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Monthly Archives: October 2008

Fertilizer Stocks Crater (Or, Forget the Cheese, Part 2)

October 2, 2008
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Fertilizer Stocks Crater (Or, Forget the Cheese, Part 2)

Every time a bunch of investors think they’re smart, the market teaches them a lesson.  Fertilizer stocks are the example du jour. Last night, Mosaic (MOS), which is a huge seller of phosphates and potash (more phosphates than potash), released earnings … and they weren’t good.  Earnings came in at $2.65 a share, way up from a year ago, but a full 29 cents below estimates.  Moreover, management indicated that phosphate prices have begun to flatten out, so much so that the company is cutting production going forward. Now, before the announcement, the stock was already down a whopping...

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Home Furnishing on the Cheap

October 2, 2008
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We’ve known for months now that people have been cutting back on buying things and spending money as the U.S. economy has weakened. And this was even before the roller coaster ride that was September. Doing more with what you have or what you can actually afford has led many people to get creative in their homes. Some have even started thinking like the one group that has always been particularly resourceful–students. College students and recent graduates often get very creative when furnishing and decorating their apartments out of pure necessity. Most don’t have much money left over after...

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Senate to Vote on Bailout Plan

October 1, 2008
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The Senate is expected to vote on the government’s $700 bailout plan today and the market is down a bit in advance of that. We’ll be watching to see what happens and would love to hear what you think about the events of the last few days. Are you pleased that the House rejected the plan or are you crossing your fingers that it gets passed as soon as possible? We don’t try to predict the market, or Senate votes, so right now we’re just waiting and watching. We’ve been reminded everyone in the last several weeks that now...

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