Daily Blogwatch: The Myth of Record-High Gold
Among the day's top stories for investors: How the election results are bullish for stocks, 21 utilities yielding more than 4.5%, and many reasons to be a day trader.
utilities
Blogwatch: The Housing Market Is Poised to Boom
Among the day's top online stories for investors: Why the housing market is ready to boom, which sector significantly outperformed the S&P over the past year, and the scoop on Warren Buffett's successor Todd Combs.
PG&E Finds 38 Natural-Gas Leaks, Though None Near California Explosion Site
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. found 38 leaks in its more than 6,700 miles of natural-gas transmission lines. The company said its 16 miles of lines in the San Bruno, Calif., area, where a September explosion killed eight people, were satisfactory.
U.S. Industrial Production Slipped 0.2% in September
It's the first decline since June 2009. Still, despite the dip, the nation's industrial sector remains in an uptrend, and a weaker dollar may further boost international sales of key U.S. companies in the months ahead.
California to Get a Third of Its Electricity From Renewables by 2020
After the California Legislature ended its session without adopting a new renewable standard, regulators took matters into their own hands and approved the 33% standard Thursday. Will the standard prove effective?
Industrial Production Rises for 14th Month
Factories continue to show signs of sustainable economic growth, as industrial production rose 0.2% in August.
With Interest Rates So Low, What's an Investor to Do?
Interest rates are hovering near record lows, so investors looking for higher returns will have to look beyond interest-bearing assets like CDs and money-market funds. If low risk is a priority, consider two interesting options: utilities and oil pipeline partnerships.
Legal Briefing: Obama Backs Utilities in Climate Change Case
Eight states, New York City and three groups won the legal right to sue greenhouse-gas emitting utilities. The companies appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Obama administration has filed a brief supporting them. Find out the implications of this move.
U.S. Industrial Production Surged in July
The 1% increase eases worries that activity in the sector that's so far led the recovery is slowing. The July increase was led by strong performances in the manufacturing and mining segments, while utility output cooled off.
Warm Weather Turns Utilities Into Hot Investments
The combination of increased revenue from the warm temperatures and the prospect of increased electric use from a sustained economic recovery bodes well for electric utility stocks for the remainder of 2010 and into 2011.
California's Revolt Against Smart Electric Meters
Despite promises of environmental benefits and lower costs to consumers, smart meters are running into stiff resistance in some areas where you'd least expect it. Among the concerns: More electromagnetic radiation and loss of privacy.
Industrial Surveys Show Economic Recovery Slowing
One nation industrial and two regional surveys released this week provided further evidence that the U.S. economic recovery weakened somewhat in the second quarter, as manufacturing growth slowed.
California Freezes Popular Solar Incentives
With comically bad timing, California suspended a key solar incentive just days before some 20,000 solar devotees converged on San Francisco for Intersolar, an industry conference and expo. Why? Because the program has been too successful.