Obama's economy - Which stock sectors to benefit

In the last 100 years, we did have recessions roughly every ten years. However, that's not the end of the world; every time we had technological revolutions bringing us out of recession and moving us forward. The internet revolution led us out of the 1980's recession. This time, there will be no difference, we just need a new technological revolution to boost our economy.

President Obama has set the stage for this to happen, by opening the gate for new stem cell research and for the development of renewable energy for the future of this country. We need to abandon the traditional "crude" energy, and embrace a new way of using renewable wind, geothermal and solar energies. In my opinion, Obama's new policy will bring new revolutions to this country and better days are ahead of us.

Stem Cell Research

President Obama is expected to lift the ban on federal funding on stem cell research in coming weeks, a historic move that will boost the US health industry. As a sign of the attitude of this administration, last week, the Federal Drug Administration said it had cleared US company Geron (GERN) to begin trials of its early-stage treatment for spinal cord injuries. This is breaking, almost revolutionary, news in the health industry as this will bring a new era of treating diseases. Investors welcomed this news.

Renewable Energy

Three main sectors are encouraged by the new president's renewable energy policy: wind, geothermal and solar, among which wind is the most economical energy when crude oil is trading at a multi-year low. China has rolled out many wind farm projects, targeting a cost of less than 10c/w, while the cost in the U.S. is also low compared to solar farms, which is estimated at around $1~1.5/w. China still has the advantage of cheaper labor compared to the U.S., and as a result, the cost to generate electricity in both wind and solar farms is lower.

Read more on Sectors favorable by Obama's administration here ..

Monsanto - potent seed for higher dividends?

Those who are banking on the BRIC countries to recover quickly should note a Reuters report about the deteriorating job situation in Brazil.

Brazil's economy shed the most amount of formal jobs in nearly 10 years in December as the global financial crisis took a toll on Latin America's biggest economy.

The economy cut 654,946 formal jobs in December, the worst loss since May 1999 and more than double the 319,414 jobs cut in December 2007, government data showed on Monday.

The figure was higher than the 600,000 job losses predicted by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva last week and more than double the 300,000 considered normal for the month of December because of seasonal factors.

The bulk of the job cuts came in industry, services, agriculture and the construction sectors, with the latter two especially hard-hit.

A look at some agro-chemical companies and related industries with exposure to Brazil through their conference calls:

From Monsanto's FQ109 conference call: (MON)

Latin America as a whole continues to shift to premium corn seed hybrids, and that, combined with a richer trait mix in Argentina and Brazil specifically contributed to the gross profit improvement in the area. Based on our early read, we are on track to gain corn seed market share across the region, even as we are taking a cautious approach to credit through the second season in Brazil.

Canadian Uranium Stocks - best uranium mining stock

Uranium moves in long cycles; the last boom was more than 20 years ago, and it’s only recently come off a period of de-stocking after the Cold War, which saw extraordinary secondary supplies hit the market. During that period, there were few new nuclear facilities to boost demand, so the price declined, and little exploration or development was undertaken.
All that has changed, with demand from new nuclear facilities boosting demand, even as supplies, from mine production and secondary sources, decline. Nuclear power plants are most likely the energy wave of the future; relatively low-cost on the operating side, environmentally friendly, notwithstanding the waste disposal problem, and reliable.
Governments and the public are beginning to recognize this. Opposition to new facilities is likely to be much more subdued going forward.
Many environmentalists have also publicly recognized that nuclear power is the cleanest of available economic sources, and they’re supporting nuclear power over coal and fossil fuels, though vociferous opposition remains. Governments also are supporting nuclear production.
Australia is allowing new mines in the Northern Territories and has urged state governments to review the ban on uranium mining; it has scrapped the ban on exports to China.
In Canada, several provinces have moved to push the industry forward; Ontario is reopening select shuttered nuclear plants and British Columbia has lifted the ban on uranium exploration and development.
In the US, President Bush has urged development of the nuclear industry; 15 plants have received extended license renewals; two companies (Entergy and Constellation) are planning the first new nuclear power stations in 30 years; and the government has lifted restrictions on nuclear power in India.

Owning the top Canadian uranium stocks is about profiting from the growing demand for clean and reliable sources of energy. The proliferation of nuclear power plants around the world means the need for uranium will stay strong. Canada, the second largest country in the world, is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's uranium production. The success of many Canadian uranium companies in successfully exploring and developing significant uranium deposits meant that their shareholders profited handsomely.

Here is the report from http://www.preciousmetalresources.com/canadian/uranium/marketcaps/

Symbol Name Last Chg Chg% Volume Shr O/S Mkt Cap

ABN Cons Abaddon Resources Inc. 0.10 0.00 0.00% 216.0K 44.2M 4.4M
ADI Adriana Resources Inc. 0.92 0.00 0.00% 24.1K 63.5M 58.5M
ALS Altius Minerals Corp 6.59 -0.13 -1.93% 19.3K 30.9M 207.8M
ALZ Aldershot Resources Ltd. 0.07 -0.01 -7.14% 38.0K 65.2M 4.6M
ASX Alberta Star Development Corp. 0.25 0.00 0.00% 10.5K 104.7M 26.2M
AXU Aurora Energy Res J 2.31 +0.05 +2.21% 13.3K 73.3M 165.7M
AZM Azimut Exploration Inc. 1.90 -0.03 -1.55% 1.4K 16.8M 32.5M
BAY Bayswater Uranium Corp. 0.20 -0.01 -4.76% 65.5K 145.5M 30.6M
BEA Belmont Resources Inc 0.10 0.00 0.00% 0 23.9M 2.4M
BMC Brilliant Mining Corp. 0.45 -0.01 -2.17% 17.0K 73.0M 33.6M
BRD Bluerock Resources Ltd 0.17 0.00 0.00% 62.0K 46.9M 8.0M
BSK Blue Sky Uranium Corp 0.16 -0.01 -3.03% 5.0K 25.2M 4.2M
BTC Benton Resources Corp. 0.34 +0.01 +3.03% 3.5K 63.7M 21.0M
BTT Bitterroot Resources Ltd. 0.33 -0.02 -4.41% 37.5K 58.5M 19.9M
CBP
CCO Cameco Corp. 30.64 +0.18 +0.59% 436.5K 344.5M 10.5B
CHX Cash Minerals Ltd. 0.15 0.00 0.00% 11.0K 117.1M 17.6M
CMD Commander Resources Ltd 0.17 -0.01 -2.86% 32.0K 79.5M 13.9M
CQ Cooper Minerals Inc. 0.10 0.00 0.00% 27.5K 44.0M 4.4M
CRC Crescent Resources Corp. 0.11 -0.01 -4.55% 20.0K 30.7M 3.4M
CTG Global Minerals Ltd 0.09 0.00 0.00% 13.0K 92.1M 8.3M
CVV CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. 0.19 0.00 0.00% 16.0K 137.2M 26.1M
CXX Crosshair Expl J 0.37 -0.02 -5.13% 114.7K 94.9M 37.0M
DAR d'Arianne Resources Inc. 0.06 0.00 0.00% 181.3K 77.2M 4.6M
DEV Delta Exploration Inc. 0.16 0.00 0.00% 0 27.7M 4.4M
DIT Ditem Explorations Inc. 0.24 0.00 0.00% 0 46.3M 11.1M
DML Denison Mines Corp 5.82 -0.12 -2.02% 407.1K 190.0M 1.1B
DRA Red Dragon Resources Corp. 0.24 0.00 0.00% 0 63.8M 15.3M
EAS East Asia Minerals Corp. 0.90 0.00 0.00% 0 54.4M 49.0M
EFR Energy Fuels Inc. J 0.58 -0.05 -7.94% 41.8K 52.6M 33.1M
ELN El Nino Ventures Inc. 0.24 +0.03 +14.29% 277.5K 40.3M 8.5M
ELO Eloro Resources Ltd. 0.18 -0.01 -5.26% 20.0K 53.9M 10.2M
EPL Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. 0.21 -0.02 -8.51% 61.6K 63.0M 14.8M
ERD Erdene Res Dev J 0.80 0.00 0.00% 55.2K 89.2M 71.4M
ESO ESO Uranium Corp. 0.13 0.00 0.00% 0 54.0M 7.0M
EWR East West Resource Corp. 0.09 0.00 0.00% 0 130.0M 11.7M
FCO Formation Capital J 0.46 0.00 0.00% 205.4K 204.2M 93.9M
FDC Forum Uranium Corp. 0.20 -0.01 -2.44% 7.0K 71.6M 14.7M
FEX Fjordland Exploration Inc 0.16 0.00 0.00% 21.5K 58.3M 9.3M
FIS Fission Energy Corp 0.58 +0.05 +9.43% 28.0K 42.1M 22.3M
FIU First Uranium Corp J 5.56 -0.05 -0.89% 32.3K 131.1M 735.3M
FMM Full Metal Minerals Ltd. 1.30 0.00 0.00% 41.8K 39.0M 50.7M
FRG Fronteer Dev Group J 3.27 +0.16 +5.14% 54.2K 83.2M 258.8M
FRP
FST Fortress Minerals Corp. 0.95 0.00 0.00% 11.0K 84.9M 80.6M
FSY Forsys Metals Corp J 4.50 +0.20 +4.65% 171.6K 77.1M 331.4M
FV Firestone Ventures Inc. 0.23 -0.03 -11.54% 18.0K 65.2M 16.9M
FWR Freewest Resources Canada Inc. 0.29 0.00 0.00% 195.1K 185.1M 53.7M
GEL Glass Earth Gold Ltd. 0.07 0.00 0.00% 0 154.9M 10.1M
GEM Pele Mountain Resources Inc. 0.25 +0.03 +13.64% 76.4K 84.1M 18.5M
GMX Globex Mining Ent J 2.10 +0.10 +5.00% 1.0K 18.3M 36.7M
GRS GLR Resources A J 0.11 -0.01 -8.70% 42.0K 63.6M 7.3M
GRW Gravity West Mining Corp. 0.08 +0.01 +15.38% 88.0K 84.2M 5.5M
GU Global Uranium Corp. 0.07 +0.01 +7.69% 7.0K 22.7M 1.5M
GWG Great Western Minerals Group Ltd 0.26 0.00 0.00% 0 112.3M 29.2M
GXP Goldstake Expl J 0.07 0.00 0.00% 0 100.9M 7.1M
GZZ Golden Valley Mines Ltd. 0.25 0.00 0.00% 0 57.9M 14.5M
HAT Hathor Exploration Ltd. 3.70 +0.35 +10.45% 1.1M 80.3M 269.1M
HMI Hinterland Metals Inc 0.08 0.00 0.00% 61.5K 47.7M 3.8M
IEC Intl Enexco Ltd. 0.78 -0.02 -2.50% 1.5K 18.9M 15.1M
IGC IGC Resources Inc. 0.21 +0.01 +4.88% 10.5K 24.3M 5.0M
IMT International Montoro Resources Inc 0.14 0.00 0.00% 0 23.7M 3.2M
IRK Intl KRL Resources Corp. 0.04 -0.01 -11.11% 316.0K 66.5M 3.0M
JNN JNR Resources Inc. 0.59 0.00 0.00% 31.8K 81.7M 48.2M
KAM Kaminak Gold Corp. 0.24 +0.01 +2.13% 60.5K 35.1M 8.3M
KHT Yankee Hat Minerals Ltd. 0.11 0.00 0.00% 0 66.0M 7.3M
KRI Khan Resources Inc J 0.77 -0.10 -11.49% 45.3K 54.1M 47.1M
LAM Laramide Resources J 2.82 -0.02 -0.70% 60.4K 62.5M 177.6M
LGR Logan Resources Ltd 0.08 -0.01 -11.11% 187.0K 42.6M 3.8M
LRG Lateegra Gold Corp. 0.15 +0.01 +3.57% 30.0K 32.6M 4.6M
MAW Mawson Resources J 0.55 -0.01 -1.79% 500 36.5M 20.4M
MGA Mega Uranium Ltd. J 1.32 -0.02 -1.49% 266.5K 187.3M 250.9M
MKR Melkior Resources Inc 0.15 -0.01 -6.25% 55.2K 82.8M 13.3M
MM Magnum Uranium Corp 0.34 0.00 0.00% 2.0K 22.3M 7.6M
MMU Marum Resources Inc. 0.14 0.00 0.00% 2.7K 93.4M 13.1M
MNV Mexivada Mining Corp 0.41 0.00 0.00% 0 23.2M 9.5M
MXR MAX Resource Corp. 0.29 0.00 0.00% 0 2.1M 597.2K
MZU Mesa Uranium Corp. 0.13 0.00 0.00% 0 20.4M 2.6M
NAG North American Gem Inc. 0.18 +0.02 +9.09% 351.5K 97.1M 16.0M
NCR Northern Continental Resouces Inc 0.13 -0.02 -13.79% 70.0K 51.8M 7.5M
NSV New Shoshoni Ventures Ltd. 0.15 -0.01 -6.25% 10.0K 44.2M 7.1M
NUC Nova Uranium Corp. 0.11 -0.01 -8.70% 88.2K 22.6M 2.6M
NWI Nuinsco Resources J 0.23 -0.01 -4.26% 24.7K 176.3M 41.4M
NWT NWT Uranium Corp. 0.10 -0.02 -13.64% 122.7K 106.1M 11.7M
ORE
PAF
PDN Paladin Energy Ord J 4.76 -0.18 -3.64% 1.3M 613.9M 3.0B
PDO Portal Resources Ltd 0.14 0.00 0.00% 0 29.7M 4.0M
PEX Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. 0.09 0.00 0.00% 20.0K 77.7M 7.0M
PTU Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. 0.20 0.00 0.00% 15.5K 50.6M 10.1M
PWE Pwrtech Uranium A J 0.86 -0.03 -3.37% 2.0K 55.4M 49.3M
PXP Pitchstone Exploration Ltd. 0.59 0.00 0.00% 0 27.7M 16.4M
QTA Quaterra Resources 2.00 +0.01 +0.50% 8.5K 87.4M 174.0M
RFM Rimfire Minerals Corp. 0.80 0.00 0.00% 11.0K 25.7M 20.6M
RH Red Hill Energy Inc 0.80 +0.02 +2.56% 91.0K 47.5M 37.0M
RM Rodinia Minerals Inc. 0.27 0.00 0.00% 0 23.5M 6.3M
RPT RPT Uranium Corp 0.24 0.00 0.00% 38.0K 117.0M 28.1M
RSC Strateco Resources J 1.39 -0.04 -2.80% 558.7K 115.1M 164.6M
SAN Santoy Resources Ltd. 0.20 -0.02 -9.09% 170.2K 92.7M 20.4M
SBW Strongbow Exploration Inc. 0.21 +0.01 +2.44% 2.0K 56.2M 11.5M
SFR Starfire Minerals Inc. 0.10 +0.01 +5.26% 10.0K 68.2M 6.5M
SKY Stikine Gold Corp. 0.08 0.00 0.00% 3.0K 33.7M 2.7M
SLT Solitaire Minerals Corp. 0.11 +0.01 +5.00% 794.4K 114.3M 11.4M
SMD Strategic Metals Ltd. 0.38 0.00 0.00% 11.0K 58.4M 21.9M
SOX Solex Resources Corp. 0.24 0.00 0.00% 40.0K 56.8M 13.6M
SPX Stellar Pacific Ventures Inc. 0.05 -0.01 -9.09% 120.0K 62.4M 3.4M
SRI Sparton Resources Inc 0.10 0.00 0.00% 0 63.5M 6.3M
SSE Silver Spruce Resources Inc. 0.20 +0.01 +2.63% 16.7K 48.3M 9.2M
STM Strathmore Minerals Corp. 0.80 0.00 0.00% 36.5K 72.4M 57.9M
SUP Northern Superior Resources Inc 0.16 0.00 0.00% 0 63.5M 9.8M
SUV Star Uranium Corp 0.13 +0.01 +8.33% 12.5K 67.0M 8.0M
TAL Tri-Gold Resources Corp. 0.04 0.00 0.00% 0 49.7M 1.7M
TAS Terra Ventures Inc. 0.92 +0.09 +10.84% 295.9K 50.4M 41.8M
TCR Torch River Resources Ltd. 0.16 +0.01 +3.23% 46.0K 46.5M 7.2M
TEL Trigon Uranium Corp 0.25 0.00 0.00% 0 60.5M 14.8M
THR Thundermin Res J 0.20 +0.01 +5.41% 21.0K 62.6M 11.6M
THV Thelon Ventures Ltd. 0.06 -0.01 -14.29% 100.0K 64.0M 4.5M
TUE Titan Uranium Inc. 0.33 -0.01 -2.94% 16.5K 52.8M 18.0M
TVC Tournigan Energy Ltd 0.52 -0.02 -3.70% 35.8K 122.6M 66.2M
TXM Triex Minerals Corp. 0.57 -0.05 -8.06% 40.5K 20.0M 12.4M
U Uranium Participate 8.38 -0.09 -1.06% 598.5K 72.3M 612.6M
UCR Uranium City Resources Inc. 0.08 0.00 0.00% 0 49.7M 4.0M
UCU Ucore Uranium Inc 0.23 -0.01 -2.17% 23.0K 41.8M 9.6M
UEX UEX Corp. J 3.00 +0.05 +1.69% 381.6K 182.1M 537.2M
ULU Ultra Uranium Corp 0.12 -0.01 -4.00% 1.0K 21.5M 2.7M
UNI UNOR Inc. 0.16 -0.01 -3.03% 10.0K 139.8M 23.1M
UPC Uranium Power Corp. 0.36 -0.02 -5.19% 7.0K 98.2M 37.8M
URA Anglo-Canadian Uranium Corp. 0.15 -0.02 -9.09% 47.0K 39.8M 6.6M
URC Uracan Resources Ltd 0.31 +0.01 +3.33% 10.0K 67.0M 20.1M
URE Ur-Energy Inc. J 1.48 -0.04 -2.63% 73.1K 93.2M 141.7M
UUL Universal Uranium Ltd. 0.18 -0.02 -10.00% 8.0K 47.0M 9.4M
UUU Uranium One Inc. J 3.83 +0.31 +8.81% 5.8M 468.4M 1.6B
UVN Uravan Minerals Inc. 0.35 0.00 0.00% 0 26.7M 9.3M
UWE U3O8 Corp. 0.62 0.00 0.00% 0 17.0M 10.5M
VEM Vena Resourc 0.42 0.00 0.00% 6.3K 71.6M 30.1M
WGF Wescan Goldfields Inc. 0.42 +0.01 +2.44% 50.5K 54.9M 22.5M
WML Wealth Minerals Ltd. 0.48 -0.05 -9.43% 14.5K 27.1M 14.4M
WNP Western Prospector Group Ltd. 1.31 -0.01 -0.76% 86.0K 54.3M 71.6M
WRI Waseco Resources Inc 0.15 +0.01 +3.45% 151.0K 30.3M 4.4M
WUC Western Uranium Corp. 0.84 -0.01 -1.18% 114.5K 56.4M 48.0M
XE Xemplar Energy Corp. 0.53 0.00 0.00% 67.0K 119.6M 63.4M

potash corporation of saskatchewan - agriculture stock

About one month ago, Potash Corp. (POT) reported 2008 2nd quarter results. These results have inspired numerous articles and comments, all well worth reading, as well as the report itself.

Through these reports, it has become the practice of the CEO, William J. Doyle, to offer tremendous insights into his company, as well as the general industry trends in fertilizers.

This has resulted in a massive flow of information so strong and positive that it is difficult for anyone to digest it all in just one sitting. Therefore it seems best for all concerned to have many different articles written by many different people, in order to fully understand and appreciate what he is saying.

One set of numbers that some people may have missed concerns the projected 2008 gross margin increase. In relation to the previously announced price increases that are already in the pipeline for the remainder of 2008, he said,"We are now forecasting 2008 potash gross margin more than 300% higher than achieved in 2007," and "Our nitrogen and phosphate margins are now forecast to exceed 2007 levels by more than 85% and 200% respectively."

To better understand and appreciate what his words and numbers actually mean, it's necessary to go back to the year 2007 gross margin results for each segment, and work forward from there. These were 912.3 million for potash, 536.1 for nitrogen, and 432.8 for phosphate. These numbers must now get multiplied by their respective 2008 projected percentages to get 3649.2 for potash, 991.8 for nitrogen, and 1298.4 for phosphate. When added together, the projected 2008 total gross margin becomes 5939.4 million, or almost 6 billion, which is a 216% increase over the actual 2007 total gross margin of 1881.2 million.

Is this what has caused the recent 13 day, 20% sell-off in stock price from the close of 200.69 on July 23rd, the day before the report was issued, to the close of 160.91 on August 11th?

Or was it just a part of the 38 day, 33% sell-off from the June 17th all time record closing high of 239.5?

The year to date stock price increase at the close of the day, August 11th, 2008, was about 12%. Does this 12% increase accurately reflect a year on year projected 216% total gross margin increase? Or, am I supposed to believe that the numbers given were simply not good enough to justify the stock valuations?

Or, shall I conclude, once again, that investors simply don't understand what this company's stock is actually worth?

Agriculture fertilizer stocks - still has growth

Even though commodities' prices have come down from record highs, agribusiness is hardly a fallow sector, Citi Analyst Brian Yu said, deeming fears of slowed agricultural demand "misplaced" in a Sunday note on agricultural commodities.

"We are not suggesting that a global slowdown will have zero impact on grain demand, but [we] want to highlight the weak historical correlation," Yu said. "The point is that fertilizer stocks are being grouped with industrial metals and energy when the supply-demand characteristics are arguably very different."

Shares rallied throughout the agribusiness sector on Monday as Yu said rising cattle and hog prices coupled with low global grain stockpiles bode well for fertilizer fundamentals. Increased meat consumption keeps corn in high demand since the crop accounts for 61.0% of animal feed. That, combined with tight global grain supply, means farmers will continue to invest in fertilizers as a way to maximize crop yields. The Market Vectors Agribusiness exchange-traded fund gained 80 cents, or 1.6% to close Monday's trading session at $49.95.

Soaring fertilizer prices sparked investor concerns of a bubble, especially as corn prices went on a six-week slide on reports that Midwestern flooding didn't destroy as many crops as initially feared. (See " Crops To The Rescue.")

"There is a big different between equities that trade at a low multiple because fundamentals/pricing/earnings are deteriorating and equities that trade at a low multiple [since] earnings expectations are rising while prices have lagged," Yu said, adding that he thinks fertilizers fall into the latter category and reiterating "buy" ratings on Agrium (nyse: AGU - news - people ), CF Industries (nyse: CF - news - people ), Mosaic (nyse: MOS - news - people ), Potash (nyse: POT - news - people ) and Terra Industries (nyse: TRA - news - people ).

Mosaic shares gained 6.1%, adding $5.90 to close Monday's session at $103.42, and CF Industries rose 1.9%, or $2.43, to $131.38. Agrium and CF Industries both added $2.03, or 2.6% for Agrium, which closed at $80.44 and 1.9% for CF Industries, to close at $131.38. Potash rose by 0.1%, adding 23 cents to $170.04.

Yu believes Potash's sell-off--the stock has lost nearly 19.0% in the last month--is overdone, especially since data on Friday showed potash producer inventories fell by 10.0% since July.

Hot Uranium mining stocks - RTP, CCJ, BHP, PPL

Of all the commodities to ride the volatile global roller coaster in 2007, uranium had the wildest ride. Overall, it gained 28% for the year. But that seemingly simple statistic masks a much-more-complex story.

At one point in June, uranium had gained 84% on the year. But then a mass sell-off - including up to 200 tons auctioned off out of the inventory of the U.S. Department of Energy - drove prices from $138 a pound down to $75 a pound in just three months.

Even though the U.S. auction was said to flood an already glutted market for uranium, the price roared back to $93 a pound, a price move fueled by a continued demand. Investors can take that incident as a sign of things to come.

At a time when global energy demands are soaring - outstripping the long-term supply of such crucial commodities as crude oil - the long-term outlook for uranium is exceedingly bright. Nuclear power is slowly making a comeback as an electricity source of choice in the U.S. market, and will be a key to the ongoing emergence of such economies as China and India.

Market fundamentals point to demand-driven price increases for uranium. And history shows that when uranium prices move higher, uranium stocks almost always tag along for the ride.

The situation in uranium is reminiscent of the world’s skyrocketing demand for oil. In a classic supply-and-demand imbalance, eventually someone is going to pay the price. With uranium - as with oil - there plain and simple just isn’t enough to go around.

"We are at the beginning stages of a massive bidding war in uranium," said Sol Palha, a noted uranium investor and analyst.

Nuclear energy is rapidly gaining acceptance as a clean, reliable alternative to burning coal. In a bid to combat global warming and keep up with soaring demand for electricity, countries are rushing to build nuclear power plants. Currently, there are 440 nuclear reactors in operation that generate about 16% of the world’s electricity.

Another 25 are under construction, 38 are on order and 115 are proposed. Also, there are 284 research reactors and 220 nuclear-powered ships and submarines patrolling the oceans - key facts that nevertheless often slip by most industry analysts.

Refined uranium [known in the industry as U308] is what makes nuclear fuel. And the proliferation of new commercial nuclear power plants has the price of the radioactive metal soaring.

Now here’s the thing: All told, those reactors soak up about 77,000 tons of refined uranium every year. Yet, in 2006, only about 50,000 tons of uranium were mined. That has forced some countries to run reactors at only 50% to 60% capacity, while others - such as India - have actually been forced to periodically take reactors off line because they lack the fuel to keep running them. . reports seeking alpha ..

Sales decline at Deere Ag

Though agricultural equipment sales for Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE - News) were up 35 percent in the quarter based on a strong domestic ag industry, the company reported earnings for its July-ended Q308 5 cents lower than its estimate per share: $1.32, whereas the Zacks consensus was $1.37. This number had not been augmented by analysts in any significant way in the past quarter, but marks the second-consecutive earnings miss for the company.

Shares were punished on the news this morning. As of mid-day, DE is off over 7 percent, or roughly $5 per share. Before the announcement, Deere held a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) with a target price just over $74. Currently, the shares are trading in the $64 range.

Analysts are expecting fiscal Q4 earnings of $1.15 per share and fiscal 2008 (ending October) earnings of $5.08. Though the shares have succumbed to near-term pressure in today's market, it remains to be seen if analysts will aggressively ramp down expectations for the rest of the fiscal year.