Abbi Adestsubmits:There are four energy related IPOs for this week: Approach Resources (AREX), an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, exploitation, production and acquisition of unconventional natural gas and oil properties; OSG America (OSP), the largest operator, based on barrel-carrying capacity, of U.S. flag product carriers and barges transporting refined petroleum products.; Quest Energy Partners (QELP), a company that exploits and develops natural gas properties; and SandRidge Energy (SD), an independent natural gas company focused on West Texas.Complete Story »
Barron's interviews growth-stock investor B. Anthony Weber, founder of Veredus Asset Management, whose small-cap growth fund has earned an average 15.8% over the past nine years, while his large-cap growth fund turned in 18.1% over the past five. Weber says the long drought in big-cap growth is over, and even an economic slowdown won't stop its rally. Stocks he likes:Complete Story »
Analysis of: Producers react to energy security threat| www.iht.comImplications: BillFarren-Price reported in the October 30 issue of the InternationalHerald Tribune that energy security is a top priority for oil producingnations. Some producers are abrogating existing contracts to take alarger cut of the revenue. While producers enjoy the added income, theyare aware that the producing facilities must be protected in ways thatwould not have seemed prudent when the regions were more peaceful thantoday. Al Qaeda threatens Saudi Arabia. The five member GulfCooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia and the Trucialstates, frets that Iran has the potential to block the Straits ofHormuz. Kuwait is acquiring Patriot missile systems. Nigeria insurgentsin the Niger delta have actually shut off 550,000 bbl/day. Morerecently, leftist militants have blown up Mexican pipelines. Mexico isa major supplier to the U.S. The U.S. supports security in the PersianGulf as part of a $20 billion commitment to the Gulf States. Iran isthe main worry. Analysis: The oil wars of thepast were caused by attempts to control the resource. Today, the warsare efforts to prevent the destruction of oil fields and producingfacilities. In addition to the threats cited in the article, in recentyears piracy in the narrow channels in and around the South China Seahas become a major concern. The insatiable petroleum demands of Japan,India and China result in a constant shuttle of tankers coming from thePersian Gulf and West Africa. So far no tanker has been blown up or seton fire but many have been attacked and casualties have resulted.Tankers in those waters are usually armed with weapons capable ofrepelling the high-speed motorboat used by the legion of pirate gangs.The attacks on the Mexican pipelines came as a bolt from the blue. TheU.S. regards Mexico as a stable neighbor. Is this the beginning of amilitant trend with the potential of spilling over into Texas, NewMexico, Arizona and California? In November of 1910, Mexico fell intorevolution sparked by demands from peasant workers While some stabilityreturned in 1914, counterrevolutionary forces kept Mexico and the U.Ssouthwest border unsettled well into the 1930s.American and British oilinterests were involved as well. Venezuela too, is entering a period ofunrest. Some of President Hugo?s supporters are deserting him becauseof food shortages. Surging populations throughout all of the oilproducing regions are a primary cause of the unrest. The people see theoil leaving in tankers while they scrape out a humble existence.Trouble lies ahead and all of the security measures will be of littleavail in avoiding a major oil induced economic crisis.Complete Story »
This week on Sound Money Tips:Save on Halloween CostumesSome inexpensive costume suggestions.Buy Travel InsuranceBetter safe than sorry.Pick the Right NameThe wrong name will deter customers.Start a Business BlogJoin the 21st century.Avoid Illegal Interview QuestionsBe aware of your rights.Complete Story »
Dr Enzio von Pfeilsubmits: At the risk of sounding naive, we question the received market wisdom that "when Fed Funds are cut, markets rise." Don't get me wrong: we are not blind, either. Markets are welcoming recent Fed Funds reductions. But, if punters are buying only because of lower Fed Funds, beware... history has a nasty habit of repeating itself.Complete Story »
David Kretzmannsubmits: Normally I don't research a company's coming quarter this soon afterthey report results, but in this case with Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), I think it's worthdoing.Complete Story »
Abbi Adestsubmits:There are three Chinese companies set to go public in the U.S. this week: Agria Corporation (GRO), a provider of agricultural upstream products such as corn seeds, sheep breeding products and seedling productions; AirMedia Group (AMCN), a company that operates the largest digital media network in China dedicated to air travel advertising; and China Nepstar Chain Drugstore (NPD)the largest retail drugstore chain in China.Complete Story »
At a time when most of the banking industry has been battered by the housing and credit crises, Barron's says Northern Trust has emerged as the picture of stability, noting that just 0.12% of its loans are classified as non-performing vs. 0.76% for the banks as a whole.Complete Story »
James Picernosubmits: Here we go again? Maybe. Another economic release, another opportunity to rethink yesterday's conventional wisdom.Complete Story »
From PIMCO Managing Director Bill Gross's monthly market commentaryfor November 2007:[B]oth old-fashioned banks and their derivative, conduit-fed shadow counterparts will be growing their balance sheets a lot more slowly in future months and quarters.Complete Story »
FP Trading Desksubmits: Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS)fell more than 5% on Thursday ahead of the company?s third quarterresults, which were released after market close. But disappointingearnings of US11˘per share, compared with US31˘in the same period ayear earlier, led to huge sell-off on Friday morning.Complete Story »
Shares of fashion retailer Kenneth Coletrade at near four-year lows after investors and consumers were unimpressed by the firm's attempt to penetrate the luxury footwear market. Q3 profits fell 63% year-over-year, but Barron's says the quarter did carry some signs of encouragement.Complete Story »
From Bill Miller's Third Quarter 2007 letter (dated 11/2/07) to investors in Legg Mason Value Trust [LMVTX]:One of the enduring features of the findings in behavioral psychology asit applies to finance, a subject I have discussed many times over the years,is the almost complete inability of those who are aware of them to actuallyapply them...Complete Story »
