The focus on green energy found a rather large boost in 2008 as petroleum prices surged and a “green” president was elected. The overall reality of the green investment, however, is that it is still an infant trying to solve issues and meet production and cost requirements. Solar is quickly catching up to electrical plant production on cost/watt, as is wind. Bio-fuels are also making huge leaps against petroleum depending on the day. But until cost and quantity can match fossil fuels now and in the future, they will always remain in the development stage. Those green companies that can meet production and cost demands, however, will become the investments to be involved with. They may not be there yet, but they are the ones to watch if an investor can find them.

OriginOil Inc., a development stage biofuel conversion equipment company, works to develop equipment for the conversion of algae

...

Monday December 29, 2009 Navivest

Shares of chemical maker Dow Chemical (DOW) are off $3.82 or 20.19% after the company announced that the government of Kuwait had cancelled a planned 50-50 joint venture deal.

When the deal was first announced, Dow Chemical announced that it would receive $9.5 billion in cash from Petrochemical Industries Company, while Dow Chemical would contribute the physical assets of the joint venture. This valued the deal at $19 billion.

The new company that was to have been created under the deal, K-Dow Petrochemicals, was envisioned to be a leading global supplier of essential petrochemicals and plastics that manufactured and marketed polyethylene, ethyleneamines, ethanolamines, polypropylene and polycarbonate.

On December 1, 2008, the deal was renegotiated at the behest of the Kuwaiti government and under the new terms of the deal, Petrochemical Industries Company would contribute $7.5 billion for its 50 percent stake and $1.5 billion of that

...

Tennessee-based Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) is engaged in the manufacture and sale of chemicals, plastics and fibers. The company has a strong fibers business and solid financials. It is likely to benefit from its recent focus on the industrial gasification business.However, Eastman Chemical is witnessing rising raw material prices and a declining demand for its products. The company will generate less distributable cash because capital expenditures will likely exceed depreciation. Capital spending increased to $431 million in the first 9 months of 2008 from $346 in the same period prior year.The lack of free cash flow, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) capacity increases coupled with slowing growth, and PET industry overcapacity force us to rate the stock a Hold with a target of $28. This is 5.8x our 2008 earnings estimate.Read the full analyst report on EMN "EMN" Free ...

The Dow Chemical Company (DOW) is the largest producer of plastics and the second-leading chemical company in the world.Vertical integration keeps costs low. The company's recently completed joint venture agreement with Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait is expected to reduce cyclicality in the chemical business. Further, its merger with Rohm and Haas will consolidate higher margin and higher growth specialty businesses and reduce volatility in earnings and cash flow.However, high raw material costs have forced the company to temporarily idle or reduce production at several of its plants. Further, Dow has a high exposure to the commodity chemical cycle. We expect earnings to remain under pressure and rate the stock a Hold.Read the full analyst report on DOW "DOW" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research

DOW Chemical Cuts Back on Almost Everything

This morning, stocks jumped almost 3% after President-elect Obama pledged the largest spending increases on domestic infrastructure since President Dwight Eisenhower created the national highway system.

It’s been rumored for weeks that Obama would make “New Deal” type investments in our nation’s energy and power arteries. Adding state infrastructure projects onto the list makes sense. It also makes mining and chemical companies very happy. And they’ve needed some good news.

The largest U.S. chemical producer, Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW), announced it would trim almost 11% of its workforce, close 20 plants and idle 180 more. It follows 3M (NYSE: MMM) and DuPont (NYSE: DD), which have both announced layoffs and cutbacks in recent days.

The plastics and rubber chemical sector has lost almost 40% this year - about the same as the S&P 500 (.INX). But

...

The Dow Chemical Company (DOW) is the largest producer of plastics and second-leading chemical company in the world. Vertical integration keeps cost low. Stronger demand in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, India, Middle East and Africa has more than offset the continued economic slowdown in North America. Moreover, price gains have largely offset significant increases in costs of feedstock and energy. The company's recently completed joint venture agreement with Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait is expected to reduce cyclicality in the chemical business. Further, its merger with Rohm and Haas will consolidate higher margin and higher growth specialty businesses and reduce the volatility in earnings and cash flow.However, high raw material costs have forced the company to temporarily idle or reduce production at several of its plants. Further, Dow has a high exposure to the commodity chemical cycle. We expect earnings to remain under ...

While China may blame the rest of the world for its dramatic decline in exports, Beijing has no one else to blame but itself for the steep drop in dairy exports.

An article in today’s China Daily reported that the country’s dairy exports “have ground to a halt” in the wake of the tainted-milk scandal.

The latest numbers from China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed that only 1,036 tons of dairy products were exported in October 2008, down 92% year-on-year. From January to September, the monthly average export of dairy products was 12,000 tons.

Once again, China is looking to the U.S. to rescue another of its exports. With the US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) on economic, trade and food safety issues slated to begin on Thursday, China is hoping it would pave the way for the Federal Drug Administration to accept the results of a Chinese agency that tests food safety.

If

...

a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T9VXVyuEITg/SSzhuXNGTuI/AAAAAAAAAl8/tRtxMxNVyqA/s1600-h/Memphis.jpg"img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T9VXVyuEITg/SSzhuXNGTuI/AAAAAAAAAl8/tRtxMxNVyqA/s320/Memphis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272837450363195106" //abr /If there is half as much future as there is history for Tennessee, then it is a bright future. And according to several independent organizations, Tennessee is one of the best states in the country to do business. The future is looking bright! Here are some interesting facts about the state:br /br /1. The state offers several incentives for new businesses and businesses relocating to Tennessee. They include, tax credits and tax exemptions.br /2. 80% of the state land is used for agricultural and forestry purposes.br /3. Tennessee most important crops are tobacco, soybeans, and cotton.br /4. The agricultural industry produces more than $2.5 billion in cash receipts.br /5. In a report issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council Tennessee is the 5th best economy in the country.br /6. Tennessee mining ...

a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T9VXVyuEITg/SSpYq8j_wfI/AAAAAAAAAl0/9kY9DN2tjic/s1600-h/ohio.jpg"img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 125px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T9VXVyuEITg/SSpYq8j_wfI/AAAAAAAAAl0/9kY9DN2tjic/s320/ohio.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272123808625443314" //abr /Long gone are the days when the French system of trading furs in Ohio was synonymous of wealth. Today Ohio’s economy is one of the most dynamic in America. These are some interesting facts about Ohio:br /br /1. Ohio is one of the top consumers of energy in the country.br /2. The state has a biomass energy program aimed to increase development and production of alternative biomass fuels in the state.br /3. In 2007 Ohio’s gross domestic product was $466 billion.br /4. The state’s manufacturing industries are the top producers in the U.S. of plastics and rubber, and electrical equipment and appliances.br /5. Walmart is Ohio’s largest employer, employing over 50,000 workers.br /6. The state’s top exports are automobiles and machinery.br /7. Ohio’s exports account for 4% of the total U.S. ...

Xerium Technologies (XRM) makes consumable products that are used in the production of paper and the company’s business lines are divided among clothing and roll cover. The clothing segment manufactures clothing products, such as forming fabrics, press felts, and dryer fabrics that are used on paper-making machines. This segment also manufactures clothing that are used in other industrial applications, such as steel, plastics, leather, and textiles manufacturing; and auto-joining equipment used on paper-making machines.

The Roll Cover segment manufactures, refurbishes, and replaces covers for working rolls, including vacuum rolls and press rolls; calendar rolls; and coater rolls that are used on paper-making machines. Investors should note Xerium fell on hard times earlier this year as it was hurt by the downturn in Asian economies. The company over-invested in the region and was unable to meet certain debt covenant requirements, which resulted in a late filing of financial results and the

...