in May. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of households with incomes over $75,000 were most likely to purchase a new car, up from 67 percent in April and 57 percent one year ago.
The upbeat consumer reports on jobs, Curtin said, could mean that “consumers have yet again pushed their expectations beyond the likely performance of the economy.” The most likely prospect, he said, is that “job growth resumes at a modest pace and that confidence remains largely unchanged until after the November election and decisions about tax policy are made.”
The monthly survey polls 500 households on their financial conditions and attitudes about the economy. Consumer sentiment is directly related to the strength of consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.
Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/consumer-sentiment-highest-2007
PC Upgrades on Byte-Size Budgets -- Savings Experiment
Filed under: Technology, Savings Experiment
Computers don't last forever, but upgrading your PC can put a major dent in your byte-size budget. So, when it comes to getting a new desktop, here are a few things to keep in mind in order to keep costs low.
Ink the Best Deal on Printer Toner -- Savings ExperimentFirst, keep the clutter. Disconnect your monitor, mouse and keyboard from your current PC. These accessories often come with new computers, but you don't need them since you already have your own set. The key to saving on a new computer is finding one without the additional peripherals.
For instance, Best Buy offers a new tower by Lenovo, which comes with the latest operating system and a DVD burner for less than $400. Plug in your own monitor, mouse and keyboard, and you're good to go.
To save even more money, consider a pre-owned system. For example, Walmart sells refurbished computers that come with all of the vital parts you need for less that $130. When the average price of a new desktop is $800, you're looking at significant savings for a used system.
So, if you're thinking of upgrading your PC, keep your current accessories and focus your search on a tower. You'll get a great machine for a price that won't downgrade your savings.
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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/11/pc-upgrades-on-byte-size-budgets-savings-experiment/
Monthly Report – May 2012
I know I have not been posting very much but I thought this was something important to keep up on. So quickly – while I have free time – here is my monthly report. Overall I think I am doing pretty good at reducing my debt. Cash – Chequing Account $275.22 Cash – Everyday Savings [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCanadianFinances/~3/WQddnS8uqgk/
Natural Gas: The Industry That Could Save America
With the onset of new technologies to get to natural gas, this once-underappreciated commodity is now viewed as the key to weaning the U.S. from our heavy oil consumption and crucial to providing energy independence (in as little as 20 years, by some estimates).
As much as "energy independence" has a nice ring to it, even better is what it's going to take to achieve it. Converting the country to natural gas will require lots of hard work -- and lots of workers -- which is exactly what the U.S. needs to pull it out of the unemployment doldrums.
The Case for Conversion
In 2011 the U.S. Energy Information Administration came out with their projections for fuel cost trends during the next 25 years. Consider these estimates, which show the cost for one gallon of petroleum-based fuels as opposed to a gallon-equivalent of natural gas fuels:
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2011.
Natural gas assumes 7.9 gallons per 1,000 cubic feet.
As you can see, the advantages of switching to natural gas are clear. So long as a gallon gas equivalent of natural gas costs significantly less than petroleum-based fuels, there will be growing demand for vehicles that run on natural gas.
The switch is already taking place, too: The first industry that's taken the leap of faith on natural gas is trucking.
Sponsored Links
Westport Innovations (WPRT) designs engines that can run solely on natural gas. Lately, the company has announced a number of joint ventures, partnerships, and orders. The company already has a profitable joint venture with manufacturer Cummins (CMI). And that joint venture just won a contract from trucking giant Navistar (NAV).
While what's happening at Westport, Cummins, and the like is a strong indication that the conversion to natural gas is speeding up significantly, these companies alone can't employ enough Americans to accelerate a recovery.
The jobs -- the big jobs that will put droves of Americans back to work -- will be in infrastructure.
Right now there are only 1,100 natural gas filling stations in the country. That's less than 1% of the total number of fueling locations nationwide.
Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) is currently putting enough natural gas stations on the interstate system to support the trucking industry. But it won't be enough once it becomes clear to the broader public that the switchover to natural gas is a smart, cost-effective move.
Other industries will soon follow to keep up with demand. When that happens, construction will need to ramp up on a huge scale to start adding fueling stations throughout the country. That, in turn, will create a bevy of new jobs.
If you don't think that sounds like enough to help jump-start our economy, consider these facts:
- About 40% of jobs lost during the recession came from a contraction in construction -- 2 million directly from construction workers being out of work, and 1.6 million due to those unemployed workers cutting back on spending.
- Even if the natural gas station build-out equates to just 33% of the total number of standard gas stations in America, roughly 39,000 stations would need to be built, providing hundreds of thousands of new jobs to laborers, contractors, and sub-contractors. While 33% is a long way to go from where we are today, if the natural gas revolution gets traction, that's where we're headed.
- This doesn't even touch on the demand for labor from natural gas extractors that's to be expected, or the possibilities of jobs created through the exportation of natural gas.
Obviously, this conversion won't happen overnight. But where there are incentives to switch over to natural gas, developments have been accelerating.
Right now, the chronically unemployed and underemployed can use any good news they can get their hands on. The stars will soon be aligning for these folks, and that should be music to all of our ears.
Motley Fool contributor Brian Stoffel owns shares of Westport Innovations. You can follow him on Twitter at @TMFStoffel. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Westport Innovations and Cummins.
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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/02/24/natural-gas-the-industry-that-could-save-america/
Risk and Uncertainty in Stock Markets
When we consider the risk in investing, we’re often thinking about volatility: that is, the sometimes dramatic movements in equity prices. But as Alan Fustey explains in his book, Risk, Financial Markets & You, there’s a big problem with equating volatility with risk. One of the biggest shortcomings in financial models is the reliance on standard [...]
RRSP vs RESP Accounts
For many young and middle-of-the-road families out there the RRSP vs RESP account debate is a very real one that usually creeps up right around tax time every year if not more often. It is often a confusing topic for some people because the financial industry spends a lot of money trying to convince parents [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Youngandthrifty/~3/7RUIwwRGq_4/
zondag 27 mei 2012
Is It Possible to Save Too Much for Retirement?
As you head into retirement, the most important decision to make is how much money to save. You want to make sure that the amount is enough for how you'd like to spend your later years, without needing to worry so much about financial concerns.
But is there a limit as to how much you should be saving? Can you save too much money for your retirement? It's an interesting question, and one that can't be answered too quickly. You'll ultimately need to decide for yourself, but here are a few factors to consider:
Factor #1: You might have a tendency to put off until tomorrow what you could be doing today.
Life is short and if you don't take the time to enjoy it once in a while, it will be over before you know it, and all you'll be able to do is look back and wish you had done something different. This means that if all you're doing is sticking a huge majority of your money into retirement, you could miss out on all the great things life has to offer. Yes, you should be frugal and smart much of the time, but treating yourself to a nice trip or a new car every once in a while can do a lot to help you realize why you're saving in the first place.
Factor #2: Each person desires a different lifestyle when they retire.
No two people are exactly alike. Some will want to spend their retirement on the beaches of Cancun. Others will prefer the leisurely days spent at a golf course in Florida. Whether you choose one of these, or something entirely different, your intended lifestyle will partially determine how much you need to save. And although some people may think that you're saving too much money, it really depends on your individual needs and how luxurious you want your retirement to be.
Factor #3: At some point, your pace will probably slow down.
This is more relevant to the younger generation. When you're young, you can save quite a bit if you're careful with your money, because your expenses will probably be a lot less than when you get older. Years later, you'll probably need to worry about having a family, buying a house, and other such expenses. So although you should try to enjoy life before having all of those responsibilities, if you save as much as you can when you're younger, you won't feel so much of a financial burden once you're older.
Factor #4: You could leave yourself open to lawsuits or similar actions if you save too much.
Granted, this would only be true under very specific circumstances, but it has been known to happen. Basically, you have two inidivduals with similar salaries and mortgage amounts. The first person saves a large amouont of his salary, while the second person spends nearly every penny. Due to falling house prices, the value of their homes are incredibly low, and both decide to walk away. When the bank sees that the second individual has little in savings, they write off the loan, because going after him would be a waste of resources. But since the second person has more than enough in savings to cover the loss, they decide to sue him for the difference. Again, this is a rare scenario, but something similar could happen under the right circumstances. Try not to get yourself into this kind of situation, especially if your savings are high.To get a second opinion on your retirement plans, schedule your free, no-obligation appointment.
Source: http://firstsecurityfinancialshow.com/blog/bid/128210/Is-It-Possible-to-Save-Too-Much-for-Retirement
This LED IPO May Be the Bright Way to Invest in Smarter Lights
Filed under: Energy, Investing, General Electric , Green
First, there was the lightbulb. Then came the compact fluorescent. Now, the latest improvement in energy-efficient lighting has arrived: "bulbs" built around light-emitting diodes -- LEDs. Anyone who lived through the introduction, consumer acceptance, and eventual widespread deployment of CFLs can predict what will happen next with LEDs. First, a small percentage of the market will adopt them, then production will ramp up, prices will drop, and more people will buy LEDs as they get cheaper. Ultimately, ultra-energy-efficient LEDs take over the lighting market, and anyone who figures out today how to invest in this trend will make a bundle of money when that happens.
But that's just the question: How should we invest in this trend?
Many companies play parts in the LED saga, after all. Rubicon Technology (RBCN) sells monocrystalline sapphires for use in making LEDs. Germany's Aixtron (AIXG) and Plainview, N.Y.-based Veeco Instruments (VECO) manufacture industrial-scale equipment for LED manufacture. Over the long term, General Electric (GE) predicts that LEDs will eventually make up 75% of its lighting business.
Meanwhile, LEDs Magazine calls Cree (CREE) "one of the premier LED chip suppliers," and among alternative energy investors, this LED specialist has always been a favorite. The problem with Cree, however, is that because it's so popular, its stock has always looked expensive -- about $3.7 billion in market cap today, on $1 billion in annual revenues. Isn't there a cheaper way to invest directly in the popularity of LED lighting?
A Future Stock for the Lights of the Future
Not yet, perhaps, but there soon may be. Last week, Siemens lighting subsidiary Osram, another big player in the LED market, announced it's planning to IPO later this year. Osram's been contemplating this for some months, but it's finally getting serious, and targeting an autumn IPO.
Analysts suggest many potential valuations for Osram -- from as high as $11.4 billion when the IPO market is hot to as low as $5.6 billion when the market is not. But here's the thing: Even at its most expensive, Osram looks much cheaper than Cree. Based on the $6.5 billion in revenues it collected last year, an $11.4 billion market cap would only price Osram at about 1.75 times annual sales. Cree, in contrast, costs nearly twice that today -- 3.4 times sales.
Foreign IPOs don't get a lot of press in the U.S. But with stronger sales, and similar profit margins (5% to 6%) to those Cree makes, Osram is one IPO you should pay close attention to.
Motley Fool contributor Rich Smith holds no position in any company mentioned.
Get info on stocks mentioned in this article:
Financial Psychology: Buying and Selling Houses
Happy Seller Story When I bought my first house, it was near the top of a housing cycle (not a bubble), so it was fairly expensive (but interest rates were still high as well). I got help getting a good down payment, I bought the house and then kind of forgot about its value for [...]
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JPMorgan's $2 Billion Loss, Explained
JPMorgan's "many errors, sloppiness and bad judgment" will hurt the bank's reputation and bolster support for rules limiting banks' ability to make speculative bets.
How Europe Saved Itself. For Now.
What the solution to Europe's debt crisis has to do with a bar on the coast of Spain.
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