Just a few years ago the chatter was that “Peak Oil” was here and all the oil that could be found had already been found. But all that has changed, now new oil and gas discoveries are being made at a frantic pace. This is not new. The cycle goes on. When prices of oil or gas […]
Key Oil and Gas Discoveries of 2013 Read More »
Since January of this year, it has been evident that the rate of corporate insolvencies in the UK is on the decline. Although it would be nice to think that the economy is improving, there are strong indications that the markets have yet to recover. In fact, the Belfast Telegraph reported that the International Monetary
UK Corporate Insolvency on the Decline Read More »
An interesting thing about the uptick in gold prices over the last couple of days is the number of people asking me if I think gold has bottomed. This is somewhat amusing since we all know that no one can time a market, and the questions are coming from my peers—professionals who should know better.
Timing the Bottom of Gold Read More »
The nuclear power debate has surrounded the use of a sustained nuclear chain reaction to generate electricity since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986 and recently Fukushima has reignited the debate. From 1952 to 2011 there have been at least 25 nuclear power plant accidents that had either multiple fatalities or more than US$100 million in property damage. Worldwide there have been a total of 99 accidents at nuclear power plants that either resulted in the loss of human life or more than US$50,000 of property damage.
Russia Building Floating Nuclear Power Plants Read More »
The most notorious recent case was in Zimbabwe and ran from 1998 – 2008. But North Korea experienced less severe hyperinflation in 2010 -2011. Other recent examples include Belarus 1994-2002, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1993, and Angola 1991-1999. You can see a list of 26 examples of Hyperinflation beginning with Egypt in 276 AD which had 1 million percent inflation over 58 years and ending with Zimbabwe. And lest we Americans get too smug we need to realize that we are the only ones on the list twice. Once in 1779 and again in 1861-1865. The result of the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
Surviving a Hyperinflation Read More »
In 1977, Congress amended The Federal Reserve Act, stating the monetary policy objectives of the Federal Reserve are “to promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices and moderate long-term interest rates”.
Tapering Bets Could Backfire For Stock Bears Read More »
Many people dream of retiring at the earliest possible date with the expectation that their investments will provide them with a steady income for the next few decades. But as soon as they put in their papers and go to collect their last paycheck, they might be surprised at how much of a chunk of their retirement income Uncle Sam takes out. No matter how you invest your money, you can be sure that taxes will take away a considerable portion of your personal finances. There are a few ways to mitigate these losses, depending on how you invest your money and how much liquidity you want on hand for retirement.
Retirement Investments Affected By U.S. Taxes Read More »
The healthcare systems in the U.K. and U.S. are vastly different, although the health-care system in the U.S. is currently undergoing changes that will address one of the key areas where it has been criticized — in terms of universal coverage.
Healthcare in the US vs. the UK Read More »
During the last 10 years, the natural gas and oil industry has developed into one of America’s most technologically sophisticated industries. New advancements have caused the industry to become a technological pioneer. In the nineties, increased numbers of power generators started to utilize natural gas for electricity production, which caused demand to rise significantly. This industry has managed to keep up with rising demand and generate larger quantities of gas, thanks to technological advances. These advances have allowed gas to be produced from shale, along with other less conventional formations, which are located in plentiful supply throughout the US. However, natural gas is still produced from traditional onshore and offshore formations as well.
New Technologies in Natural Gas Read More »
The employment outlook in the U.S. is slowly improving and some areas are expected to see major gains in the coming months and years. Although there has been growth in the areas of employment and it is expected to continue, there is still a great deal of fear associated with the economy, and many businesses are reluctant to hire. The country’s aging population of baby boomers, however, will force some sectors into hiring as the need for their services increases.
Employment Trends in the US Read More »
