August 2007 Archives

Shootout at the Sub Prime Corral - 2007-08-30
As if shedding nearly 40,000 jobs over the last eight months weren't quite bad enough, in some ways the mortgage industry's troubles have really just begun. The next blow, it seems, promises to come at the hands of the nation's politicians.

Change is in the Air - 2007-08-29
Since last November, it has been my great pleasure to bring you the stories that I believe will lead the markets for years to come. From nanotech to Web 2.0 to robotics to IPTV and everything in between, I've covered it all in the "knowledge economy" and then some.

Brazil's Hot Stock Market - 2007-08-28
The hottest spot in Brazil isn't the Copacabana beach. It's not the Sambadrome built for Carnival parades or the violent streets of the hillside favelas. It's the stock exchange.

It's a Shoo-In - 2007-08-27
The current economic debate really boils down to one essential question: "Will there be a recession?" To me, the question has about as much vitality as debating whether Roger Clemens will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. (With over 300 wins and more strikeouts than any other pitcher besides Nolan Ryan, the Rocket is a sure thing for Cooperstown). Similarly, a recession is not a question of "if" but merely of "when."

Technology Stocks - 2007-08-23
Commodities, banking, real estate, mortgages, builders - you name it - all down for the count and headed nowhere but lower, no matter what the Fed does.

Markets of the Rising Sun - 2007-08-21
It's a world where Wednesday night's news from Asia told me to expect a Thursday slide on Wall Street, but it took until Monday for Asia to absorb Thursday night's Fed cut. This is not the Twilight Zone, it's the global stock market.

Lenders Take the Jab, Borrowers Take the Knockout - 2007-08-20
The current weakness in domestic markets has recently been magnified overseas as panic spread to foreign investors with exposure to U.S. asset-backed debt. Some commentators point to this reaction in an attempt to disprove the belief that foreign assets offer protection from falling U.S. stocks. I believe such conclusions are premature. Global stock markets will soon decouple from ours, and strong returns overseas will occur even as U.S. stocks slump.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics - 2007-08-20
A look at the progression of the solar industry. From bulky panels to flexible strips, the solar industry has come a long way. Get ready for the next solar innovation.

A Few Bright Spots in the Markets - 2007-08-17
Well, after holding sway over the markets for so long, the bulls have had it absolutely handed it to them since those heady and short-lived days at the 14 k mark on the Dow.

Like Lemmings Off a Cliff - 2007-08-16
With so many lenders tumbling into the abyss these days, it's hard not to be reminded of that footage of a whole herd of lemmings jumping off a cliff. (Myth or no myth) I mean how else you can possibly characterize the ruin of so many financial institutions in so little time?

The Best Way to Invest in the Muslim World - 2007-08-14
It's an underdog in emerging Asia and in the Islamic world too. Indonesia has the world's fourth-largest population, and is number one among predominantly Muslim states. Here's why you can't afford to keep your money out of this archipelago.

Surgical Robot Primed to Deliver 284% Returns in Two Years - 2007-08-13
Of all of the problems to have in this world, a falling stock market is really nothing compared to the troubles of being diagnosed with cancer.

The Shoddiest Export - 2007-08-10
For years, Americans have been able to pay for enormous trade deficits by exchanging IOUs for imported consumer goods. Unfortunately for foreign creditors, a substantial percentage of those IOUs have recently taken the form of mortgaged backed securities.

The Lurking Water Monster - 2007-08-09
A sneak peak at the coming massive investment in water infrastructure, companies already making huge gains, and the unveiling of the Green Chip Water Index.

Cisco Knocks the Cover Off . . . Again - 2007-08-09
On the same day that Barry Bonds belted his way into baseball history, Cisco Systems crushed a long ball of its own. But unlike the Bonds home run that fell practically without a sound, Cisco's 4Q performance led to nothing but cheers on the Street, particularly over at the NASDAQ.

Ready to Vacation in North Korea? - 2007-08-07
Few would have dreamed of gallivanting around China during the Cultural Revolution. Now, the country is a tourist hotbed and host of a major tourism industry gathering this year. Could North Korea turn the same corner in a few decades?

Armed Robotic Squadron Takes to the Air - 2007-08-07
In the skies above the bloody streets of Iraq and Afghanistan, military drones continue to deliver the goods on one battlefield after another. Part spy and part weapons system, the effect of drones in the war on terror is both visible and undeniable.

Peak Oil is Here - 2007-08-06
The world's most respected journal of economics has now officially acknowledged the advent of peak oil, validating (finally!) what we've been saying for years.

It's the Fundamentals, Stupid - 2007-08-06
Amid the recent stock market weakness, the pundits are virtually unanimous in their claims that good underlying economic fundamentals are being trumped by irrational fear.

Bulls Catch a Summer Cold - 2007-08-03
After looking so dangerous only a couple of weeks ago as the Dow cracked the 14,000 mark for the first time, the bulls seem to have caught themselves a nasty summer cold.

Bankruptcy Rumor Crashes Beazer - 2007-08-02
True or not, rumors definitely have power, and the ongoing mortgage morass has produced them by the barrel-full lately. Unfortunately, in this case Churchill would be wildly off of the mark. Within the pain of the housing bubble, it seems, most of them--not just half--eventually turn out to be true.

Desktop Factory Brings 3D Printing to Consumers - 2007-08-01
As the markets up at Wall and Broad Streets continue to pacify the bears with an ongoing downtrend, to the nation's entrepreneurs it's really nothing but a sideshow.