Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) is an interesting tale - this has been for many many years been a "hope" stock i.e. more promise than execution - I remember the hoopla surrounding it at the turn of the century ... the last time people were all hyped up about alternative energies (at the time the big fuss was about new wave car batteries and the like). This company has morphed over the years with a confusing array of business lines (trying to decide what it wanted to "be"), but recently has added a newer and more business savvy executive team, and while they still have a few business lines .... the excitement is their solar business, which has turned into the dominant line at the company. Much like First Solar (FSLR), ENER has a thin film process so by staying away from the polysilicon shortage issue they have some potential to ...

What is the market impact from the interpretation of data? It is an open and free debate, but there is a problem. The results follow from advanced statistical methods and processes. Even the smartest hedge fund managers, columnists, and pundits cannot draw independent conclusions. They did not take the right classes. They never did any time series modeling or survey research. Briefly put, they lack the necessary skills to evaluate most data. The result: Nearly everyone relies upon the analysis of those accepted as experts. What choice is there? This is a recognized principle in social science, called the two-step flow of communications. Application to the Monthly Payroll Employment Report When do we know that data interpretation has a market impact? One test might be the widespread citation of a conclusion. Our "go to guy" for those on the NYSE floor is Art Cashin. In his daily ...

This rather sparse chart is of the benchmark BET index from Romania. It may not be obvious on first glance but the market is down 34% from its closing high last July 24. Romania is part of the EU but not the EMU. Today their central bank raised rates by 25 beeps, 50 was expected, to 9.75%. Inflation is pretty hot (in the eights), GDP growth is good, estimated in the fives this year but it has been on a down trend for the last couple of years and it is a deficit country. I'm not sure how keen they are about trying to join the EMU but the mix of stats says that is probably a ways off but interestingly the currency, the leu, is up about 4% against the greenback this year but the ride to 4% has been wild. I think ...