I want to talk about the challenge of exponential growth in a finite world. This is a concept that while on its surface seems easy to get, most people don’t fully grasp it. Any growth rate that is positive will lead to a doubling in size eventually -- the higher the growth rate, the quicker the doubling. A quick "back of the envelope" method of figuring it out is known as the rule of 70. If you divide a growth rate into 70, it will roughly give you the time for something to double. Thus if something is growing at 2% a year, then it will double in about 35 years, at 5% only 14 years, etc. If you want to be more precise, you can always use your Y^x button on your calculator, but the rule of 70 will do for this discussion. Clearly, exponential growth ...

By Bob Blandeburgo Associate Editor Money Morning On the last leg of his four-nation tour in Asia, U.S. President Barack Obama revived the issue of a still-pending free-trade agreement signed in... Money Morning is here to help investors profit handsomely on this seismic shift in the global economy. Money moves markets. But Money Morning lets you move first.

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 20, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Apple Inc. (AAPL), KT Corp. (KTC), SK Telecom (SKM), China Unicom (CHU) and American Express Company (AXP).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

South Korea Welcomes iPhone

Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone is finally reaching the hands of South Korean mobile users. The country’s telecom regulator Korea Communications Commission (“KCC") has granted Apple the license to sell the iconic handset in the domestic cell phone market. KCC has also lifted

...

Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone is finally reaching the hands of South Korean mobile users. The country’s telecom regulator Korea Communications Commission (“KCC") has granted Apple the license to sell the iconic handset in the domestic cell phone market. KCC has also lifted the restrictions that prohibited location-based services on smartphone devices such as the Google Maps application on iPhone.    South Korea’s second-largest wireless carrier KT Corp. (KTC) will start booking Internet order for iPhone (3G & 3GS) soon and begin selling it from Nov 28, 2009. The company targets to initially sell 150,000 units priced between KRW250,000 and KRW300,000 (US$216 and US$260). KT’s peer SK Telecom (SKM), the largest mobile operator in the country, is still negotiating with Apple for securing distribution rights.     South Korean wireless market is technologically advanced and relatively mature with roughly 47 million total subscribers, representing 96% penetration of

...

Baltimore – (TFN): The dollar is a dangerous entity these days. Never has there been such a globally important currency with as much political and financial manipulation.

The distortions from reality are mind-boggling, yet all of us depend on the status of the simple fiat for our financial wellbeing.

The person with the most skin in the dollar game is, no doubt, President Obama. The nation’s economy hinges on the fate of the greenback and the White House knows it. That is why it is doing anything it can to slow the slide.

Even if it is entirely psychological.

Today, reports are flowing from Washington that show Obama may have plans to use up to $210 billion in TARP money to lower the nation’s ever-increasing deficit.

It is creative accounting at best and a $210 billion bribe at worst.

While the average Oprah-watching, Crocs-wearing American won’t take a second out of their do-nothing

...

The report below comes courtesy of Nouriel Roubini’s team of analysts at RGE, taking a look at some recent monetary policy trends in advanced economies. This content is excerpted from a longer piece, “Global Monetary Policy Review,” which includes in-depth analysis of when the world’s emerging markets might shift interest rate strategy. However, the longer piece is available only on a subscription basis.

Last week was a busy one for the Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE). Policymaking is tricky when different asset classes are sending very different signals about the economy. However, those different signals are themselves a byproduct of policy. In the US, bond markets are discounting a sluggish U-shaped recovery or even a double-dip recession, while risky markets are signaling a strong V-shaped recovery ahead. Which is right? While RGE leans towards the

...

Mechel OAO (MTL), one of Russia’s leading mining and metallurgical companies, has reported results for its second quarter and first half of 2009.  For the first half of 2009, Mechel reported revenues of $2.4 billion, down 54% from the year-ago period. The company reported net losses of $471.4 million in contrast to net income of $41.1 billion year over year. However, Mechel managed a net income of $219.3 million in the reported quarter after posting losses in the last two quarters. Revenues inched up 8.6% sequentially to $1.3 billion on higher sales volumes. Before this, revenues were impacted by weak demand for steel and coking coal as well as foreign exchange losses.  The Steel segment generated 57% of revenues, which slipped 53.5% year over year to $1.40 billion in the first half of 2009. Unfavorable market conditions and low demand for steel from the end consumer ...

A Green Energy Investing Guideline

by Louise Harris, Investment U Research

Typically, when investors think about making money from climate change, they think about buying shares of companies that specialize in biofuels or alternative or green energy.

But those aren’t the only ways to profit from the green movement.

Deutsche Bank Group (NYSE: DB) recently conducted in-depth research, analyzing climate change and the cost of combating it. And a few very interesting conclusions came from it…

More capital is required to mobilize climate change industries and more action by government is required to attract capital. When governments offer tax incentives and create integrated plans to combat climate change, investors are attracted. Carbon markets could offer long-term solutions to investors trying to find a niche in the climate change debate.

And there are countries out there doing just that.

The Greenest Countries

...

Dr Stock Pick HOT News & Alerts!

_________________________________________

FREE Daily Stock Alerts From DrStockPick.com

_________________________________________

DrStockPick.com Watch List!

My Picks for Wednesday November 4, 2009, are:

**************************************************************

UTEK, Ultratech Inc.

UTEK designs, manufactures and markets photolithography and laser processing equipment.

UTEK has received a follow-on order for its AP200 lithography system, which features an innovative dual-side alignment system for through-silicon via applications.

Built on its customizable Unity Platform, UTEK’s systems are the exclusive tool of record at this customer’s facility–one of the first Japanese companies to enter into volume production of image sensors.

More about UTEK at www.ultratech.com.

**************************************************************

SUNV, Sunovia Energy Technologies Inc., SUNV.OB

SUNV commercializes and markets products within the LED lighting and solar markets that reduce carbon emissions promote

...

Panasonic Corp. (PC) plans to restructure its division, Motor Company in April 2010 to enhance growth potential and strengthen its management structure. Upon completion of the restructuring, the motor company will be dissolved.   Panasonic will reorganize and integrate its Home Appliance, Automotive Motor and Industrial Motor Businesses to form the Home Appliances Company (HA) and transfer the Information Equipment Motor Business to Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation.  The company will liquidate Panasonic Motor Matsusaka Co., Ltd., which is Panasonic's subsidiary company, for accelerating manufacturing at other optimal locations after transferring compact AC geared motors and industrial brushless motors to Panasonic Motor (Zhuhai).  Panasonic’s organizational restructuring and its ability to target resources to growth areas have enabled the company to withstand the weak economy. The company aims to strengthen both finished product manufacture and device businesses through company-wide cost reduction efforts, including material costs and fixed costs. ...