France has long relied on heavy doses of nuclear power to keep the air clean and the lights on. Now though, with increased scrutiny over nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster and an interest in reducing even its small proportion of fossil fueled power generation, France is adding more solar power to its mix of energy resources. Renewables Now reports that France is filling the first-third of a 500MW solar power tender with 130MWs of solar panels purchased from SunPower Corp. Ivan Shumkov writes: The US company will deliver panels of the E-Series for installation at 25 ground-mount and … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2017
Will Elon Musk and Tesla Transform the Trucking Industry?
In a post on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the company will unveil a semi-truck in September. Then, prompted by a response to the post, Musk revealed that a Tesla pickup is coming in 18 to 24 months. Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an amazing job. Seriously next level. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2017 @NoahMagel Pickup truck unveil in 18 to 24 months — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2017 Tesla isn't the only company working on zero emissions trucks. Another company named after the same man, Nikola Motor Company is developing a hydrogen … [Read more...]
This is How you Preserve Generational Wealth
One of the lines in the chart below is the purchasing power of the USD, and the other is the purchasing power of an ounce of gold. Both series are rebased to one in 1913, the year the esteemed Federal Reserve was created. Since the Fed was created, the U.S. dollar has lost 96% of its purchasing power while gold has gained purchasing power. That’s no coincidence. Gold is a store of value. A wealth preservation vehicle. Gold won’t make you rich, but it won’t make you poor either. Gold is a currency. It can’t go bankrupt, lose its value because of poor management, accounting fraud, … [Read more...]
Here’s How Killing Double Taxation Would Help the Economy
Implementing a flat tax would allow America to end distortive double taxation schemes like the Death Tax, capital gains taxes, dividend taxes and more. Cato Institute Senior Fellow Dan Mitchell writes that without double taxation America's tax code would no longer "discourage capital formation by imposing a higher effective tax rate on income that is saved and invested (compared to the tax rate on income that is consumed)." Dan writes: Why would the economy grow faster if we got fundamental reform such as the flat tax? In part, because there would be one low tax rate instead of the … [Read more...]
Are Sinking Iron Ore Prices a Sign of Trouble in China?
After a big rally last year iron ore prices are rolling over. The FT reports that a glut of supply in China is weighing on prices. The sharp drop on Wednesday is the latest swing for a commodity that raced higher over the second half of last year to more than $90 a tonne. The benchmark 62 per cent ore for immediate delivery into China was trading at $67.9 a tonne, according to the Steel Index, a price reporting agency. Signs of faster economic growth in China helped the rally in the second half of last year, leading to a build-up of iron ore inventories at the country’s ports. With China … [Read more...]
Will President Trump Send Gold Prices Soaring?
After President Trump's comments yesterday about the country struggling to compete with the dollar as strong as it is, and separate positive statements he made about regularly dovish Fed Chairwoman Yellen, gold and silver prices jumped. Will a "weak dollar" Trump administration be a boon to gold investors? Carla Mozee writes at MarketWatch: Gold, silver and prices for other metals leapt Thursday, bolstered as the U.S. dollar was shoved lower after U.S. President Donald Trump said the currency has been trading at “too strong” of a level. June gold GCM7, +0.83% advanced $12.10, or 0.9%, to … [Read more...]
After Trump Rebuke, Toyota Plans $1.3 Billion Plant in Kentucky
Toyota is making a big deal out of its planned $1.3 billion Kentucky plant. The plant will produce Camry sedans and, it is hoped by Toyota, cool down the anti-import rhetoric coming from the Trump administration. Adrienne Roberts reports in The Wall Street Journal: The investment plan is long in the making, coinciding with the introduction of revamped products in the U.S. The announcement comes, however, on the heels of Toyota facing high-profile criticism from President Donald Trump earlier this year for plans to build a $1 billion plant in Guanajuato, Mexico. Toyota’s first rebuke from … [Read more...]
Time to Bring in the Seasoned Hands at the Fed
Will three vacant seats at the Federal Reserve and Yellen's and Fisher’s terms ending next year, Donald Trump has the opportunity to perform a much needed overhaul of the Fed. We could be looking at an entirely new regime for monetary policy in as little as twelve months. Regime change would be a risk to many complacent bond investors, but it would also be a welcome change for income investors who have been starved of yield for years in the name of stimulating the economy. One of the biggest problems with the Fed is that it has been captured by the academic establishment. Below, Joe … [Read more...]
Gold is Moving Up
Gold crossed its 200-day moving average yesterday. … [Read more...]
High Margins and Market Share Paint a Target on Companies’ Backs
For a long time Gillette has been dominant in the international market for razors. The business is generates high margins and has been a cash machine for P&G shareholders. But new competition is upending this long-time reality. Startups like Dollar Shave Club and Harry's are eating into market share and have driven Gillette to lower prices on its razors to compete. Like Netflix, Amazon, and Google did to movie rentals, shopping and advertising respectively, technology is upending yet another staid business model. Sharon Terlep reports at The Wall Street Journal: New data show Gillette has … [Read more...]