commodities

Last Monday, I warned of the ill effects that flooding would have on our pocketbooks in the post Floods increase the chances of inflation. Unfortunately, we have seen renewed flooding in the Midwest this week as well. The total impact…

The defunct power plant that gave us one of the most famous album covers of all time (Pink Floyd, "Animals") is back. Battersea Power Station is going to get an overhaul to the tune of £4 million.With the price of fossil fuels so high, the…

With oil prices spiraling ever higher, the question is whether supply has hit a brick wall; Has 'peak oil' arrived? The short answer is yes. However, the longer answer is yes, but there are ways around this problem. Speculation is only…

The Globe & Mail (via AP) has reported that the first shot across the bow for Big Oil has been delivered by the new Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. With oil prices surging and inflation at very elevated levels around the…

I am starting to become quite cynical about the Bush Administration and crony capitalism. There may be no smoking gun, no e-mail chain to indict conspirators. The Bushies may break no laws. But, it is increasingly obvious that the War in…

My greatest concern is deflation. Hence the title of my blog "Credit Writedowns." However, inflation is still a short-term threat to destabilizing the global economy. The recent floods in the heartland of America is not only tragic, but…

The website immobilienblasen has a good entry today that alerted me to an interactive map about oil-related issues on the FT website. It's a great resource.

Are we headed for a crash in commodities like the one in 1987 in equities? I doubt it. But, I am concerned that the commodities bubble is getting well out of hand. Certainly, the rationale for commodities as an inflation hedge and in a…

George Soros talked to the Telegraph, and in an article released today, sounded very downbeat about the prospects for the UK economy. M. Soros also said that their were many fundamental supports for the price of oil, including supply ad…

Oil hit $126 a barrel today on production fears. Refiners and firms that need oil to make money seem to be hoarding it as the price rises inexorably higher. According to Bloomberg, "U.S. crude supplies rose 5.65 million barrels to 325.6…