Archives for August 2010

August 2010 - Page 8 of 10 - Money Morning - Only the News You Can Profit From

Investing Strategies: How to Build a Global-Investing Portfolio Using ETFs

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It wasn't all that long ago that global investing was an activity that was restricted to only the wealthiest U.S. investors. If you weren't one of America's ultra-rich, you weren't able to access foreign markets.

That began to change in the 1950s, with the advent of international and global mutual funds, and access further expanded over the next three decades with the introduction of single-country closed-end funds. Today, thanks to the recent explosion in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), investing in overseas stocks is now almost as easy as targeting a given market sector here at home.

In fact, although it has been a mere 17 years since the first ETF began trading in the United States (in 1993), the most recent count finds more than 290 international, regional and foreign-country-focused funds listed on the various U.S. exchanges – enough to entice any investor with even a modest yen for overseas portfolio exposure.

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Buy, Sell or Hold: The Clorox Co. (NYSE:CLX) Is Cleaning Up

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The Clorox Co. (NYSE:CLX) on Thursday reported net earnings of $171 million on sales of $1.52 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 ended June 30, compared to net earnings of $170 million on net sales of $1.5 billion the year prior.

This continued the company's trend of improvement. But more importantly, the bulk of Clorox's profit and margin growth came from its international unit, and the firm projected an expansion in earnings per share of at least 10% to 14% for next fiscal year.

Boring is beautiful when you're dealing with consumer staples, since share prices improve with incremental increases in sales and margins. In Clorox's case, this has meant taking advantage of low rates and dependable cashflow to finance expansion plans. But the good news is that the high financial leverage results in an exorbitant return on equity. 

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With Mid-Term Elections Looming, Will Democrats Fire Back with a Second Stimulus

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Data last week showed a job market that's careening down a steep street with no breaks. Yet investors were able to shrug off employment concerns, as the stock market actually ended the week up 1.5% due to that rockin' Monday on the first day of the month.

That's because there is growing speculation that the Democrats are plotting a surprise stimulus in the run up to November's mid-term elections.

Let me explain…


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India: On the Path to Double-Digit Growth?

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If it's able to control inflation and cut its debt, India could well become the world's most appealing investment opportunity. Europe is choking on debt and scrambling to salvage its beleaguered currency. The United States is saddled by high unemployment and struggling to preserve its wobbly recovery. Even China – which has had to reign […]

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Strong Second-Quarter Earnings Can't Keep the Bears at Bay

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The second-quarter earnings season has gotten off to a strong start, but it's been no match for bears who are less than thrilled with future earnings prospects.

More than half of the companies on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index have reported second-quarter earnings results. And so far, they've been strong, with two-thirds of those companies beating earnings estimates, three-fifths beating on sales and almost half beating on both earnings and sales. 

As a result, the consensus second-quarter earnings per share estimate has climbed to $20.63 from $19.60 at the beginning of the month. Merrill Lynch analysts expect final second-quarter earnings per share to come in at $20.75 – a 5% sequential improvement from the first quarter.

That would be a deceleration from the 15% sequential growth seen between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, but it's good growth nonetheless. In fact, it puts 2010 S&P 500 earnings at about $83 per share. And at current prices, that gives the market a price-to-earnings multiple of just 13.3-times – below the long-term historical average of 15. 

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It's Time to Keep America From Becoming Just Another Banana Republic

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The great American tradition of individualism, entrepreneurship and revolution is being systematically undermined by a cadre of financial strongmen bent on turning us into just another "banana republic" – where a subdued and apathetic population is subjugated by a ruling class of wealthy oligarchs.

The gross irony is that the same capitalist system that molded America into the strongest, most productive and richest nation in history, has been transformed into a mostly private moneymaking enterprise whose beneficiaries are those who actually produce nothing but paper profits.

The story of America's transformation from great experiment to another banana republic is one in which economic crises were manipulated to create a political front for an elite banking class.

It's a story that's worth examining…

To find out why America is headed for banana-republic status, please read on...

Money Morning Mailbag: BP Stuck in Oil Spill Spotlight While Others Downplay Disasters

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The BP PLC (NYSE ADR: BP) oil spill disaster has shone a spotlight on oil industry pollution. While BP takes the brunt of public anger, no oil company has escaped the wrath of critics who are eager to expose an industry they feel shortcuts safety standards for profit.

Comments from readers with first-hand industry experience continue to pour into Money Morning's Mailbag, sharing their thoughts on the oil industry's operations.

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Drought Forces Russia to Ban Grain Exports

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Russia yesterday (Thursday) banned grain exports after unrelenting heat left the country with its worst drought in at least a half-century.

Wheat rose to a 23-month high after Russia, the world's third-largest grower, announced a ban beginning Aug.15 that will last through the end of the year. Corn and rice prices also surged yesterday after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said a ban on those grains would be "appropriate" in light of skyrocketing prices. 

Domestic grain prices gained 19% last week, faster than at the peak of the global food crisis in 2008.  The ban includes wheat, barley, rye, corn and flour exports, according to the government decree that also set aside nearly $1.2 billion for stricken farmers.

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Why You Should Worry About the Iran Oil Sanctions

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I cut my teeth doing energy-related deals in the Soviet Union and still spend a lot of time consulting in Russia and the Caspian Sea basin. These days, my work takes me all over the globe. But the part of the world where my career began still holds the key for future oil supplies.

Especially the Caspian.

This land-locked body of water borders five countries, each having major oil-and-gas reserves.

One of those countries is Iran – the focus of the latest problem that's cropped up in the global energy sector.

And that "problem" – Iran oil sanctions – is certain to bring about an increase in the price of crude oil.

Two sanction-spawned catalysts will boost oil prices. To see them, read on...