WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. oil and gas reserves could grow by more than 50 percent as three companies said Tuesday that results from a deep-water exploratory drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico indicate a significant oil discovery.
``Fears of an economic slowdown are overblown,'' said Chris Rupkey, senior financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. in New York. ``All eyes are going to be on the labor market and tomorrow's report.''
Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Job growth in the U.S. picked up in August and the unemployment rate fell, the latest in a string of reports to show the economy will avoid a sharp downturn.
U.S. gasoline prices, now averaging about $2.80 a gallon, may drop 15 to 20 cents in September, said Tom Knight, director of trading at Truman Arnold Cos., a Texarkana, Texas, fuel wholesaler. Scott Hartman, chief executive officer of CHR Corp., which sells about 100 million gallons a year in Pennsylvania, said $2.50 to $2.60 is possible by December.
Gasoline prices are falling fast and could keep dropping for months."The only place they have to go is down," says Fred Rozell, gasoline analyst at the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS). "We'll be closer to $2 than $3 come Thanksgiving." (USA TODAY)
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY BY KIRK SHINKLE Posted 8/25/2006) As the world girds for a slowdown in U.S. growth, the latest reports from abroad offer a hint that pressures from long-rising inflation are wilting.
Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve signaled it's in no rush to resume raising interest rates, and may even be done tightening as the slowing economy eases inflation.
(BLOOMBERG)145,000 Germans who fled the fatherland last year amid record postwar unemployment, pushing emigration to its highest level since 1954, Federal Statistics Office figures show. Last year was also the first since the late 1960s that emigrants outnumbered Germans returning home from living abroad, the statistics office said. Even more troubling to German officials and business leaders, many were skilled workers like Koerber. The loss of such people, they say, may threaten Germany's economic competitiveness in the future.
Aug. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said ``strong'' growth in U.S. productivity will probably go on for ``some time'' as companies and industries make better use of computers to raise workers' per-hour output.
Aug. 31 (Bloomberg) Rising productivity has been an engine of U.S. economic growth for the past decade. The measure of output per hour worked rose at a 1.5 percent annual pace from the 1970s through about 1995 and jumped to 3.5 percent from 2000 to 2003 before cooling to 2.25 percent, Bernanke said. He cited ``leading economists'' as predicting about a 2.5 percent long-term rate.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Back to Basics: Part Two Lets Start Investing
August 29, 2006
Hello,
For most of us we have either Time or Money, the lucky few have both. So for those of you that has more time than money it is important to set your self up with a plan to make regular investment .It has been repeated so often most people ignore the advise but a consistent dollar cost averaging plan works over the long run. Obviously your 401k plan works on this premise. Other options are stock purchase plans or regular investment into mutual funds, but a good Financial Representative like my self can set you up and customer tailor a specific plan for you based on your goals.
For those who have accumulated some assets and have some money as well as time the first priority should be to consolidate old 401k ,403b and IRA’s in to one self directed IRA .For most people this is a tax free transfer otherwise known as a “rollover” .Most of the time it only takes a couple of weeks . It is better from an investment stand point and more cost efficient to consolidate all your retirement plans into one self directed IRA if you can. Self employed people should be looking to set up a retirement plan ASAP. Weather you use an IRA for starts or set up a SEP or a Single K plan it is very important to get started right away. Again you need to sit down with a financial representative and set up a custom plan.
Once you either consolidate or start saving then you can worry about asset allocation and diversification. Your investment choices are basically dominated by how much uncertainty you are willing to live with .Generally more uncertainty comes with higher risk investments like certain types of stocks ,commodities or futures and little or no uncertainty comes with short term low risk investments like bank CD’s or Treasury Bonds or Municipal Bonds. Many investors seem to get confused and look for higher returns from lower risk investments. Or worse own high risk investments and not realize it. A rule of thumb is that aggressive high risk investments go down about twice as fast as they went up and that you could lose all or most of your money. I have found that’s it more consistency than brilliance, meaning that for most investors it is better to look for moderate gains over the long term than trying to gamble on the next big thing.
Next part three Investment tips form the pros…
James
www.jamesfoytlin.com
Hello,
For most of us we have either Time or Money, the lucky few have both. So for those of you that has more time than money it is important to set your self up with a plan to make regular investment .It has been repeated so often most people ignore the advise but a consistent dollar cost averaging plan works over the long run. Obviously your 401k plan works on this premise. Other options are stock purchase plans or regular investment into mutual funds, but a good Financial Representative like my self can set you up and customer tailor a specific plan for you based on your goals.
For those who have accumulated some assets and have some money as well as time the first priority should be to consolidate old 401k ,403b and IRA’s in to one self directed IRA .For most people this is a tax free transfer otherwise known as a “rollover” .Most of the time it only takes a couple of weeks . It is better from an investment stand point and more cost efficient to consolidate all your retirement plans into one self directed IRA if you can. Self employed people should be looking to set up a retirement plan ASAP. Weather you use an IRA for starts or set up a SEP or a Single K plan it is very important to get started right away. Again you need to sit down with a financial representative and set up a custom plan.
Once you either consolidate or start saving then you can worry about asset allocation and diversification. Your investment choices are basically dominated by how much uncertainty you are willing to live with .Generally more uncertainty comes with higher risk investments like certain types of stocks ,commodities or futures and little or no uncertainty comes with short term low risk investments like bank CD’s or Treasury Bonds or Municipal Bonds. Many investors seem to get confused and look for higher returns from lower risk investments. Or worse own high risk investments and not realize it. A rule of thumb is that aggressive high risk investments go down about twice as fast as they went up and that you could lose all or most of your money. I have found that’s it more consistency than brilliance, meaning that for most investors it is better to look for moderate gains over the long term than trying to gamble on the next big thing.
Next part three Investment tips form the pros…
James
www.jamesfoytlin.com
Selling Covered Calls... Turning your Portfolio into a Cash Machine
The covered call strategy is straightforward. Monthly cash income is generated by selling call options on stock that you own. When selling a call option you contract the delivery of stock owned at a price (strike price) for a specific amount of time (option month). In other words, the buyer has the right to buy your stock (at the strike price), and you are paid a premium (price paid for the purchase right). This investment strategy works best in a rising market or flat market. Why? It helps to maximize the yield (premium) of the held stock. What's safe about options investing is that the strategy works well in a declining market, too. How? Use it to minimize losses by offsetting your stock's devaluation with premium income. If you plan to hold the stock you buy or own for a long period of time, then writing covered calls (selling call options on owned stock) can greatly enhance the yield performance of your stock portfolio.
Call options can be written every month on the stocks you own. This is because the highest premiums are realized over single-month periods, rather than two or more months out in time. The stocks you choose to hold or buy should be stocks you plan to own for a long period of time. They should be steady growth stocks that have done well over the long term and can be prudently held even if a market decline occurs.
To keep commissions down, it's best to write calls in contracts (lots) of five to ten. Since each contract is for 100 shares, plan to hold 500 to 1000 shares of each stock.
James
contact me today jamesfoytlin@optonline.net
Monday, August 28, 2006
new News news...
August 28, 2006 -- Not only is the inventory of available housing in New York at a 10-year high, prices for properties are sliding in the opposite direction, as the sellers' market has all but faded into the sunset. (NY POST)
A big storm in the wrong part of the Gulf of Mexico could easily send oil prices to more than $80 a barrel quite quickly, according to Stuart. And in the longer term, $100 a barrel is not inconceivable, oil analysts have said recently. (Cameron Hanover oil analyst Jan Stuart.)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran test fired a new submarine-to-surface missile during war games in the Persian Gulf on Sunday, a show of military might amid a standoff with the West over its nuclear activities. A brief video clip showed the long-range missile, called Thaqeb, or Saturn, exiting the water and hitting a target on the water's surface within less than a mile. The test came as part of large-scale military exercises that began Aug. 19.
ARAK, Iran (Reuters) - Iran's president launched a new phase in the Arak heavy-water reactor project on Saturday, saying Tehran would not give up its right to nuclear technology despite Western fears it aims to make atomic bombs. No one can deprive a nation of its rights based on its capabilities," Ahmadinejad said in his speech to inaugurate the heavy water project.
Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The best-performing oil investment comes from trees in Malaysia, not the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Vegetable oils from palm trees normally used in Hellmann's mayonnaise and Snickers chocolate bars are being converted to diesel for Mack trucks after oil more than doubled in the past three years and governments encouraged renewable fuels. Palm oil reached a two-year high this month and rose 15 percent in the past year, outperforming the crude oil used for most diesel.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Back to Basics Part One: Getting it together
Ok so the last couple of years have had a lot of ups and downs and now you’re looking for ways to get your financial house in order.
First it is important to understand that you’re not going to fix something in a week that you have gotten your self into over years. Once you except that this is a process that’s like going to the gym and is going to take regular effort on your part it get easier .
First its important to know where you are so take an inventory of all your Assets and Liabilities another words figure out what you owe (bills and debts) and what you own (property ,stocks ,bonds and so on) .It is very important to figure out exactly what you owe and what your monthly payments are . Next you need to figure out a budget, a real budget .Not an “about” budget. Important ; if you have not set up an emergency fund of at least $1000 you need to get this set up and tosses in savings ASAP. For most people anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months of money to pay bills in reserve (savings accounts) is about right.Most of you need to start out by paying off all your credit cards and miscellaneous debt ,paying off your smallest debt to your largest .Once you pay down one you take all the money your using to pay down that debt and add it to the next creating a snow ball effect. While you’re doing this if it available you should be maximizing out your 401K options many companies offer matching contributions, this is a painless way to increase your savings. For most people it takes any were from 18 months to 2 years to make this happen. too be continued.....
First it is important to understand that you’re not going to fix something in a week that you have gotten your self into over years. Once you except that this is a process that’s like going to the gym and is going to take regular effort on your part it get easier .
First its important to know where you are so take an inventory of all your Assets and Liabilities another words figure out what you owe (bills and debts) and what you own (property ,stocks ,bonds and so on) .It is very important to figure out exactly what you owe and what your monthly payments are . Next you need to figure out a budget, a real budget .Not an “about” budget. Important ; if you have not set up an emergency fund of at least $1000 you need to get this set up and tosses in savings ASAP. For most people anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months of money to pay bills in reserve (savings accounts) is about right.Most of you need to start out by paying off all your credit cards and miscellaneous debt ,paying off your smallest debt to your largest .Once you pay down one you take all the money your using to pay down that debt and add it to the next creating a snow ball effect. While you’re doing this if it available you should be maximizing out your 401K options many companies offer matching contributions, this is a painless way to increase your savings. For most people it takes any were from 18 months to 2 years to make this happen. too be continued.....
Monday, August 21, 2006
In the News .........
Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's gamble that he can suspend interest rate-increases on the chance inflation will recede is showing signs of paying off.
Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Prices paid to U.S. producers increased less than forecast in July, pointing to an easing of inflationary pressures anticipated by the Federal Reserve.
NY POST August 9, 2006 -- Cablevision became the latest company embroiled in Wall Street's stock options scandal when the Long Island cable operator said yesterday that its financial results over the last nine years were not accurate.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- BP's problem of corroding pipes is worsening as the nation's largest oil field ages and more water and less oil is produced during drilling. "Really, we are a giant water field," said Bill Hedges, BP PLC's corrosion expert, explaining that what comes up now during drilling is three-quarters water.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve, after engineering the longest unbroken string of interest rate hikes in recent history, has finally hit the pause button. The big question now is whether the reprieve for millions of borrowers will be temporary or a permanent halt in the central bank's campaign to slow the economy as a way of keeping inflation from getting out of hand.
(CNSNews.com) - Almost half of the illegal aliens arriving in the U.S. from terrorist-sponsoring or "special interest" nations in the past few years have been released into the American population following their apprehension. This key finding is published in an internal audit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by Cybercast News Service .
(CNSNews.com) - People sweltering from a heat wave in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. might find cold comfort in the fact that the temperatures of the past few days are not the hottest on record. That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago -- decades before the controversy over "man-made global warming" began.
(CNSNews.com) - A vast majority of Americans say they expect the current sectarian violence in Iraq to become a full-scale civil war, but U.S. military data compiled in Iraq indicates that over a two-month period ending on July 21, most of the violence happened in just four of Iraq's 18 provinces.
Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) The teams (Yankees and Mets) raised $1.57 billion this week to pay for new stadiums. The biggest portion of each sale was a 40-year bond with the same credit ratings, interest coupons and insurance against default. The Yankees, leaders in the American League's eastern division, will pay a yield of 4.51 percent, better than the 4.57 percent the Mets, also at the top of their group in the National League, obtained in a sale the day before.
FOX NEWS NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates.
Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Prices paid to U.S. producers increased less than forecast in July, pointing to an easing of inflationary pressures anticipated by the Federal Reserve.
NY POST August 9, 2006 -- Cablevision became the latest company embroiled in Wall Street's stock options scandal when the Long Island cable operator said yesterday that its financial results over the last nine years were not accurate.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- BP's problem of corroding pipes is worsening as the nation's largest oil field ages and more water and less oil is produced during drilling. "Really, we are a giant water field," said Bill Hedges, BP PLC's corrosion expert, explaining that what comes up now during drilling is three-quarters water.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve, after engineering the longest unbroken string of interest rate hikes in recent history, has finally hit the pause button. The big question now is whether the reprieve for millions of borrowers will be temporary or a permanent halt in the central bank's campaign to slow the economy as a way of keeping inflation from getting out of hand.
(CNSNews.com) - Almost half of the illegal aliens arriving in the U.S. from terrorist-sponsoring or "special interest" nations in the past few years have been released into the American population following their apprehension. This key finding is published in an internal audit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by Cybercast News Service .
(CNSNews.com) - People sweltering from a heat wave in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. might find cold comfort in the fact that the temperatures of the past few days are not the hottest on record. That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago -- decades before the controversy over "man-made global warming" began.
(CNSNews.com) - A vast majority of Americans say they expect the current sectarian violence in Iraq to become a full-scale civil war, but U.S. military data compiled in Iraq indicates that over a two-month period ending on July 21, most of the violence happened in just four of Iraq's 18 provinces.
Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) The teams (Yankees and Mets) raised $1.57 billion this week to pay for new stadiums. The biggest portion of each sale was a 40-year bond with the same credit ratings, interest coupons and insurance against default. The Yankees, leaders in the American League's eastern division, will pay a yield of 4.51 percent, better than the 4.57 percent the Mets, also at the top of their group in the National League, obtained in a sale the day before.
FOX NEWS NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates.
Poor Pluto
August 17,2006
Hello,
So far this summer, scientist can’t decide if Pluto is a still a planet or not, and the UN is not sure weather Hezbollah will disarm to a Lebanese army no one is really sure exists or not and the FED can’t seem to decide weather to fight inflation that it is not sure it exists or not. And you thought it was hard to decide if you thought the market was going to rally or not?
To make matters worse some are not even sure weather we are in a war or not, that the enemy is Islamic fascism or not and the economy is slowing or not .Yep that’s what I have been thinking about all summer between the beach and the BBQ.
As the likely hood of any further FED rate increase continues to decline the market is responding with one rally after another, yet many investors continue to remain unconvinced. Perhaps it’s the predisposition of the stock market this time of the year to consolidate till the end of October or perhaps it’s just that investors are still off on holiday. Maybe it’s just the latest scandal or the lack of any meaningful return the last several years, but in any case cash continues to pile up on the sidelines.
In uncertainty there is opportunity and risk and it seems the investors are still unconvinced that current opportunities outweigh the risks, another words many investors remain unconvinced that the FED is done.
James
www.jamesfoytlin.com
Hello,
So far this summer, scientist can’t decide if Pluto is a still a planet or not, and the UN is not sure weather Hezbollah will disarm to a Lebanese army no one is really sure exists or not and the FED can’t seem to decide weather to fight inflation that it is not sure it exists or not. And you thought it was hard to decide if you thought the market was going to rally or not?
To make matters worse some are not even sure weather we are in a war or not, that the enemy is Islamic fascism or not and the economy is slowing or not .Yep that’s what I have been thinking about all summer between the beach and the BBQ.
As the likely hood of any further FED rate increase continues to decline the market is responding with one rally after another, yet many investors continue to remain unconvinced. Perhaps it’s the predisposition of the stock market this time of the year to consolidate till the end of October or perhaps it’s just that investors are still off on holiday. Maybe it’s just the latest scandal or the lack of any meaningful return the last several years, but in any case cash continues to pile up on the sidelines.
In uncertainty there is opportunity and risk and it seems the investors are still unconvinced that current opportunities outweigh the risks, another words many investors remain unconvinced that the FED is done.
James
www.jamesfoytlin.com
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
In the news this week
NY POST August 9, 2006 -- Cablevision became the latest company embroiled in Wall Street's stock options scandal when the Long Island cable operator said yesterday that its financial results over the last nine years were not accurate.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- BP's problem of corroding pipes is worsening as the nation's largest oil field ages and more water and less oil is produced during drilling. "Really, we are a giant water field," said Bill Hedges, BP PLC's corrosion expert, explaining that what comes up now during drilling is three-quarters water.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve, after engineering the longest unbroken string of interest rate hikes in recent history, has finally hit the pause button. The big question now is whether the reprieve for millions of borrowers will be temporary or a permanent halt in the central bank's campaign to slow the economy as a way of keeping inflation from getting out of hand.
(CNSNews.com) - Almost half of the illegal aliens arriving in the U.S. from terrorist-sponsoring or "special interest" nations in the past few years have been released into the American population following their apprehension. This key finding is published in an internal audit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by Cybercast News Service .
(CNSNews.com) - People sweltering from a heat wave in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. might find cold comfort in the fact that the temperatures of the past few days are not the hottest on record. That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago -- decades before the controversy over "man-made global warming" began.
(CNSNews.com) - A vast majority of Americans say they expect the current sectarian violence in Iraq to become a full-scale civil war, but U.S. military data compiled in Iraq indicates that over a two-month period ending on July 21, most of the violence happened in just four of Iraq's 18 provinces.
FOX NEWS NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates.
Monday, August 07, 2006
gee wiz waiting on the FED
Once again we find ourselves just waiting on the FED .If the indications are that the FED is finished and past rate increases have done there damage or should I say done there work and of coarse the FED makes this all to clear ,then perhaps the ground would be set to make some headway . If on the other hand the FED continues to follow a course of never ending rate increases you can kiss this market good bye until the end of October. Many investors will choose short term CD’s over stocks .
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
this week in the news.....
HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro, who has wielded absolute power in Cuba for nearly half a century, remained out of sight Tuesday after undergoing intestinal surgery and temporarily turning over power to his brother Raul.
"We can't speculate on Castro's health, but we continue to work for the day of Cuba's freedom," said White House spokesman Peter Watkins. He also said the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation.
MIAMI (Reuters) - Cuban exiles streamed into the streets of Miami's Little Havana, dancing and cheering to celebrate news that Cuban President Fidel Castro had handed over power temporarily for the first time due to surgery.
"We can't speculate on Castro's health, but we continue to work for the day of Cuba's freedom," said White House spokesman Peter Watkins. He also said the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation.
MIAMI (Reuters) - Cuban exiles streamed into the streets of Miami's Little Havana, dancing and cheering to celebrate news that Cuban President Fidel Castro had handed over power temporarily for the first time due to surgery.
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