Ashevillain

The Five Best ETFs for a Falling Dollar

The Merk hard Currency Fund is a good, actively managed mutual fund that is designed to protect against a falling dollar.

Peak Oil as a Function of Earth's Volume

Poor article dressed in statistics. The author should subtract from his calculations the entire surface area of the continental U.S. because it has already been scoured. There is nothing left to find. The same could be said for Europe and certain other small and/or developed countries.

Hedge Fund Redemptions May Crash Q1 Markets

I think your off by thousands for gold prices and for the S&P. I have spoken with attorney colleagues recently in the Caymans and the BVI. Apparently, a very large percentage of funds have already suspended redemptions. In addition, there are a sizeable number of new hedge funds (yes, new) coming online after January 1. Add to that some facts mentioned above, like "notice provisions" and gates, and there will not be an avalanche caused by hedge fund redemptions in the 1st quarter. Although, I do agree there will be a material affect caused by redemptions.

$300/Barrel Oil Is Coming - Barron's Interview

Hey Ricard, while this column may not have addressed natural oil in depth, the interview in Barron's did. Maxwell does not believe natural gas can replace oil on a large scale for purposes of transportation. I agree.

Forget $100 a Barrel - Oil Will Plummet to $30

While I am not trying to proselytize, the author might want to read Twilight in the Desert to get a little perspective. All of his proposed fixes won't come soon enough if Matt Simmons is even half correct. Also, the idea that, somehow, after 30 years or more of inaction that Congress is going to put together a coherent energy plan (in the space of a year or two) and that a handful of fuel cells are going to save us is patently ridiculous. Further, nuclear energy doesn't power cars.

Oil Will Only Fall So Far

Details aside, viewed from Russia's point-of-view the author is correct about Russian concerns about American policy. If you were Putin or Medvedev and you believed that control of energy will be the source of power for the next 20 years, you would not be happy with the U.S. in Iraq, the U.S.'s relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the fact that a large fleet of naval ships sits off the coast of Iran. Those facts combined would provide even a reasonable person with a concern that America is trying to control oil--and Putin isn't reasonable.

Has Exxon Topped?

With a PE ratio well under 10, there is an implied yield of over 10% on the stock. You get your money back in 7 years at that rate. Thus, to maintain the current PE, assuming the same earnings XOM has right now, the stock has to double in 7 years. That's the minimum.