SubscribeSkyhigh Oil: We have been Screwed !
September 11, 2008
I have written on this topic several times before, but I would like you to take extra care and really absorb this today as I can’t help to feel that between the energy fiasco and Fannie/Freddie, we have been screwed. Later this week we will find out just how bad as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC) will be releasing a report on oil market speculation.
If you have been a regular reader of MSN TopStocks over the past several months, I have been talking, writing, yelling and ranting about the obvious and rather incredible speculation that has occurred within the energy futures markets. It is remarkable how during that time, there has been a never ending stream of naysayers who have been confident that supply and demand is the only rationale for the parabolic rise of crude oil.
Now mind you, this comes from some pretty smart people who have been certain that in the short span of only a few months the world’s supply was being outstripped due to the massive industrialized growth within China and India. Then, just as fast, that all changed because (as the tale goes) the price escalation actually dampened global consumption. Come on fellas, do we really look that stupid?
Read the full article HERE
TDI Podcast 73: Tesla #16 - Fast Cars and Faster Markets
September 6, 2008
Guest: Jason McCabe Calacanis and Andrew discuss fast cars and faster markets. Technology to Tesla and back. We also have a hearty conversation about what is on the horizon for tech and how to benefit. Andrew also digs into the current situation with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and gives an update of the TDI Managed Growth Strategy (great week!). A few money making ideas are pack into this fun episode.
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Jason McCabe Calacanis is the founder and CEO of Mahalo.com, a human-powered search engine. Prior to Mahalo.com’s launch in May, 2007, he was an “Entrepreneur in Action” at Sequoia Capital, a position he held since December 2006.
Jason co-founded and was the CEO of Weblogs, Inc., a network of popular weblogs that was sold to AOL in November 2005. Upon joining AOL, he was appointed senior vice president. In addition, he was named general manager of AOL’s Netscape.
Prior to forming Weblogs Inc., Jason was the founder of Rising Tide Studios, which sold its flagship publication to Dow Jones.
By the way…Jason is waiting for his brand new Tesla. His is car #16 and is 100% electric and does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. Check out the Tesla for yourself HERE.
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Stock Discussed in this episode: MasterCard (MA), ExxonMobile (XOM), Proshares Ultrashort Oil (DUG), Capital One (COF), Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Valero (VLO), Yahoo! (YHOO), Fannie Mae (FNM), Freddie Mac (FRE), Proshares Ultrashort Financial (SKF)
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TDI Podcast 72: The Oil Bluff That Backfired
September 1, 2008
Guest: Chris Jolley, MSN Money tells us about the next generation of the the Microsoft Money product and Andrew explains how the “oil bluff” was just called. It took a hurricane to flush it out and now sub-$100 is looking like a real possibility. What we really want to know is the best way to profit from it… Listen in!
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Chris Jolley is a 12 year – veteran of Microsoft Corporation, having served in a number of business and marketing capacities. Currently, as the business leader for Microsoft’s Financial Products Group, he is responsible for defining and executing the marketing strategy for Microsoft’s consumer finance products, including MSN Money and Microsoft Money software. In this role, Jolley oversees the distribution, sales, public relations, and advertising of the products, as well as industry 
partnership efforts.
During Jolley’s tenure with the Financial Products Group, the MSN Money site has grown from 2 million visitors a month to over 13 million and the Microsoft Money software has evolved to include unprecedented Web integration, marking a new era in automation for online financial activities.
He has been a speaker and moderator at numerous financial conferences, including American Banker’s EBPP and Account Aggregation conferences, Spring Internet World and NetFinance, and has become a recognized industry expert discussing trends and issues in the online finance space.
Jolley joined Microsoft in 1995. Prior to re-joining the financial products group, he focused on partnership marketing, distribution and fulfillment for the MSN Internet Access business, direct marketing for Microsoft’s consumer annuity programs and leading the merchandising teams for MSN Shopping and Windows Live.
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Also in this episode…
Andrew and Chris discuss why Microsoft (MSFT) has discontinued the boxed product of Microsoft Money and how investors can benefit from the new and improved version that assists in the organization of assets/investments. Chris also tells us about some interesting projects that are in the works.
Then, Andrew discusses the potential for sub-$110 oil as we now had a peek at the actual surplus available. This will have a broad effect as Hurricane Gustav shutdown a good chunk of the Gulf production and damages are estimated to be in the $10’s of billions.
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Stock Discussed in this episode: MasterCard (MA), ExxonMobile (XOM), Proshares Ultrashort Oil (DUG), Capital One (COF), U.S. Natural Gas Fund (UNG), Valero (VLO),
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Natural Gas: Oversold and we are buying
August 28, 2008
* Recently, we bought U.S. Natural Gas Fund (UNG) for The Disciplined Investor Managed Growth Strategy portfolios…
Below is an interesting graphic that shows the effect on energy commodities by the legislation that closed the Enron Loophole. Even though there has been a great deal of discussion concerning the supply and demand factor, specifically related to China, it is clear that since July, the precipitous fall of energy commodities is not due to a reduction in demand. Supply/Demand had little to do with what occurred. It was rampant manipulation and speculation, and this graphic provides more proof.
The chart shows the percentage change of the three energy related ETFs (funds) that track natural gas, crude oil and heating oil. Of those, natural gas has fallen the greatest amount (37% down) as is appears that it is not the main target of speculators any longer. Read more
