Lewis Whokeyser

Update on ProShares Ultra Basic Materials ETF

The commodity boom is based on two trends
1) the weakening dollar
2) Overseas (China) demand

The first trend won't end until the Fed raises rates. I'm keping my eye on China.

If US demand begins to recover, commodity prices may rise even faster.

Japan to the U.S.: 'We Don't Want to Exclude You, But...'

What's missing from this analysis is the fact that since Japan just elected their version of Barack Obama, their foreign and economic policy has become "incalculable" as well.

Are REITs Getting Ahead of Themselves?

How does this apply to Agency REITs which invest only in government guaranteed Mortgage Backed Securities?

I'm referring to REITs like NLY, HTS, CMO, and AGNC.

The author just lumps all REITs together.

When Markets Stabilize, Russia's a Better Bet Than the U.S.

The potential exists that Vlad Putin may do to Russia what Robert Mugabe did to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's destruction started with land seizures. If the government doesn't defend property rights then there are no rights in the country.

Ironically, Putin may view the destruction of Russian capitalism as a "good" thing if his goal is to bring back his beloved Comunist dictatorship.

I would only play Russia from the short side.

Chesapeake Energy: Truckin', Like the Do-Dah Man

As a stockholder in CHK I'm watching all my gains evaporate. Record high nat gas prices and these clowns are diluting shareholder equity? Where's Carl Icahn when you need him?

"Rubinomics" Is Back

Robert Rubin, after leaving the Clinton Administration, accepted a lucrative position as VP of Enron. He pleaded with the Bush Administration not to look at Enron's books.

If Al Gore had won in 2000 and listened to Robert Rubin, how much worse would the Enron debacle have been if they were allowed to cook the books for a few more years?

Equating Robert Rubin with trust is like nominating Machine Gun Kelly as head of the Banking Commision.

Why I'm Re-Establishing My Gold Position

Like you, I got out of AUY during the selloff, and have been thinking of getting back in. The Economist magazine ran an article on inflation rates in various countries. The Europeans and Amaricans think 3% is high, but many other major economies are seeing 10% to 30% inflation. How do people in these countries protect themselves? Buy gold!

America's Energy Policy: Coming to Terms with Reality

Using my computer I printed out address labels saying:
"Democrats Won't Let Us Drill in ANWR.
Defeat the Democrats, Defeat High Oil Prices"


I will keep them in my car and each time I fill up I will put a sticker on the gas pump.


If you support this and can get others to do so, we can have this message on EVERY gas pump by November.

Power to the People!

Raising Chesapeake Energy's Intrinsic Value Estimates

I did a similar analysis for Apache Oil (APA).

As of December 31, 2007, the company had total estimated proved reserves of 1,134 million of barrels of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids, as well as 14.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Call it 100 billion worth of oil at $100/bbl.

Recent nat gas price in Feb was $7.55/Mcf. 14,700,000,000 Mcf times $7.55/Mcf = $111 billion dollars of nat gas, less pumping and shipping costs.

It looks to me like APA is a fifty-fifty oil and nat gas play. Its NAV, by my count, is 200 Billion +, and its selling at a current market cap of 40 billion.