Water: Is There a Global Crisis? Part Two: Discussions with Experts
by Elliott Morss, Morss Global Finance
Introduction
This is the second in a three-part series on global water problems. The third part to follow shortly will suggest investment opportunities in the water sector. In the first article in the series, data and analysis were used to highlight the primary problems. I came to three conclusions:
In the aggregate, there is plenty of fresh water. And unlike oil and other valuable materials, water is not "used up" but instead almost immediately recycled.- Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of water. And many water shortage problems are caused by charging far less for water than its "re-use" cost. Charging more for water would result in less being used and the movement of users to where water was more plentiful. It would also result in higher food prices, especially for foods that require large amounts of water such as meat from cattle.
- The number one water problem in the world is dirty water. The UN estimates this problem that could be remedied for $20 billion a year (just under 0.03% of global GDP).
What We Read Today 01 August 2013
Econintersect: Click Read more >> below graphic to see today's list.
The top of today's reading list discusses a growing fast food workers strike in some parts of the country (and an article which describes how much higher wages would raise the cost of a Big Mac) ........ and the last article is about the CBO report concluding that sequestration will cost 1.6 million jobs if it remains in effect until the end of next year.
SP500 Sets New Record Historical High
Closing Market Commentary For 08-01-2013
Volume gradually increased from dismal to anemic as the HFT computers melted the markets higher where the SP 500 marked new historical highs at 1707.85.
The averages generally performed well even without investors help. Any bets on the markets selling off some tomorrow?
Rail Week Ending 27 July 2013: Dynamics Reverse In Strong Week
Econintersect: Week 30 of 2013 ending 27 July shows same week total rail traffic (from same week one year ago) grew according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Railcar count is up, and intermodal count is up.
- Weekly overall data is up strongly, and up even stronger ignoring coal and grain;
- Four week rolling average is improving, and better than the rolling average one year ago;
- 13 week rolling average is improving, and better than the rolling average one year ago;
- 52 week rolling average is improving, and better than the rolling average one year ago.
Averages Poised For Major Move, But Which Way
Midday Market Commentary For 08-01-2013
By 10:30 the markets had finished climbing to new highs and then began the sideways dance as volume dried up mostly because investors are waiting to see who is going to push the market one way or another.
From my seat at 30,000 feet I can't see this market going much higher. Having said that I do see the market melting up but only because of investors beliefs of more free ice cream and their ability to catch a falling knife.
Snowden granted 1 yr asylum in Russia, leaves airport to undisclosed location
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia and is allowed to enter Russian territory.
Markets Gap Up On Opening On Low To Moderate Volume
Opening Market Commentary For 08-01-2013
Premarkets were up significantly suggesting a gap up for the cash crowd and sure enough the markets gaped upwards leaving opening gaps everywhere. Remember they will be closed eventually.
The markets by 10 am were still pushing to new highs and sucking in the street sheeples looking for easy riches. Most analysts looking at the morning financials seem to agree that they were better than expected and continue to impress.
Volume is low to moderate and mostly being contributed to the HFT computer crowd.
Markets Gap Up On Opening On Low To Moderate Volume
Opening Market Commentary For 08-01-2013
Premarkets were up significantly suggesting a gap up for the cash crowd and sure enough the markets gaped upwards leaving opening gaps everywhere. Remember they will be closed eventually.
The markets by 10 am were still pushing to new highs and sucking in the street sheeples looking for easy riches. Most analysts looking at the morning financials seem to agree that they were better than expected and continue to impress.
Volume is low to moderate and mostly being contributed to the HFT computer crowd.
July 2013 ISM Manufacturing Survey Strengthens
Written by Steven Hansen
The ISM Manufacturing survey for July 2013 showed the survey's expansion strengthened. The New Orders sub-index which historically correlates to the economy showed even a stronger expansion.
Read more >>
Construction Growth Was Below Expectations in June 2013
Written by Steven Hansen
Headline construction spending was below expectations in June 2013. Econintersect's Month-over-Month analysis shows contraction - and year-over-year growth is now under 2%. Government construction spending remains a drag on the relatively robustly expanding private sector.
Read more >>
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Stratfor: A Microcosm of India's Geopolitical Challenge
by Stratfor
India is set to inaugurate its 29th state: Telangana will be carved out of the existing southern state of Andhra Pradesh after the highest working body of India's ruling Congress Party decided late July 30 to find the legal means to create the new entity. The success of the Telangana movement for statehood encapsulates the deep-rooted struggles New Delhi faces in trying to preserve and manage a nation riven with internal complexities.
Read more >>
27 Jul 2013 Unemployment Claims Improves
Blue Line 4 Week Average
The market was expecting 345,000 vs the 326,000 reported. The more important (because of the volatility in the weekly reported claims and seasonality errors in adjusting the data) 4 week moving average
improved, moving from 345,250 (reported last week) to 341,250.
Read more >>
July 2013 Challenger Job Cuts Decline Slightly
2013 Layoffs-to-date are under the previous year's levels.
Infographic of the Day: Keep Up To Date With USA National Debt Statistics
The National Debt is one of the hottest topics in cyberspace. What makes this infographic special is that the debt clock and current debt figures throughout the infographic are updated dynamically every night using the RSS feed from the U.S. Treasury.
- If every U.S. citizen had to shoulder an equal share of the national debt, each person would owe $53,007.
India: PMI Declines to Near 50
Econintersect: HSBC reports that India is approaching a "
broad stagnation of 
manufacturing operating conditions". Exports continued to support manufacturing and consumer goods "
signalled higher levels of new orders, but the rate of expansion was modest". Overall the India Manufacturing PMIreading sagged to 50.1 for July, down from 50.3 in June. The PMI has indicated expansion for 52 consecutive months since the end of the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), although in had a low just above 50 in late 2011.
China: Conflicted PMI Reports
Official PMI Indicates Expansion, HSBC PMI Says Contraction
Econintersect: The two PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) reports diverged
further in July. The official government report rose to 50.3, up from 50.1 in June. Readings above 50 indicate expansion. However, a second survey conducted by HSBC, was showing deepening contraction numbers, with a reading of 47.7, down from June's 48.2. The new orders index was even lower at 46.6. The official index covers large, often government owned enterprises, while HSBC surveys medium and small sized companies, mostly privately owned.
Obese: To Be or Not to Be (II)
Written by Frank Li
A little more than one year ago (on June 15, 2012), I published this article: Obese: to Be or Not to Be. Two big things have happened since then:
The article has been a major hit, with almost 5,000 page views, so far.
American Medical Association Classifies Obesity as a Disease.
Pick the Best Performing Mutual Funds
Investing Daily Article of the Week
by Chad Fraser, Investing Daily
Investing in mutual funds is an easy way to diversify your portfolio and tap into the stock market with little effort.
Some of the main advantages mutual funds offer are professional management, diversification and a low barrier to entry. However, with the wide variety of mutual funds currently available, finding the best performing mutual funds can be a major challenge.
Housing Smoke and Mirrors (13) - 'Sharing the Pain Cake'
Written by Adam Whitehead, KeySignals.com
The Federal Government chose an interesting time to push for a greater role for Private Capital in the housing market. The rising interest rate environment created by the capital market's 'Fed Taper Tantrum' was hardly the most conducive to Private Capital investment; however the Government seemed oblivious.
Read more >>
The Rise and Fall of Zynga's Gaming Empire
by Felix Richter, Statista.com
After years of rapid growth, Zynga's user count has recently fallen off a cliff. By the end of June 2013, the company had 187 million monthly active users, down from 306 million a year ago. Meanwhile Zynga's daily active users almost halved from 72 million in June 2012 to 39 million in June 2013.
Solar and Wind Energy Grows, Investment Declines
Econintersect: The annual report from REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) headlines that use of solar and wind energy continued to grow in 2012, even as investment in those technologies declined. While that may sound that the trend might be petering out, examination of the data indicates otherwise.
Harry Dent Discusses Debt Deflation
Econintersect: John O'Donnell, Chief Information Officer of Online Trading Academy, has interviewed economist and futurist Harry Dent about his view of the near future of the world economy in the face of record high debt levels and slow economic growth. In the interview Dent explains why he believes the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) is far from over.
[Click through Read more >> to view video.]
Recycling Remains a Rarity in Eastern Europe
by Felix Richter, Statista.com
Figures released by Eurostat have revealed the enormous gulf between countries in the western and eastern halves of the European Union when it comes to recycling. Germany is leading the way, recycling 62 percent of its waste, incinerating 37 percent and landfilling just one percent.
The Netherlands comes a close second with the same level of landfill and 61 and 38 percent levels of recycling and incineration respectively. Belgium rounds off the top three, recycling 56 percent of its waste.
