US-Iranian saber-rattling or impending shoot-out? In his usual, candid manner, contrarian investor Doug Casey talks about why he believes it’s serious this time… why the US is the greatest threat to peace today… why Iran might move towards a gold standard… and what smart investors should do.
[Read more...]The Next American Oil Boom?
February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Decline rates.
Seriously.
There are not very many people outside the “Peak Oil” crowd who care — heck, even know — what “decline rates” are.
Yet the “story that isn’t being told” is often where you find the best investment narratives.
“At first,” our resident energy enthusiast kicks us off with just such a tale, “the conservative approach was to estimate that the Marcellus wells would be productive for about two-three years and then the decline curve would kick in.
[Read more...]$100 – The New Floor for Crude Oil
December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In the midst of the news about the EU crisis, it’s worth pointing out that oil prices have quietly crept back over $100 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate is $102 as I write. Brent crude, which many argue is the more important figure, is $111. This is remarkable given how weak the global economic recovery has been.
[Read more...]Water – Still Blue Gold
November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I was in Bangkok while the floods were raging. I also visited Cambodia. The floods were in the news there as well. Though it did not affect Phnom Penh, where I was, the remote villages were dealing with a lot of water.
That’s the curious thing about water. There always seems to be either too much of it or not enough. What follows is another look at my favorite commodity and the opportunities of investing in it.
[Read more...]Crack This Code: EROEI
November 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
“I just want to stop and make sure we’re not on fire,” Brad said as we pulled over.
My friend Brad Farquhar is the co-founder and vice president of Assiniboia Capital, which invests in farmland. We had just driven through a canola farm some 50 miles outside of Regina, Saskatchewan. And apparently, the canola crop can get sucked in the car engine and cause a fire.
[Read more...]Reinventing the Wheel for Greater Energy Efficiency
September 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
With fuel prices edging ever higher, engineers are scrambling to find new ways to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles. We’ve already seen a few attempts on the market. Hybrid automobiles — vehicles that combine electrical and internal-combustion powertrains — are becoming commonplace. Pure electric vehicles, such as those in development by Tesla Motors, are expected to be seen on the road in the next few years.
[Read more...]Awaiting the Eventual Return of the Rare Earths Market
September 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
China is putting the squeeze on rare earths…again. And unless you have a large stash of light bulbs around the house, you’re going to feel this one personally.
“China is temporarily shutting down most of the industry,” reports The New York Times — closing or nationalizing dozens of rare earth producers.
[Read more...]
The Upside to a Natural Gas Downturn
Isaac Newton showed us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. That is why every downside force in the energy sector creates upside opportunities elsewhere. The challenge is finding them. It takes an understanding of the entire global energy machine to figure out what areas are benefiting from the changing landscape.
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