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Saudi Arabia has already boosted its production by 300,000 barrels a day, or about 3 percent, to 9.45 million barrels a day last month. But that has had little impact on soaring prices. Oil futures in New York have gained more than 40 percent this year. They rose 2 percent to $134.62 a barrel before the meeting on Friday.
very interesting: Will the market implode or rally??
http://www.wallstreetjournal.com/story/market_implode_or_rally?
No hurricanes, no earthquakes, no pandemics — and yet a company you have described as a “battleship” (HIG) at $102 sinks 32% from its highs, much more than the broader market. At the same time, the occasional “solid” small insurance firm is being taken out to the shed and shot dead. It suggests that these firms are not very amenable to analysis. There is too much of a “black box” element to them. If even the battleships of a sector are that fragile and volatile in the current circumstances, what’s to like?
Hope you have an excellent trip. It’s a great time to be away from the market!
You mentioned food related stocks as attractive going forward. John Deere ticker DE was trading at $95 in January ’08, and is now down to $71. I realize steel price increases have hit them hard in the last 6 months, but with the global food demand they look well positioned. Is this stock on sale?
Eric, HIG is diversified more than most insurers, has some strong competitive niches, international lines, etc. Price performance has been disappointing, and is a combination of equity market performance, possibility of asset writedowns, valuations declining for insurance shares generally, and financial being sold, just because they are financials.
Has the price performance been disappointing? Yes. Have the prospects deteriorated much? No, not much, but some. Earnings today look pretty good.
still long HIG