acquisitions, energy, mergers, nyse, sectors, utilities
While utilities are generally considered to be essential services for which demand should increase as the population grows, making publicly traded utilities a reasonably safe option in an investment portfolio, recent reports have revealed that this is not the case with the demand for electricity. It seems that alternative power sources such as rooftop solar panels, and technology such as low-power processors and manufacturing businesses, has caused electricity demand to all but level off. The annual increase in electricity usage during the 1990s was around 2.4 percent, whereas during the current...
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algeria, competition, energy, europe, world economy
The world economy is a balancing act. Disruptions, even in obscure parts of the globe, can make pernicious ripples elsewhere. Take, for example, the protracted dispute over back payments for natural gas deliveries from North Africa to Europe. Not many people outside those regions know anything about the dispute. But it stands to harm job creation and employment, as well as energy markets, in places as far-flung as Louisiana in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
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analysts, crude oil, economists, energy, new york, oil prices, speculation
After failing to cruise past the $80 level in recent weeks, crude oil has drifted lower toward the $70 mark. A report Wednesday (December 9) that indicated an unexpected drop in US crude supplies helped push the price of a barrel of crude oil back above $73 a barrel in early morning trade Wednesday. Still, oil remains relatively low in the near-term.
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companies, detroit, economy, energy, green brands, japan
With one in three wage-earners in Detroit currently unemployed, primarily due to the crisis the in the auto industry, this once thriving city has been hard hit by the economic downturn in the United States. Many of the city's talented younger generation are leaving Detroit to search for job opportunities elsewhere, which experts believe is a cause for concern and could spell disaster for the future of the city. But amidst all the doom and gloom, there are optimistic entrepreneurs who are determined to put a positive...
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ben bernanke, energy, federal reserve, job losses, wall street
With U.S. economic data revealing continued extensive job losses and a decline in mortgage applications, along with a worse than expected increase in factory orders, Wednesday saw investors locking down on profits garnered in the last four upbeat stock market trading sessions. Major stock market indexes had declined by close of business on Wednesday with the Dow Jones industrial average losing 64.04 points to close at 8,676.83, the Nasdaq composite dropping 10.88 points to 1,825.92 and the broad-based Standard & Poor’s 500 experiencing losses across all sectors and...
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corporate responsibility, energy, green brands, investment, socially responsible investing
There was a time in the not too distant past when being environmentally and socially responsible and making money were incompatible concepts in the investment world. However, with heightened awareness of the damage being done to the earth and its atmosphere through careless misuse of natural resources, along with the damage caused by pollution, many consumers and investors are choosing to go “green”.
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consumers, energy, financial stocks, market sectors, portfolios
In light of the gloomy second quarter stock market results, which saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 7.4 percent, investors are no doubt reassessing their portfolios, searching for a market sector that may provide some light at the end of the tunnel. However, the reality is that in the current bear market there are very few safe ports to shelter investors from the storm.
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energy, gas, nyse, stock price, utilities
This is paean for Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP). The market capitalization at the start of May 2008 has been a little over $2 billion. The stock price has been at $26.53 against a 52-week high of $33.04. It is apparent that the company is not immune from negative sentiment in and around the NYSE. What is so special about this corporation?
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