The October edition of the Reuters South African Survey of Economists has just been published. (The Reuters Econometer is a measure of economic sentiment drawn from a monthly poll of forecasts by leading economists in South Africa and abroad and presented in the form an index). The weightings used in the index are: GDP growth - 25%; CPIX inflation - 20%; Producer Price Inflation - 5%; Prime Interest Rate - 20%; 10-year bond yield - 5%; Rand-Dollar Depreciation - 25%.

The Reuters Econometer fell for a third consecutive month in October, falling to 235,60, its lowest level since September last year. Confidence in SA’s economy fell as demand and manufacturing capacity is seen taking longer to improve, as a result of the looming increase in power tariffs, which is expected to further

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August 27, 2009 ndash; LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) announced an agreement with Yancheng City of Jiangsu Province for the development of a number of PV projects (ground-mount, roof and BIPV) totaling up to 500MW over the next five years. And Canadian Solar (Nasdaq:CSIQ) said it has signed a LOI with the Administration Committee of Baotou National Rare Earth Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, for rights to design, install, operate and maintain a 500MW solar facilitynbsp; in Baotou. The three-phase project is expected to start in September 2009 and run through December 2011 (phase 1: 100MW; phase 2 and 3: 200MW). These announcements mark an important trend in the solar markets and one that we have been commentating on a lot lately ndash; the further move by midstream solar firms to vertically integrate downstream and even moving into operations of solar facilities. Cowenrsquo;s Raj Seth this morning commented on the ...

Most people associate solar power with photovoltaic cells used to generate electricity, or perhaps solar water heaters, or even large solar power plants, where the heat of the sun is used to produce steam which runs turbines to produce electricity. It’s easy to forget that most other energy sources also trace back to the sun.

The simplest of fuels, wood, is produced when trees capture the sun’s energy to build the hydrocarbons necessary for growth. Fossil fuels come from buried organic matter produced ages ago from ancient plants that also depended upon the sun. Wind energy comes from the sun heating up the atmosphere creating convection currents. Hydropower comes from the sun’s energy evaporation of sea water, carrying it into the sky where it later falls as rain, generating power as it falls back to the sea. In fact, with the exception of nuclear power and geothermic power, all our

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Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has said that electricity prices must increase following the disaster at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric plant as it has seen a quarter of RusHydro's power production suspended.  Clean-up efforts have begun to attempt to minimize the damage caused by an oil slick in the Yenisei river, created by the explosion at the plant.  See a video interview with Carl Larry, president of Oil Outlooks & Opinions, on Bloomberg, discussing the reasons why he thinks that oil prices will increase.  Is this the end of the oil age? wonders Bill Emmott in the Times.  As OPEC 'deliberately cut production...to keep prices high', will buyers lose patience and turn to substitutes?  Vietsovpetro, Vietnam's joint endeavor with Russia's Zarubezhneft will spend $1 billion constructing a LNG pipeline to the south of the country.  An international conference on Arctic ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - May 12, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the latest Industry Outlook. Today's outlook from Zacks Equity Research analyst Jon Kolb discusses the Alt-Energy sector. Highlighted stocks include: Entergy (ETR), FPL Group (FPL), Energy Conversion Devices (ENER), Evergreen Solar (ESLR) and SunPower (SPWRA).

Here is the latest on the Alt-Energy sector:

Solar power is well-suited to match peak energy needs as maximum sunlight hours generally correspond to typical peak demand periods when electricity prices are at their highest. These characteristics increase the value of solar power as compared to other renewable resources that do not align with peak demand periods. 

Solar power products can be deployed in many sizes and configurations to meet the specific needs of the customer. With no moving parts or regular required maintenance, solar power systems are among the most reliable forms of electricity

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Assuming that GDP growth is slightly negative for the next 3 to 4 quarters while the credit markets gradually strengthen, let's consider the outlook and opportunities for the Alternative Energy industry over the next 6 to 12 months. Many companies engaged in the solar power market offer profitability with strong average long-term annual earnings growth expectations of approximately 40%, stock price valuations significantly discounted from their recent historic highs, and a favorable political environment.

Industry Outlook for Alternative Energy Stocks: Speculative - Bullish

The electric power industry is one of the world's largest industrial segments. With a global market share of approximately 25%, the United States is the leading producer of electricity, followed by China, Japan and Russia. Total global electricity consumption volume grew at a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 3.1% from 1980 to 2006, the most recently available information, according to the Energy Information Administration of the United States

...

Assuming that GDP growth is slightly negative for the next 3 to 4 quarters while the credit markets gradually strengthen, let's consider the outlook and opportunities for the Alternative Energy industry over the next 6 to 12 months. Many companies engaged in the solar power market offer profitability with strong average long-term annual earnings growth expectations of approximately 40%, stock price valuations significantly discounted from their recent historic highs, and a favorable political environment.

Industry Outlook for Alternative Energy Stocks: Speculative - Bullish

The electric power industry is one of the world's largest industrial segments. With a global market share of approximately 25%, the United States is the leading producer of electricity, followed by China, Japan and Russia. Total global electricity consumption volume grew at a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 3.1% from 1980 to 2006, the most recently available information, according to the Energy Information Administration of the United States

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April 9, 2009 ndash; Analyst Comments ndash; Pacific Crestrsquo;s Mark Bachman issued a note on First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR) this morning, raising revenue and EPS estimates, as well as his price target from $209 to $227, which is 25x his 2010EPS expectations of $9.09. Bachman maintained his OUTPERFORM rating. Key Takeaways: middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Updated model to include the Optisolar transaction, which closed on Friday, as well as lower contract ASPs through 2010, and several other factors. He factored in an acceleration in cost-per-watt, driven by the Malaysian operation where the remaining eight production lines are ramping.nbsp; Despite ASP erosion, he expects profitability to improve as manufacturing costs come down; middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; ldquo;ASP declines represent an offensive weapon, not a defensive tactic.rdquo; Bachman is forecasting gross margins above 50% throughout 2009; middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Increasing FY09/10 revenue estimates to $1.93 billion and $2.5 billion, and 09/10 EPS estimates to $7.89 and $9.09. middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Maintaining OUTPERFORM rating, ...

Assuming that GDP growth is slightly negative for the next 3 to 4 quarters while the credit markets gradually strengthen, let's consider the outlook and opportunities for the Alternative Energy industry over the next 6 to 12 months. Many companies engaged in the solar power market offer profitability with strong average long-term annual earnings growth expectations of approximately 40%, stock price valuations significantly discounted from their recent historic highs, and a favorable political environment.

Industry Outlook for Alternative Energy Stocks: Speculative - Bullish

The electric power industry is one of the world's largest industrial segments. With a global market share of approximately 25%, the United States is the leading producer of electricity, followed by China, Japan and Russia. Total global electricity consumption volume grew at a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 3.1% from 1980 to 2006, the most recently available information, according to the Energy Information Administration of the United States

...

Assuming that GDP growth is slightly negative for the next 3 to 4 quarters while the credit markets gradually strengthen, let's consider the outlook and opportunities for the Alternative Energy industry over the next 6 to 12 months. Many companies engaged in the solar power market offer profitability with strong average long-term annual earnings growth expectations of approximately 40%, stock price valuations significantly discounted from their recent historic highs, and a favorable political environment.

Industry Outlook for Alternative Energy Stocks: Speculative - Bullish

The electric power industry is one of the world's largest industrial segments. With a global market share of approximately 25%, the United States is the leading producer of electricity, followed by China, Japan and Russia. Total global electricity consumption volume grew at a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 3.1% from 1980 to 2006, the most recently available information, according to the Energy Information Administration

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