Monday, December 31, 2007

How to Start Investing

From Kiplinger
You want a home of your own, an education for your kids, a comfortable retirement someday and a little fun along the way. These are the dreams we all seem to be born with. To achieve them, we must become investors.

A brilliantly executed program of saving -- putting your money into certificates of deposit, money-market funds or savings bonds -- can earn 5% to 6% in a good year. With inflation at 3% (some would say that's optimistic) and taxes taking away another 25% or so of what remains, that 5% return quickly becomes about 1.5%. You're going to have to do a lot better than that.

You should aim for an average return of 10% to 12% per year on your investments. You won't make it every year, but that's an achievable range if you plan your approach thoughtfully and stick to your plan.

Successful investors don't jump around from one place to another according to what's hot and what's not. They operate from a plan that's based on their goals, how long they have to achieve them, their tolerance for risk (both financial and psychological), and what they can afford to set aside for an investment program. You want to make money, of course, but you also want to be able to sleep at night. Here's how to do it.

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Friday, December 14, 2007

Recieved My Refferal Bonus from Prosper

I received another bonus from Prosper for their referral program and I have funded my another loan because of it. I really love Prosper and what it can do for the average person, I continue to make money and it continues to grow.

The other great thing about Prosper, I have been able to help people start over and or start a business of their own. Lending to other people in need so very rewarding.

Dear Eric,

Thank you for referring yoshibo to Prosper. He or she funded a loan today. As a result, we have deposited a referral award of $25.00 into your Prosper account.

Earn more money by referring more friends to Prosper.

Sincerely, Prosper

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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

8 Stocks to Own in '08

Kiplinger
Making money by throwing darts at stock tables will be tough in 2008 if market gains are as modest as we predict they'll be. Instead, it will be a year in which the spoils go to the most-astute stock pickers. In that vein, we present our best bets for 2008 (listed in alphabetical order; stock prices are to November 12). See A Winning Crop for 2007 to see how our '07 picks fared.

AT&T (symbol T)

AT&T says it's everywhere, from "Japaridelphia" to "Chilondoscow." It's also in the middle of the hullabaloo surrounding Apple's fast-selling iPhone. AT&T may not reap enormous profits right away from its exclusive deal to be the wireless carrier of choice for the iPhone. But as Apple cuts iPhone prices even more, AT&T is likely to attract millions of additional customers. With 65.7 million mobile-phone subscribers, AT&T has established wireless as its main focus. It won't be long, in fact, before wireless services surpass AT&T's declining land-line phone business.

AT&T's empire now includes Ma Bell, four original Baby Bells, the wireless network and the Yellow Pages. Its next move will be into entertainment and programming. Despite its huge size (market value: $238 billion), this ever-changing company should deliver earnings growth of 8% to 12% a year for some time. The stock, which yields 3.7%, could reach $50 over the next year.

CEMEX (CX)

The world is spending like mad on roads, schools, airports and power plants, and suppliers of basic materials are benefiting. From a humble start in 1906, Mexico-based Cemex has become the world's largest producer of ready-mix concrete. Ready-mix, the stuff that comes in bags, is ideal for small jobs anywhere. Cemex is also a global force in traditional cement, which is used for giant building projects, such as bridges and tunnels, and in aggregates, which are used for road paving.

Cemex has been hurt by the housing recession in the U.S., which accounts for about 25% of its sales and profits, but sales in Eastern Europe and South America are a growing part of its revenue mix. That makes Cemex a way to invest in global economic growth.Cemex's earnings have tripled since 2003, but they were down 10% in the most recent quarter from the year-earlier period. As a result, Cemex's American depositary receipts have slumped 34% since June. But Cemex predicts that 2008 will be better. The stock should rise to $35 in the coming year.

Read More

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Friday, December 7, 2007

Investing Basics: Lesson 4

CNN Money 101

1. Over the long term, stocks have historically outperformed all other investments.

From 1926 to 2005, the S&P 500 returned an average annual 10.46 percent gain. The next best performing asset class is bonds. Long term U.S. Treasury notes returned, on average, 5.08 percent over the same period.

2. Over the short term, stocks can be hazardous to your financial health.

On Oct. 19, 1987, stocks experienced the worst one-day drop in stock market history - 22.6 percent. More recently, the shocks have been prolonged and painful: If you had invested in a Nasdaq index fund around the time of the market's peak in March 2000 you would have lost three-fourths of your money over the next three years.

3. Risky investments generally pay more than safe ones (except when they fail).

Investors demand a higher rate of return for taking greater risks. That's one reason that stocks, which are perceived as riskier than bonds, tend to return more. It also explains why long-term bonds pay more than short-term bonds. The longer investors have to wait for their final payoff on the bond, the greater the chance that something will intervene to erode the investment's value.

4. The biggest single determiner of stock prices is earnings.

Over the short term, stock prices fluctuate based on everything from interest rates to investor sentiment to the weather. But over the long term, what matters are earnings.

5. A bad year for bonds looks like a day at the beach for stocks.

In 1994, the worst year for bonds in recent history, intermediate-term Treasury securities fell just 1.8 percent, and the following year they bounced back 14.4 percent. By comparison, in the 1973-74 crash, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 44 percent. It didn't return to its old highs for more than three years or push significantly above the old highs for more than 10 years.

6. Rising interest rates are bad for bonds.

When interest rates go up, bond prices fall. Why? Because bond buyers won't pay as much for an existing bond with a fixed interest rate of, say, 5 percent because they know that the fixed interest on a new bond will pay more because rates in general have gone up.

Conversely, when interest rates fall, bond prices go up in lockstep fashion. And the effect is strongest on bonds with the longest term, or time to maturity. That is, long-term bonds get hit harder than short-term bonds when rates climb, and gain the most when rates fall.

7. Inflation may be the biggest threat to your long-term investments.

While a stock market crash can knock the stuffing out of your stock investments, so far - knock wood - the market has always bounced back and eventually gone on to new heights. However, inflation, which has historically stripped 3.2 percent a year off the value of your money, rarely gives back what it takes away. That's why it's important to put your retirement investments where they'll earn the highest long-term returns.

8. U.S. Treasury bonds are as close to a sure thing as an investor can get.

The conventional wisdom is that the U.S. Government is unlikely ever to default on its bonds - partly because the American economy has historically been fairly strong and partly because the government can always print more money to pay them off if need be. As a result, the interest rate of Treasurys is considered a risk-free rate, and the yield of every other kind of fixed-income investment is higher in proportion to how much riskier that investment is perceived to be. Of course, your return on Treasurys will suffer if interest rates rise, just like all other kinds of bonds.

9. A diversified portfolio is less risky than a portfolio that is concentrated in one or a few investments.

Diversifying - that is, spreading your money among a number of different types of investments - lessens your risk because even if some of your holdings go down, others may go up (or at least not go down as much). On the flip side, a diversified portfolio is unlikely to outperform the market by a big margin for exactly the same reason.

10. Index mutual funds often outperform actively managed funds.

In an index fund, the manager sets up his portfolio to mirror a market index - such as Standard & Poor's 500-stock index - rather than actively picking which stocks to purchase. And average is often enough to beat the majority of competitors among actively managed funds. One reason: Few actively managed funds can consistently outperform the market by enough to cover the cost of their generally higher expenses.

Read More

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Monday, December 3, 2007

My Updown Monthly Report

This is the report I received for the month of November overall I have earned $4.35 since September.
Dear Eric,
Following is your monthly portfolio performance report from The UpDown Congratulations! You earned $2.01 at The UpDown for November 2007.
Your portfolio return in November was: -2.4% compared to the S&P 500 return of -4.4% for the same period
Your portfolio return since you started on 9/4/2007 has been 12.62% compared to the S&P 500 return of 0.49% for the same period.
Your portfolio performance earned you $2.01. You also earned $0 from the performance of members you referred. To refer friends to The UpDown, click here
To determine earnings, we consider your portfolio performance last month, the length of your track record, and your performance since you started.
Our goal is to reward members who beat the market in the long run and, by doing so, contribute to our ability to derive a community-based investment strategy that consistently outperforms the market.
Your market-beating performance this month also means you are well positioned to earn even more next month if you continue to manage your portfolio successfully. Well done.
Visit http://www.theupdown.com/displayProfile.do to view your portfolio performance chart on The UpDown
You can claim your money, via PayPal, by visiting http://www.theupdown.com/home.do and following the "Claim Your Money" link in the "My Updates" section.
Please note: * You can only claim amounts equal to or greater than $0.50 * All money must be claimed through PayPal. If you don't have a PayPal account, simply create one for free using the link provided in the money claiming process. * You must certify that you are at least 18 years old and that you are legally allowed to accept money from The UpDown. * You, and not The UpDown, are fully responsible for all potential tax implications related to you accepting money from The UpDown.

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Thursday, November 29, 2007

Gulf Ethanol to License Breakthrough Technology

Gulf Ethanol Corp
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gulf Ethanol Corporation (OTC:GFET) announced today an agreement to acquire the exclusive rights to a break-through cellulose feed-stock processing technology. Gulf will have the exclusive right to deliver this exciting new technology solution to the ethanol industry.
Gulf Ethanol will obtain exclusive rights to a revolutionary technology developed by Meridian BioRefining, Inc. that processes cellulose feed-stocks so that they can be more efficiently converted into ethanol. The process dramatically improves portability while significantly improving process times and ethanol recovery from cellulose.
“This is the breakthrough that the ethanol industry has been seeking,” stated JT Cloud, Gulf Ethanol’s President. “This process will provide ethanol producers with the first cellulosic feed-stock that can be processed quickly and economically. We believe this will revolutionize the ethanol industry by accelerating the conversion of ethanol production in the U.S. from corn to cellulose in just a few years time,” he concluded. The first commercial scale processing unit has been completed by Meridian and is expected to undergo commercial testing prior to deployment in January 2008. Sources of cellulose include wood chips, grasses, sorghum and waste materials like corn stalks and straw. A recent report found that the U.S. is capable of producing a sustainable supply of 1.3 billion tons per year of biomass, and that one billion tons would be sufficient to replace 30 percent or more of America’s present petroleum consumption.
About Gulf Ethanol Corporation
Gulf Ethanol is an alternative energy company focused on the development of the cellulosic ethanol industry with a particular emphasis on Texas and the Gulf Coast. For more information please visit our homepage at: www.GulfEthanolCorp.com. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyone's past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof.

You should research all investments before committing

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Monday, November 26, 2007

25 Stocks to Invest in a Cleaner World

From Kiplinger

You don't have to be a tree hugger to believe that climate change and energy efficiency will be significant investing themes for years to come.

The National Petroleum Council, a U.S. government advisory body, says existing supplies of oil and natural gas may not meet soaring global demand over the next 25 years. A shortfall could be a windfall for companies that can supply cheaper alternatives to fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, the focus on global warming promises to lead to greater regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions. Already, the European Union has instituted a quota for carbon emissions in response to the Kyoto Protocol, a global treaty that went into effect in 2005. The U.S. did not sign the treaty, but a number of states are acting on their own to limit these pollutants. In addition, Congress passed an energy bill in 2005 that offers subsidies for various new energy technologies, and it is considering another bill this year.
Clearly, these trends will produce stock-market winners and losers, but not all of them are obvious. Makers of wind turbines and biofuels will surely benefit. But so will makers of rail cars and auto-emissions controls.
We've sifted through the implications and put together the Kiplinger Green 25, a list of companies we believe will get a big boost from the growing focus on climate change and the move toward alternative fuels. Our picks vary widely in size, and four are based overseas. Some of the stocks may be expensive, and shares of some of the smaller companies may be volatile. But we think all will do well over the long term. In addition, check out our separate profiles of five up-and-comers -- small (with market values of less than $1 billion), more-speculative companies that someday could grow into green giants.

Read More

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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Amazon's Kindle

Could this be the Ipod for the book reader? I for one love this gadget. With Amazon.com Inc ahead of the bell (AMZN) you may want to start paying attention to what amazon has been up to lately.
From Forbes The Kindle, launched Monday, is a slim handheld device that holds around 200 novels' worth of words and--using electronic ink technology that physically arranges a dark chemical under the screen--displays them so crisply that the text is only barely distinguishable from ink on a page. Unlike the Sony Reader, a device launched about a year ago that uses the same e-ink display technology, the Kindle connects to Amazon's servers with an EVDO cellular connection to download books from a stock of more than 90,000 titles, and can pull an entire novel's text directly onto the device wirelessly in less than a minute. Read More

Amazon Kindle technical specifications:
  • Display: 6″ Diagonal eleptrophoretic display
  • Size: 4.9 inches by 7.5 inches by 0.7 inches
  • Weight: 10.2 ounces
  • Storage: 256MB
  • Expansion: SD Slot
  • Audio: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack + built-in speaker
  • Power: AC Adapter + Rechargeable lithium polymer battery
  • Connectivity: USB 2.0, EVDO/CDMA wireless modem

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Friday, November 16, 2007

Support Your Favorite Blog

MyBlogLog is running a contest called Become a Problogger, so if you have a favorite blog please show your support for that blog by joining it's community. Hint "Share The Wealth".
You can also support your favorite blogs by doing little things like checking out an ad on their page if it honestly interest you, if you are not interested please don't click it. Offer to exchange links you can both benefit from that. Subscribe to their email or feeds, you can vote for them and review them on site like Digg or Techoratti. If you can spare the cash perhaps you could give your favorite blog a donation. Whatever you decide as long as you really like the blog, bloggers appreciate the support I know I do. So thank you from the bottom of of this bloggers heart.
Here are other blogs you may wish to support the top 50 in the contest. I currently rank 396 yeah!

The MyBlogLog Become A Problogger Contest

Your Rankings

396Share The Wealth2

The Current Top 100

1Buen Amigo (Life Stories)136
2Survival of the Feedest126
3GorillaSushi (WIN 184 KITTENS!!)121
4Linkbait Me (Join this community and WIN $100)87
5Collective Thoughts76
6Joe Tech (Join this community and WIN $100)75
7SEOlogs.com: Start Earning Online ($2,000+ MBL Contest)55
8Computer TNT (Tips and Tricks)53
9famouskroegers48
10Crayon Writer47
11Using Math to Win the Lottery (Join this community and WIN $100)45
12QforQuack.com // Because a girl can blog too!38
13Digital Inspiration Technology Guide35
14Toast & Egg & Me34
15Free Classifieds Ads … Free Advertising Works34
16Cool Steals and Deals33
17The Views Of The All Seeing Eye33
18FatBoySlimmming32
19Andre Benjamim31
20Debo Hobo dot Com31
21BlogDumpsVideo31
22ShareRevMedia30
23amarylliss' blog29
24A Blog about Nothing29
25TSP Blog27
26MOBILETRACKER25
27Day Job Nuker.Com23
28Feeling Flirty - Get a Date!23
29Hotel Rosenda Cottages23
30disabilityresourcedirectory.com23
31SexyAds Blog22
32Leisure Life and Ride22
33Sinigang22
34Blog Tutorial21
35India Inc.21
36Bryan's Views21
37Polliwog's Pond20
38部落格觀察20
39Local Hotties20
40Machines that go Bing!20
41Blog about your Blog19
42All Facebook19
43The Spirit Knows Best18
44Ad Resources18
45Chuvaness....Chakaness....Eclavu..........18
46Practical Blogging17
47lynda's loft17
48IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD17
49Make Money Online (join my community to win $100 + more)17
50SizzUp

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

What's Next For Stocks

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Gomez PEER

What is the "PEER"?

The Gomez PEER(sm) is a secure, Java-based application that runs in the background of your PC. You may even forget it's there, because it will not disrupt the way you use your computer.

Using advanced, peer-to-peer distributed computing technology, the Gomez PEER combines the spare capacity of PCs around the world to measure the performance of Web sites. After you install the Gomez PEER, it will periodically communicate with Gomez servers via the Internet, signal that it's available for work, and request a work unit. And you will be credited for your online time and work processed approximately every 15 minutes that the application is running.

Based on your computer's characteristics (Internet connection type, geographic location and Internet service provider), your PC will receive instructions to autonomously test the performance of Web sites -- gathering important metrics that help identify network bottlenecks and performance problems. All of this happens "behind the scenes," even when you're away from your PC or asleep. Finally, your PC will send its results back to Gomez, where they are added to the work of thousands of other PCs around the world.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Carbon Dioxide Capture

With the gradual awareness and change toward green energy sources, and the slow process toward weening our selves of of oil. The most effective method to create energy in the world will be coal, solar, wind, and nuclear power. Nuclear power is by far the most effective but has great potential for disaster, wind is a very clean source however it takes large areas to be effective, solar also is very clean and take up a large area, coal is the most readily available and the US has an abundant supply of it.

With the amount of carbon dioxide that coal produces it is a big contributor to the green house effect. The way to solve that problem is the research of carbon dioxide capture, which has been going on now for 10 years. The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be working together with the first large scale projects here in the U.S.

"Three projects in the United States and Canada will conduct large-volume tests for storing 1 million or more tons of CO2 in deep saline aquifers -- porous rock formations deep in the earth whose pores contain salty water and can be filled with CO2." USinfo.state.gov
Looking at companies that will be doing some of these testings, NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) will build one of the largest test projects needed to capture carbon dioxide from coal in Texas.

"As part of our aggressive effort to 'get the carbon out of coal,' we are proud to help demonstrate the viability of this promising technology for post-combustion carbon capture at WA Parish," said David Crane, NRG chief executive in a statement. Reuters
Back in March 2007 American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) announced two significant memorandums of understanding (MOU) Involving technologies that can be used to reduce CO2 emissions from coal energy plants. McDermott International, Inc (NYSE: MDR) through it's subsidiary Babcock and Wilcox Company will be the first MOU to test the viability of this by retrofitting power plants with oxy-coal combustion (oxycombustion) to existing power plants to reduce CO2 and other emissions.
The second MOU will involve Alstom's chilled ammonia process for CO2 capture to full commercial scale up to 200 MW by 2011. The technology has the great advantage versus other technologies of being fully applicable not only for new power plants, but also for the retrofit of existing coal-fired power plants.
"Global Research Technologies, LLC (GRT), a technology research and development company, and Klaus Lackner from Columbia University have achieved the successful demonstration of a bold new technology to capture carbon from the air. The "air extraction" prototype has successfully demonstrated that indeed carbon dioxide (CO2) can be captured from the atmosphere. This is GRT’s first step toward a commercially viable air capture device." Physorg.com

Read Storage and Carbon Capture: By the Numbers

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