October 27, 2009

Political Uncertainty Puts Freeze on Small Businesses

Very Good Wall Street Journal Article about why small businesses are not hiring or may be laying off. Think this is a common reason businesses are not taking advantage of the economy to expand market share. The uncertainty of the new health care costs, increasing taxes in 2010 when the Bush tax cuts expire, and political new taxes like Cap and Trade are causing businesses to hold on to cash. The recovery may be slow in the current situation until some direction is clearly coming from Washington.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125659324579108943.html
The leaders who can see a way to expand their businesses will be rewarded when the recession ends. How can you affordability grow your business market share now? Your customers will thank you.
Steve Amos

October 21, 2009

Energy prices have resumed rising

The price of oil is going up and there are several questions why.Oil storage are full and full tankers are sitting outside our harbors. Due to supply, prices should be falling.

In the back of everyone mind should be the situation in Iraq. The nuts running Iraq want to dominate the middle east, and really believe they can bring their mullah back from the 13th century by destroying infidels (Israel) and spreading their religion throughout the world. Russia is not supporting sanctions against Iraq, and may force Israel to attack. If that happens Iraq will mine the waterways and trap 25% of oil tankers from reaching the West. Needless to say prices should spike if this happens.

Add to that US government spending tripling our debt without any job creation. The value of the dollar is falling by design which also drives up prices of commodities. They believe it will make us able to export more, but they have not eased regulations on small businesses. Add to that small businesses are afraid what will happen with the health care bill. No wonder the economy is slow. This does not even include banks and businesses deleveraging, nor consumers reducing spending over job fears and increasing savings.

No wonder oil went from $65 to $80 in the last eight weeks. Gold has crossed $1,000 per ounce and is still rising. The dollar is still easing. Do not see anything stopping these trends in the next six months, or until the Iraq situation and health care is resolved. I bought ETF's in Gold at $950 and Oil at $65 because I expected the dollar to fall.
Steve

PS - see current MarketWatch article below about oil prices.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-falls-as-api-reports-rise-in-crude-supplies-2009-10-21

Moral Collapse. Don’t We Recognize Evil?

Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists. ~1,400 deaths, ~3,500 wounded and ~200 taken as hostages. Thousands of rockets were sent as armed a...