First Solar

Solar power is no longer something only wealthy, eco-conscious homeowners can afford. It's now within reach for most electricity users in the U.S., and it may make financial sense for you to switch.

Chinese medicine postulates the existence of qi, a circulating life force whose properties must be balanced for optimal health. Take a page from eastern philosophy and consider investing in these pairings of complementary stocks to strengthen your portfolio.

LDK Solar has long depended on demand driven by government subsidies from countries such as Germany, Spain and Italy, which makes it vulnerable in this period of European austerity. Trefis has revised its estimates for LDK Solar down -- but still meaningfully above the market price.

Yes, we've seen this movie before: As costly oil makes solar look good, investors pile in -- only to be let down when overcapacity sets in and oil prices tumble again. But this time, solar's rebound may be on somewhat firmer ground. Investors, though, still need to be cautious.

First Solar, one of the world's biggest solar manufacturers, is looking toward 2011 with plenty of good cheer. According to its latest forecast, released Tuesday, the company expects sales to heat up some 46% in spite of lower subsidies in Germany, the world's largest solar market.

Despite a growing market for solar energy, Energy Conversion Devices, which makes flexible films that converts sunlight into electricity, says it will cut 140 jobs from its Michigan operation and move some of the manufacturing to Mexico this fall to cut costs.

This year is turning out to be a good one for solar energy equipment makers and project developers. Solar panel makers saw a 92% jump in shipments in the second quarter from a year ago, and market research firms have issued bullish outlooks for the industry.

One would expect advances in solar technology to come from established solar energy companies like First Solar (FSLR). But Google's (GOOG) green initiative may outpace the major industry leaders by creating much more efficient technology. The head of Google's alternative energy operations, Bill...

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported net income slipped by 58 percent in the quarter as oil prices and demand dropped sharply. The results of 92 cents earnings per share missed analysts' expectations of 96 cents. Dow Chemical (DOW) reported its quarterly profit fell 97 percent as its sales dropped 39 percent...