With a likely profitability recession looming, the valuation on the S&P 500 is now less favorable (green to yellow). China and India are building new coal fired electric plants while Germany recently announced it is restarting its plants. This could influence energy policy in the US and the rest of the globe as energy security … Continued
This is the new buzzword for the business strategy of running supply chains only through countries that are close political partners. Businesses, mindful of the complications relating to the maintenance of supply chains in the face of unexpected challenges, such as Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, are becoming increasingly cognizant of the increase in … Continued
No signal changes this week. Inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to dominate the headlines. The US economy is strong (rest of world, less so) but rising interest will prove a drag. Unlike past periods of heady economic growth, at present there is no sign of excess inventory on durable goods (housing and … Continued
Let’s hope that the Fed’s efforts to moderate inflation turn out to have the same happy ending as Disney’s movie, “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” As we all know, the Fed is currently in the process of bringing its financial arsenal into play in an effort to lower inflation levels and move back toward historical … Continued
The Tariff Act of 1930, commonly known as Smoot-Hawley, was a law that implemented protectionist trade policies in the US. Protectionism is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries. Proponents argued that protectionist policies would shield US producers, businesses and workers, while opponents believed that implementing protectionist policies would adversely affect consumers, and … Continued
Investors should routinely make sure they understand how the companies they are considering account for their inventories. Recent, politically driven allegations of oil industry profiteering, suggest that a better understanding of inventories, accounting and replacement costs, may be appropriate. Generally, most companies use either the Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) method or, First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method in … Continued
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the U.S. is in danger of not having enough electricity. A number of electric-grid operators have warned that power generating capacity is struggling to keep up with demand. This could lead to rolling blackouts during peak periods. There are a number of reasons for the increasing gap between generating … Continued
According to Wikipedia, this phrase is used to describe the process of moving or getting from a bad situation into a worse one. Maybe Europe should take note. Recently, the European Union (EU) announced that solar power was destined to be the kingpin of their effort to become independent of Russian energy imports by 2027. … Continued
Investopedia defines environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria as a set of standards for a company’s behavior to be used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments. S&P has developed an index that purports to align investment objectives with ESG values. This is all well and good, but investors should be sure that the … Continued
American electric utilities are currently faced with a need to make significant investments in an ageing grid, prepare for electric vehicle power demand, and transition to renewable energy sources while addressing increasing pressure from consumer advocates relating to residential electricity affordability. It’s supposed to be relatively straightforward. Typically, regulated utilities determine what they will need to charge … Continued
There may be some truth to this. Along with almost everything else, the causes of, and potential solutions to, the U.S. inflation problem, are being politicized. Depending on who you ask, our current inflation problem is caused by; Covid-19, supply-chain disruptions, wages, corporate greed, the American Rescue plan, and the war in Ukraine, to mention … Continued
Americans seem to be increasing their use of buy now, pay later (BNPL) financing and some are coming to regret it. There is nothing new about buying something and paying for it later. BNPL is just another, more modern iteration, with the new part the ease of access and the lack of regulation, compared to … Continued
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