DIGGER

Shorting Treasuries: What's the Rationale?

Not being a sophisticate when it comes to the subtleties of finance, why wouldn't US Treasury Inflation inddexed bonds (TIP or IPE) be a reasonable place to park cash or, if the relative value of the dollar is dubious, how about WIP a collection of upscale sovereign inflation protection bonds other than the US. Currently, the yield on both is very good and presumably the value of these will not fluctuate much?

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Not all Repubs are right wing nuts nor all Dems Marxists. The current problem stems from sheer hubris and CFOs who failed to ask themselves "what if...? Not being an economic guru, I ask myself and others, why is it necessary to focus on past debt when the current problem is one of borrowing capacity? Why can't the experts come up with a package that assures govt. backing if someone wants to borrow. The old debt can be handled by bnakruptcy judges..Just a thought....

Should We Listen to Boone Pickens on Oil?

Jimmy Carter did not get many things right, but his take on energy was right on. He advocated research and development to take us to a sort of quasi post oil energy era. If his suggestions had been heeded and the effort sustained, the current energy problems might be moot. Pickens is on the right track and it is time to move on. I don't subscribe to much of the man's politics, but energy dependence is not nor should be a political matter.

Heckmann Looks To Grow With China Bottles

For one not well versed in the nomenclature, what is the true meaning of the company's S-4 filing and is this a positive or a negative?

Still No Inventory Reduction at GLD

Stephanie's purview is interesting reading; however, for we poor shlubs without an MBA what does it all mean? Put another way: what pragmatic purview should one have after digesting her scenarios?

Lessons Learned From Auction Rate Securities

As a victim of illilquid auction securities, I could not disagree more with the rationale that I and others like me should have researched the situation better and would, ipso facto, have learnt the potential risk. Most investors rely on the expertise of their broker, just as people with ailments rely upon their doctors. In my experience and sharing this experience with others in the same predicament who relied upon their broker's acumen,too many brokers touting these instruments were oblivious to the potential vicissitudes of these instruments - the what if. And recommended them as safe as government securities but with a better yield. Investors accepted this expertise and were, as I was and am, chagrined to learn that they were not as good as treasuries when the time came to sell. Usually, such problems stem from omission or comission in this case there's a combination of both

Speculation and the Price of Oil

What I think I just read and am digesting is that there is (1) an ongoing shortage of oil & gas brought about by a more or less constant supply that can not meet increasing world demand(2) Speculators are ostensibly short term players, otherwise they would be investors(3) The industrial world had better find new energy sources PDQ, as the oil producers can readily adjust to supply and demand by turning off the pumps.

VeraSun Energy and the Ethanol Debate

The use of corn as an energy source must be relatively short term at best; there will soon be other technological ways and means to provide energy. Rather than subsidized corn based ethanol, the policy should be to compensate those who have made the investments in corn based ethanol as a precursorto closing them down. How much in compensation? A few billilon ought to do it. Negotiate with Brazil and other reciprocal sources for ethanol as we await the tech breakthrough that will usher in a new energy paradigm. Meanwhile we go back to 60 mph speed limits and smaller horsepower cars. We use energy saving lighting and employ conservation . Give grants to academe and tax breaks to industry to find the energy sources that will wean us from being carbon adicts. geothermal is another potential energy solution. Seek and find, and the sooner the better...

Rules of the Game - Cramer's Mad Money In-Depth (4. 17.08)

My impression of Cramer is that he is a speculator-cum-market timer. he rarely, if ever, counsels "investing" in a sector, i.e. solar tech, water purification, alternative energy, etc. and then staying the course as the respective companies go through their various growth and development stages. He reminds me of a racetrack tout who knows that there is a winner in every race, and all you have to do to get attention is recommend a bunch of horses in each race...