Video

If I were a reader of these e-mails I would be curious to know something about the person who writes them.  If you are of like mind and want to satisfy your curiosity, watch a video titled ‘A top resource analytics website you’ve likely never visited‘ recorded last week by Investors Executive – viewing time 6 minutes.  There you will see and hear me discussing why the website exists and where we plan to take it.  Investment Executive is a Canadian trade publication for financial advisors published by Transcontinental Media. Its readership includes more than 120,000 financial advisors and others in the financial services industry.

New Book

Additions to Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe

Today we added the following Companies to our Company Universe:

Angus Mining (Namibia) Inc. (TSXV:ANA).  We currently categorize Angus Mining (Namibia) Inc. as a gold explorer operating principally in Africa (Namibia). Angus Mining (Namibia) Inc.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$17 million.  Review research data on Angus Mining (Namibia) Inc.

Foraco International S.A. (TSX:FAR).  We currently categorize Foraco International S.A. as an Oil and Gas Services company operating principally in Europe (also in Africa, Canada, Oceania, Russia and South America). Foraco International S.A.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$180million.  Review research data on Foraco International S.A.

Skywest Energy Corp. (TSXV:SKW).  We currently categorize Skywest Energy Corp. as an oil & gas explorer and producer operating principally in the Canada (Alberta). Skywest Energy Corp.’ s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$180 million.  Review research data on Skywest Energy Corp.

Press Release Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe who yesterday issued Press Releases and whose shares increased in price from the previous day’s close by more than Cdn$0.05, more than 10%, and whose share volumes yesterday exceeded their trailing 3 month average trading volume.  You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

No companies met our Selection Criteria on either Thursday, January 27 or Friday, January 28.

Insider Trading Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe for who our system on Thursday, January 27 and on Friday, January 28 reported insiders who filed reports indicating they had acquired shares through ‘purchase’ transactions.  You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

Thursday, January 27

Friday, January 28

Visit Stock Research Portal for free stock market data, analysis, and research on over 1,600 Mining and Oil & Gas Companies listed on the Toronto and Venture Exchanges. See our Legal Disclaimer

Possibly Related Posts:

• A New Greece?
• Bernanke – February 2, 2012 – U.S. Presidential Election!
• U.S. January Jobs Report!
• More On Greece!
• Christine Lagarde – Listen Between the Lines!

UK Living Standards

An article this morning titled ‘Bank of England chief Mervyn King:  standard of living to plunge at fastest rate since 1920′s‘ includes a video titled ‘King: No rise in real wages since 2005′ – reading and watching time 4 minutes.  The article makes for an interesting, thought-provoking, and I think worrisome read.  Among other things, it reports Mr. King as saying that UK wages have not kept pace with inflation since 2005, will repeat this in 2011, and that the Bank of England “neither can, nor should try to (emphasis added), prevent the squeeze in living standards”.  The article also reports that there are fears the UK is ‘poised to slip back into recession“.

Recession as previously discussed in these e-mails is in ‘economist speak’ when a country’s economy has two successive quarters of negative growth.  I have written recently of what I believe is a deteriorating standard of living on ‘Main Street America’.  That the Governor of the Bank of England is openly discussing this as he is, and seemingly not offering a solution – and in fact is denying responsibility on the part of the Bank – I see as both worrisome and a very possible harbinger of things to come in both the UK and other developed economies.  I suggest you read the article, watch the video, and think hard about this.

EuroZone Bond Sale

An article today titled ‘Asian investors lead massive demand for first Euro bail-out bond‘ – reading time1 minute – reports that a 5 billion Euro auction of five-year bonds yielding 2.89% was oversubscribed by 9 times.  The bonds were issued to fund the 1^st state of an Irish Loan package, with Asian investors (including Japan and China) taking up 38% of the issue.  This follows from two articles I have commented on the past two weeks with respect to the interest expressed by both China and Japan in economically supporting the EuroZone – an important export market for both countries.

No Government Spending = Depression?

I suggest an article this morning titled ‘Why Slashing Government Spending Now Would Result In A Depression‘ is worth you taking the time to read – reading time 2 minutes.  I found the article worrisome in that it holds out the proposition that without continuing U.S. Federal Government financial support the U.S. economy will go into depression.  I commented on the article as follows:

I find the underlying thesis in this article extremely disturbing. As I read it, the original author is effectively saying, without directly saying it, that without U.S. Federal Government spending to support the underpinnings of the U.S. economy, that economy will deteriorate into a depressive state. That is a scary thought taken to what I see is a logical outcome to dependence on U.S. Federal Government spending (whether inefficient or efficient) for the foreseeable future. First, U.S. manufacturing jobs are (or so I think) not going to come back, and second, anything talked about as ‘economic drivers‘ by President Obama in his Tuesday State of the Union address are long-term propositions at best. Third, it is a pipe dream as I see things to suggest the U.S. Federal Government is going to de-polarize and spend all the money it spends wisely going forward. In summary, if without U.S. Government spending over the next few years the U.S. economy will be unable to recover in a circumstance where I believe meaningful U.S. economic recovery (read creation of meaningful, high paying jobs in particular) is unlikely, I say ‘batten down the hatches’.

Again, I suggest you read the article and my comment, and then form your own view as to whether you think my comment on the article makes sense.

Additions to Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe

Today we added the following Companies to our Company Universe:

Argex Mining Inc. (TSXV:RGX).  We currently categorize Argex Mining Inc. as a titanium explorer (Iron, Magnesium, Vanadium) operating principally in Canada (Quebec). Argex Mining Inc.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$28 million.  Review research data on Argex Mining Inc.

Focus Metals Inc. (TSXV:FMS).  We currently categorize Focus Metals Inc. as a base metals explorer (Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Gold) operating principally in Canada (Quebec). Focus Metals Inc.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$30million.  Review research data on Focus Metals Inc.

Orion Oil & Gas Corporation (TSX:OIP).  We currently categorize Orion Oil & Gas Corporation as an oil & gas explorer and producer focused on natural gas operating principally in the Canada (Alberta). Orion Oil & Gas Corporation’ s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$310 million.  Review research data on Orion Oil & Gas Corporation.

Press Release Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe who yesterday issued Press Releases and whose shares increased in price from the previous day’s close by more than Cdn$0.05, more than 10%, and whose share volumes yesterday exceeded their trailing 3 month average trading volume.  You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

* Yesterday’s data, or latest trading day’s data, as applicable

Insider Trading Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe for who our system yesterday reported insiders who filed reports indicating they had acquired shares through ‘purchase’ transactions.  You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

Visit Stock Research Portal for free stock market data, analysis, and research on over 1,600 Mining and Oil & Gas Companies listed on the Toronto and Venture Exchanges. See our Legal Disclaimer

Possibly Related Posts:

• A New Greece?
• Bernanke – February 2, 2012 – U.S. Presidential Election!
• U.S. January Jobs Report!
• More On Greece!
• Christine Lagarde – Listen Between the Lines!

Commodities

An article this morning titled ‘Reversal of Fortune in Commodities:  2010′s Laggards are 2011′s Winners‘ – reading time 3 minutes – includes two charts which show the ‘year to date’ relative performance of each of forty commodities to December 23, 2010, and ‘month to date’ relative performance of those same commodities to January 21 (although the chart says to January 1 there must be a typo or the chart wouldn’t exist).  Needless to say, gold and silver have fallen from near the ‘top’ of the first chart to near the bottom of the second.  Interestingly, palladium has remained near the top of the second chart.  Further, the article reports that the Ivory Coast’s (Cote d’Ivorie) “unstable” government has put a one month ban on exports as of January 24.

Following from that last point, I responded to a question about Cote d’Ivorie in the context of the value of resource companies operating in that country in the Stock Research Portal Q&A Forums.  You can find that answer, which is somewhat generic to all countries and the influence on value of their political and economic circumstances, at http://goo.gl/oUfrY.

U.S. House Prices

An article yesterday titled ‘Home Prices Drop for Fifth-Straight Month in November‘ – reading time 1 minute – reports U.S. single family house prices fell for the 5^th straight month in November, and that a double-dip in U.S. housing prices could be confirmed in the next few months.  If U.S. housing prices continue to drop this obviously does not auger well for U.S. consumer spending or meaningful economic recovery – or at least so I think.

A second point:  it seems to me that to discuss U.S. Housing and ‘double dip’ in the same sentence is oxymoronic.  I don’t believe house prices have recovered in the period after mid-2008, so I think the better descriptor would be ‘drop further’.

State of the Union

If you watched and listened to President Obama’s State of the Union Address last evening you will have your own views of what he said, how he said it, and how the attendees conducted themselves.  My observations:

·        first, I think he did a pretty good job in a very difficult circumstance of offering up ‘hope’ and ‘warm and fuzzy feelings’ to the average American that America is still a strong and vibrant economy, and one that has good opportunity to recover from its current ‘Main Street Economic Malaise’;

·        second, that said I think that his rhetoric of Americans as innovators and entrepreneurs (something that rings true) is overstated, in that it does not present the other side of the coin – being that Americans are far from being the only innovators and entrepreneurs in the world.  From my perspective, President Obama’s comments with respect to innovation and entrepreneurship have to translate into meaningful long-term jobs that will reside permanently in America and significantly reduce the U.S. unemployment rate in the near term.  American innovation won’t help America much in the long-term if it generates jobs in other countries.  I will not be holding my breath on this one;

·        third, his comments on U.S. education standards, being in summary that they have to be seriously ‘kicked up a notch’ have to be correct.  However, that is a very long-term project as I see things, and given its debt loads and current unemployment rates, I worry that the U.S. has left things ‘too little and too late’;

·        fourth, his comments with respect to the importance of keeping American educated students in America following graduation has to be correct in concept, but as I see it impractical.  This is a ‘camel in the tent’ problem that has gone on for many years, and I can’t see that changing unless U.S. universities are mandated to refuse to accept foreign students – and I think that unlikely;

·        fifth, his comments on reducing the annual deficits also have to be right, and his declaration that he will veto any bill that contains ‘earmarks’ clearly makes sense to me.  However, good intentions don’t always lead to good and timely results.  Again I worry that even if the U.S. Federal Government succeeds in balancing its annual budget within (say) a three year period, that again this may prove to be ‘too little and too late’;

·        sixth, I found President Obama’s comments on America’s development of alternate energy and a program that would see the Federal Government fund private sector ‘brain trusts’ organized specifically to work on this very interesting.  I think this is a good idea, so long as expenditures are linked to success in some fashion.  However, even if such a program proves successful, again it will take many years to produce meaningful results;

·        seventh, his comments on doubling U.S. exports by 2013 are commendable but are dependent on comparative currency exchange rates, and how the developing countries ‘develop from here’.  Hence I think this is to a large degree outside U.S. control.  In any event, even if this were to occur, the U.S. will be dependant on imported oil for many years to come, and I don’t see the U.S. generating a positive net trade surplus for the foreseeable future, if ever.  I see this a very negative to America’s ‘economic position in the world’ as time passes; and,

·        eighth, he further committed to a withdrawal from Iraq this year.  One of the things I have wondered about for some months now is ‘if that happens, do those returned military personnel continue to be employed in the military, or do some (or many) of them join the ranks of the unemployed.  I don’t know the answer to this, but suggest it is something to think about.

All in all, I thought President Obama said a lot of ‘right things’ at a difficult time in America’s history.  We will have to watch and wait on what happens.

For a further view on the State of the Union address see ‘Empty Promises: 5 Reasons Why Barack Obama’s State Of The Union Address Was Completely Wrong About The Economy‘ – reading time 4 minutes.

Additions to Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe

Today we added the following Companies to our Company Universe:

Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSXV:FCV).  We currently categorize Focus Ventures Ltd. as a gold explorer operating principally in South America (Peru). Focus Ventures Ltd.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$12 million.  Review research data on Focus Ventures Ltd.

Golden Touch Resources Corp. (TSXV:GOT).  We currently categorize Golden Touch Resources Corp. as a base metals explorer (Copper, Zinc) operating principally in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador). Golden Touch Resources Corp.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$20million.  Review research data on Golden Touch Resources Corp.

Nimin Energy Corp. (TSX:NNN).  We currently categorize Nimin Energy Corp. as an oil & gas explorer and producer operating principally in the United Stated (California, Louisana, Wyoming). Nimin Energy Corp.’ s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$100 million.  Review research data on Nimin Energy Corp.

Press Release Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe who yesterday issued Press Releases and whose shares increased in price from the previous day’s close by more than Cdn$0.05, more than 10%, and whose share volumes yesterday exceeded their trailing 3 month average trading volume.  You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

* Yesterday’s data, or latest trading day’s data, as applicable

Insider Trading Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe for who our system yesterday reported insiders who filed reports indicating they had acquired shares through ‘purchase’ transactions.  You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

Visit Stock Research Portal for free stock market data, analysis, and research on over 1,600 Mining and Oil & Gas Companies listed on the Toronto and Venture Exchanges. See our Legal Disclaimer

Possibly Related Posts:

• A New Greece?
• Bernanke – February 2, 2012 – U.S. Presidential Election!
• U.S. January Jobs Report!
• More On Greece!
• Christine Lagarde – Listen Between the Lines!

Food Inflation

An article titled ‘Quantitative Easing Is Causing Food Prices to Skyrocket‘ – reading time 1 minute – advances the proposition that aside from “a perfect storm of increased demand, (and) bad harvests from key exporters” the U.S. Federal Reserve’s recent incremental ‘Quantitative Easing‘ policies are the primary reason U.S. food prices are rising rapidly. The author’s theory seems to be that ‘incremental money supply’ leads to increased consumer spending, which in turns gives food processing companies and food retailers an opportunity to realize higher margins in dollar (if not percentage) terms – and so they raise prices. It strikes me that while this might be true to some degree, one would have to assume all food processors and food retailers somehow either colluded to raise prices once the Fed stepped in, or magically they all collectively simultaneously said to themselves ‘wow, here is an immediate opportunity to raise prices’. I can’t see either of those two things happening all or in part in a time-span of only about three months, and frankly see it as improbable and impractical in a broad U.S. food industry sense in any time frame. In summary, to the extent U.S. food prices are rising quickly I suspect that is happening equally (or largely equally) in all countries, and that it has to do with population growth, poor harvests (as said by the article’s author), and other broad-based demand/supply issues.

That said, the issue of inflation is becoming one that is increasingly being written and talked about, particularly with reference to China in the context of China being viewed as a primary engine of world economic growth in the current environment. With some intrepidation I plan to ‘put my toe in the water‘, and comment on inflation in an e-mail later this week. 

U.S. Bank Closures

Economic Optimism?

An article titled ‘Economic Optimism Reflected in Employment Uptick‘ – reading time 1 minute – reports the U.S. National Association for Business Economics released survey results (a link to the survey is provided in the article) that suggests “the number of firms expressing positive hiring plans is at a level not seen in over a decade”, with one in five survey respondents “expecting (U.S.) economic growth of 3% – 4%”. Apparently the survey also suggests companies are increasing future capital spending plans. Again, this is positive, but in light of continuing ‘U.S. debt’ piling up at all government levels and other U.S. economic issues I wonder how much this really means in the overall scheme of things. I think ‘not very much’.

It will not be lost on readers that many of the articles I comment on in these e-mails are ‘U.S. Centric’. By way of explanation, notwithstanding the economic problems I believe face the U.S. (some of which I see as extremely problematic, if not insurmountable) I continue to see the U.S. economy as an important ‘world economic driver’ for many years to come. That said, as a Canadian, I see our economy closely tied with the U.S. economy and don’t believe that will change. Accordingly, as goes the U.S. economy and U.S. society, from my perspective so too goes the Canadian economy and Canadian society. Hence my emphasis on the U.S. economy in many of my e-mails.

Additions to Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe

Today we added the following Companies to our Company Universe:

China Coal Corporation (TSXV:CKO). We currently categorize China Coal Corporation as a coal explorer operating principally in China. China Coal Corporation’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$25 million. Review research data on China Coal Corporation.

Sino Vanadium Inc. (TSXV:JJR). We currently categorize Sino Vanadium Inc. as a vanadium explorer operating principally in China. Sino Vanadium Inc.’s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$30 million. Review research data on Sino Vanadium Inc.

Tasman Metals Ltd. (TSX:REE). We currently categorize Tasman Metals Ltd. as a rare earth elements explorer operating principally in Europe (Finland, Norway, Sweden). Tasman Metals Ltd.’ s current market capitalization is approximately Cdn$250 million. Review research data on Tasman Metals Ltd.

Press Release Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe who yesterday issued Press Releases and whose shares increased in price from the previous day’s close by more than Cdn$0.05, more than 10%, and whose share volumes yesterday exceeded their trailing 3 month average trading volume. You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

* Yesterday’s data, or latest trading day’s data, as applicable

Insider Trading Highlights

The following table summarizes the companies in Stock Research Portal’s Company Universe for who our system yesterday reported insiders who filed reports indicating they had acquired shares through ‘purchase’ transactions. You can research each of these companies by clicking on the company name in the table.

Visit Stock Research Portal for free stock market data, analysis, and research on over 1,600 Mining and Oil & Gas Companies listed on the Toronto and Venture Exchanges. See our Legal Disclaimer

Possibly Related Posts:

• A New Greece?
• Bernanke – February 2, 2012 – U.S. Presidential Election!
• U.S. January Jobs Report!
• More On Greece!
• Christine Lagarde – Listen Between the Lines!