It has been more than two months since an oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, setting off one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. The aftermath of the spill has called into question the very survival of British oil giant BP, and dealt a devastating blow to pension funds and other investors who had come to rely on the company’s dividend payment [see Seven ETFs For Investors Mourning The Death Of BP's Dividend]. But the fallout didn’t end with BP; a proposed moratorium on deep-water drilling threatens to shake up the industry and increased regulatory oversight seems inevitable. [click to continue…]
In the wake of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history, the energy sector has fallen on tough times. The ongoing crude leak in the Gulf of Mexico has further tarnished Big Oil’s public reputation, setting the stage for a sharp regulatory backlash. With a moratorium on offshore drilling already in the works, uncertainty hung [...]
Alternative energy remains a fast growing market segment not only in the world of ETFs, but in terms of total investment as well. Since 2005, investment in clean energy increased by 230% to $162 billion in 2009. Echoing similar trends occurring throughout the global economy, emerging markets have stepped up their push to become leaders [...]
So far in 2010 one of the worst-performing sectors has been alternative energy, with some ETFs on pace to post double digit losses in the first quarter. This sharp downturn is due to a variety of factors that have combined to yield one of the worst stretches for the industry in recent memory. First, trouble [...]
After surging out of the gates to start the new year, many ETFs have sharply reversed course, now finding themselves in the red for 2010 as January draws to a close. The S&P 500 SPDR (SPY), which was up nearly 3% after the first six trading sessions, is now down almost 2%. The shift in [...]
Over the past two years, the primary focus of world leaders has been the series of economic crises that have threatened to erase years of progress and growth. With all available resources dedicated towards avoiding a prolonged downturn, many social and environmental issues have been moved to the back burner. Now, with a seemingly stable [...]
On Thursday and Friday, the leaders of 19 of the most powerful nations, as well as the leader of the European Union, will meet in the Steel City to discuss a variety of topics ranging from economic integration to energy policy. Pittsburgh was chosen to highlight the dramatic shift in fortunes following the city’s struggles [...]
