I am now happy to state that the conservation initiative on the ballot in Florida was passed, with 68.4% of the vote. If I in any way helped voters come to this conclusion I am especially pleased.

Looking forward I would add that I hope that actions of Florida residents leads to similar actions in other states as well. There is no negative in setting aside some land for conservation. Trees are a good thing for everyone. And the bonus of a tax incentive never hurts in a bad economy either.

Looking further forward, we can expect that the Obama administration will seek to further conservation efforts. These will be efforts that will be mixed in the public’s eyes. That is because the plans as stated will be painful to the average American as opposed to plans like that in Florida.

I am speaking directly to 2 things President Obama has been quoted on. The first is his desire to see the cost of energy, specifically electricity, to go higher. The reason for this is to force conservation through lack of funds. The reasoning is that by forcing prices higher, less energy will be used and thus conserve more. The initial step is expected to hurt the economy slightly, in President Obama’s view, and will take a short while for the public to adjust to. Thereafter the benefit will continue and Americans will be comfortable in that environment.

The other item is the recently released tapes of President Obama, before the election, stating that his goal is to effectively cause the creation of coal powered plants to be fiscal suicide. His plans will cause coal power plants to become bankrupt.

This would have several effects. the first is to increase the cost of electricity – explained above. Another would be to limit the amount of power available at any time. Again this would force consumers to use less power to ensure that blackouts and brownouts do not occur. Additionally this would significantly improve the air quality from the U.S.

I am no fan of forced conservation, as you may gather. I believe in education and incentives to mold behavior. Obviously not everyone agrees with that plan.

If President Obama enacts his conservation plans as previously stated, America will consume fewer fossil fuels and help worldwide conservation efforts. And like most types of change some pain will be felt. But such efforts are not enough, even if they are effective.

The world is far more than just America. And while America contributes greatly to the use of fossil fuels, poor air quality, land usage, and waste creation we are not the only cause of these negatives. China and India are increasing their output and consumption of these negatives annually. Even with a drop in U.S. rates, without worldwide attention and conservation efforts China and India alone will soon make up for any decreases in America. That scenario is counter-productive and troubling.

I expect and anticipate the efforts of President Obama and his Administration in speaking with these and other nations. And if I can suggest anything it would be to provide a carrot and not a stick in persuading other nations to curtail their usage rates. Like in Florida, when people are given an alternative and a bit of sugar they take the medicine without complaint.

If you agree with my view, tell your elected officials. Because they will listen even if they don’t have to fear elections for a year.

But if you disagree, or have a better solution, please do share it.

Labels: China, coal, conservation, Florida, India, President Barack Obama, tax break

Oil is in the middle of the summer breather, gold has backed off the stellar highs reached in the 1st quarter. Inflation is in the background, and the mortgage housing crisis continues to hinder the financial markets. Well back on July 2nd I mentioned that

“Energy shortages, most notably in South Africa but also in North America and Chile, forced supply down artificially helping to boost prices. But that is a problem that has been in the works of being fixed since the 1st quarter. Once it is done supply will rise to meet the growing demand and be a signal for profit taking.”

It seems I was right. So what might an investor do and look forward to?

Mining stocks continue to hold one of the better risk reward scenarios for a long term outlook, I think. While many sectors of the markets are slowing there is huge potential in the mining sector for reasons most are not discussing now.

Because of the huge run on gold and precious metal prices early in the year, many of the mining companies took the opportunity to horde cash and survey the landscape. Several of these companies are taking the current indecision in the markets to use that cash to acquire some of the competition. Lonmin was recently offered a takeover valued at roughly $2.5 billion. Vale of Brazil is looking for a potential match with $12 billion in its coffers, while BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are doing merger dances.

But a merger is only one reason why the current lull in metal demands is a buying opportunity in mining stocks. China and India are far from peak of their demand for metals. Both of their economies are in growth phases and require more raw resources.

China is not only using more metal, they require much more energy. Already China has grabbed the excess crude oil that has become available from the slowdown in the United States. Soon they will have increased their need enough to be driving up crude oil prices even if America lessens its demand via domestic drilling or increases alternative fuel sources.

And of course there is the aspect of fuel sources outside of crude oil. The world is looking for options and needs energy until a renewable alternative becomes viable. That means an increase in mining and processing of oil shale, coal, and uranium. While nuclear has its detractors it provides too much energy to be ignored, and is relatively clean. A new process for coal is in talks in America, making its use cleaner and a readily available domestic stopgap for crude oil. And oil shale has a potential that still remains unknown on the large scale.

Each and every one of the reasons above is likely to show their influence before the end of the year. With the political situation in America poised to change energy consumption trends after the Presidential election, mergers creating more efficient (and profitable) mining companies, demand pressure from China and India even a slight increase in crude oil prices (as winter approaches) or a rush to gold and other precious metals as a hedge for inflation and/or weak markets means that mining stocks are well poised to outperform virtually all other sectors by the end of 2008.

Labels: BHP Billiton, China, coal, Crude oil prices, India, Lonmin, mining stocks, nuclear power, oil shale, precious metal, presidential election, Rio Tinto, uranium

As the Dow Jones Index tumbles again, down some 200 points today, I had to look back on some of the things I’ve said recently. I can’t say I am surprised at the condition of the market, nor the outlook being discussed now. On reflecting I found that I mentioned many of these things back in November 2007.

“The Fed's huge new credit facility, announced on Tuesday, "can help in a rather small way ... but the underlying risks will remain with the institutions that borrow from the Fed, and this does nothing to change their capital," National Bureau of Economic Research President Martin Feldstein noted.

And I stated.

“I had a friend recently ask me what I thought would be happening to the economy, and my answer was it’s going to get bad. Perhaps recession bad. And I added that the current group of Democratic candidates may only make it worse.

I say this because of several factors. Not the least of which are, the housing crisis, the financial sector, the cost of oil, and potential tax ramifications based on the current plans announced by candidates.”

Perhaps I was too general. Maybe I could have been more clear.

“One broker, whom I respect and consider quite sharp [even when I disagree], had an interesting comment on my predictions. I believe that the move to junk rating of ACA, the probable $6 - 12 billion loss at JP Morgan [significantly higher than expected], eventual losses from Citigroup - which reinsures itself, oil breaking $100 a barrel, and the multiple overseas investments will all hit the market in mid-January 2008. Thus I think a move to 11,000 is more than probable.”

Maybe if could have seen what would be the effects

“The facts are that China and India need gold. Even in a global slowdown their demand has increased pressure on supply. Recession and inflation fears and a lagging stock market in the United States have not diminished though they are not leading world headlines this moment. Oil prices are foreseeable going to continue higher and place more pressure on world economies, especially if OPEC cuts production rates as expected. And the prospect of a Democratic President in America is generally seen as a negative for the stock market, further spurring a move to gold to hedge investments.”

Fine, all that having been said at points in the past, what do I have to say now?

We need to see the stock market crash. Seriously it needs to drop to my target of 11,000 I called for in 2007. And every single action by the Fed and Congress to stop this will only create a bigger and longer lasting problem.

At the moment the Government is trying to create an artificial floor for the market. The reason is to give investors a false sense of hope and a bit of political momentum. Neither is worth the problem it is creating. The Fed has reacted too slowly and in moderation thus not correcting any of the liquidity issues. Huge rate cuts may look impressive, but since they don’t have an effect for months if not a year, the short-term effect is windowdressing. A series of stagard smaller cuts (started far earlier) over a period of time is far more effective.

Injecting money into the pockets of citizens is also a waste of money. The momentum and problems are not with people failing to buy things, it’s with the cost of the things being purchased. If oil costs are up 40% then there is just that much less to spend in a discrectionary manner.

Giving people money in the middle of chaos means that the money will either go to pay immediate bills or stashed away for the possible immediate need to pay a bill. Rather, let the emotion and the weakness in the market play out and then give the stimulus. Otherwise you are throwing money down a drain hoping it will eventually clog if you dump enough. And we are weakening the dollar in the process, which hurts the very economy we are trying to fix.

The financials are not done with the mortgage crisis. Some would like to divert attention from this, but the fact is that we are still in the crisis. And a great number of people will lose their homes. The housing market will have it’s crash, which is long overdue, and credit will be harder to get. All of which is normal.

For too long people have had too much credit without any security to back it on. A full generation of young adults have grown up thinking that this was the norm. We need this correction to get back to reality.

Want lower oil prices? Develop new sources of energy. Not because it’s an ecological thing to do, or because of some nightmare dreamed up based on barely enough information to make an estimate on. We need to do it because it will create jobs that can’t be exported, will lower dependance on oil, and infuse the economy with cash. It also means that the equity structure of the market will change, several blue chips will lose value and new ones will be created. Such is a dynamic market, which we don’t have now.

Gold will strike my target of $125 and oil $1125 this year. And they will both do so far faster than I expected if we continue to weaken the dollar and fix they symptoms and not the problem. Loss is part of an investment, as is long-term gain based on fundementals. To try to prevent one prevents the other.

This will feel bad, and unemployment may hit, gasp, 8%. 30 years ago that was a massive win. And it’s not a bad thing. If we aren’t throwing money at the public because they aren’t as comfortable as they were 5 years ago. If politicians had balls they would say this. Social entitlements should only be for those in need, not thouse that need to want.

The end of the 1st quarter will be another round of write-off for financials. And the market will continue to flounder as they try to stabilize their losses. At least one major financial will fail (actually will be forced to merge because they are too big to fail). And at 11,000 the market will stabilize and slowly rise. Growth will begin at that point at a moderate and unimpressive 1% or 7% in the market.

If gold moves as I expect, and the Government stops wasting money in stimulus plans, then there will be a sale in the commodity and an influx in the market. If wind and solar get a few positive laws there will be a spur in that arena and oil will drop slightly after hitting my target. IF taxes are increased, as was voted on yesterday, then the problem will extend into 2009 3rd quarter.

Patience, calm and paying attention to the underlying fundementals will do investors and homeowners more good than cutting rates and suggesting purchases of new Ipods that people can’t afford to have anyway. Shifting energy plans away from ethanol, which is driving up food prices and thus inflation, is also smart.

What will I do with my $600 from the Government stimulus plan? Leave it in the bank until I have a bigger purchase item I need for my business. I’ve already cleared my debt, and keep minimal revolving credit. My investments are balanced and long-term so the current moves don’t faze me. Unlike the Governments rush to do something – even if they have no idea what to rush and do, I have a plan and that allows me to sit and wait to see what happens.

So now you have my thoughts. I’ve factored in the lower refining levels due to the accident earlier this year. I’ve factored in the lesser supply of gold from South Africa, and the Olympics in China. I’ve looked at the real estate market, and the Dow Jones. So until the Dow hits 11,000 (plus minus 100 points or so – I’m not that good) oil and gold rise further and we enter the 3rd quarter it’s just time to accept the pain. But I’m sure this being an election year all of that will get mucked up by political ambitions.

We shall see.

Labels: China, Crude oil prices, Dow Jones Index, economic forecasts, ethanol, gold spot prices, green energy usage, mortgage crisis, Olympic games, tax increase

Over the past 9 days the potential for a Democratic nominee to be identified in the U.S. Presidential race became clearer, crude oil has topped $100 a barrel, China has begun to recover from winter ice storms and started the Lunar Year of the Rat. Each of these items has helped to place upward pressure on the spot price of the precious yellow metal commodity gold. Thus today we are at a point where record profits are being reported by some gold mining stocks, and gold spot prices have breach historic levels.

And I’m not surprised.

I have mentioned,

“As these facts are absorbed by the markets, increased volatility and further upward pressure on gold should continue. It’s likely that the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Index and Amex Gold Bugs Index will reflect this pressure. Several Canadian gold miners are also likely to have a short-term boost as they will have increased sales due to lack of competition.

Perhaps most important will be the timing of all these events. If they are moderately spread out and occur individually I expect that they will not be able to retard the move in gold. Combined or occurring close together the effect will be magnified.”

When I made this statement gold spot prices were above $920, now on February 21st they have reached $948. That’s roughly a 3% increase in 9 days, and a continuation of the trend established at the beginning of this year. And it’s not limited to just gold commodity prices.

Barrick Gold Corp reported a 28 percent gain in fourth-quarter profit, or 61 cents a share, beating the estimate of 14 analysts. Barrick was able to attain this while production in 2007 fell 6.7 percent to 8.06 million ounces.

Given that fact, what would an investor or analyst think when you consider that supply is in the throes of shrinking due to power outages and other factors in South Africa. One example is DRDGold, which dropped production 13% in the 4th quarter, and yet is up 4.4% today.

But the growth is not limited to just these companies.

The TSX material stocks gold sub-sector is up 1.4 percent. That includes the aforementioned Barrick and Goldcorp. Other companies around the world on the rise include Exxaro, AngloGold Ashanti, and many others.

The facts are that China and India need gold. Even in a global slowdown their demand has increased pressure on supply. Recession and inflation fears and a lagging stock market in the United States have not diminished though they are not leading world headlines this moment. Oil prices are foreseeable going to continue higher and place more pressure on world economies, especially if OPEC cuts production rates as expected. And the prospect of a Democratic President in America is generally seen as a negative for the stock market, further spurring a move to gold to hedge investments. I have said,

“All stock markets, all financial markets, move on emotion first. That’s given. And few things are more emotional that 1.25 basis point moves by the Fed in a week. But fundamental facts of the markets always come to fore and correct the emotion. To me, $1000 gold, and higher gold stocks across the world, is as fundamentally sound today as when I discussed it earlier this month and in December of 2007.”

I’m no analyst, nor am I making an advisement. But I do believe that the factors are in place, and the results are like dominoes falling. Unless investor sentiment changes, which actions by Warren Buffett and the IMF have not been able to counter to date, I see nothing to stop this trend.

Now I will go one step better. If supply remains constrained, as we can see is likely, and the U.S. economy has the mild recession now being stated by the Federal Reserve. If oil production is cut, in combination with the recent U.S. refinery accident that has placed pressure on capacity, and Senator Barack Obama becomes the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States. If all those actions occur, which seem 80% probable to me at this time, then I believe that gold spot prices in excess of $1125 are possible by the end of this year. Commensurate with this move should be gains among the gold mining stocks across the world.

Labels: AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick Gold Corp, China, DRDGold, Federal Reserve, gold spot prices, Goldcorp, OPEC, Senator Barack Obama, stock market, U.S. economy, Warren Buffett