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
Investors, quite naturally, are very interested in the possible course of events in Ukraine. History suggests that in the case of perceived mismatches in military strength, courage and a robust, external supply chain, food, medical and armaments, can be surprisingly helpful to the smaller combatant. At this time, it is clear that the people of … Continued
At the end of 2021, the outstanding U.S. student debt stood at $1.75 trillion. This is a problem. Efforts to collect on this debt have proven to be complicated, largely unsuccessful, and problematic. Proposals to forgive some or all of this debt appear to be currently, politically impossible. The administration, stuck with campaign promises to … Continued
Apparently Walmart is all in on this with the recent announcement of an increase in pay for in-house truck drivers and an expansion of a program to train existing workers to become drivers. Walmart will be offering some of its current employees an opportunity to participate in a 12-week course to become a certified truck … Continued
The definition of affordable housing may change, depending on the country and context. As a practical matter, in most instances, affordable really means subsidized. The critical issue for investors is, who is providing the subsidy and how will that affect expected returns? The pursuit of affordable housing can take many forms. There do not appear … Continued
Copyright © 2025 - Sigma Investment Counselors