Money

May
7
2012

Written by:
Calder Lamb

Clean Energy Fuels is Set to Corner the Natural Gas Fueling Market.

Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) is a company that is well positioned to take advantage of the historically large gap between oil prices and natural gas prices. The high availability and low cost of natural gas have made it an economically viable industrial input alternative to oil. As a result, natural gas has been increasing in use as a transportation fuel, and has doubled in US vehicle use since 2000. Clean Energy Fuels is currently constructing America’s first Natural Gas Highway (ANGH), which will seek to take advantage of the trend towards natural gas as a fueling alternative.
The first stage of ANGH will be constructing 150 fueling stations across the US Interstate system. 70 of these stations will be open by the end of 2012, with the rest of the stations scheduled to be completed by 2013. These stations will provide super-cooled liquid natural gas, which is 400 times more compact than condensed natural gas.

Apr
30
2012

Written by:
Calder Lamb

The World’s Currency: The US Dollar and its Future Struggle for Supremacy

The US dollar is used as the reserve currency for the rest of the world, but much like the English Pounds Sterling that dominance might not last forever. With the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, the US is insulated from foreign supply shocks, reduces transaction costs in trade, and contributes to the international transmission of US monetary policies. The dollar is "likely to continue"(http://www.ny.frb.org/research/current_issues/ci16-1.pdf) its global dominance of the currency markets in the near term, however there are "significant signals" (https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/transcripts/0345.html/_res/id=sa_File1/Exorbitant_Privilege_Eichengreen.pdf) pointing towards a reduction in the dollar’s world market share.

Jan
1
2011

Written by:
Wade Senti

How to Make Money While in Your Underwear

Day trading is a unique topic in that some of us have at one time or another have “played the market” or more likely the “market has played us.” Regardless, as many of us combat a down economy, a brutal job market, and enter a period of time when millennials are redefining what a rewarding and successful career actually is – it is an interesting possibility; could I make money while in my underwear?

Oct
25
2010

Written by:
Shali Zhu

A Look at Past Currency Turmoil

Normally, college students don’t need to worry about currency exchange rates; we use money to buy everyday goods and services, not to trade in global markets. A currency war, however, would be a different issue. From hyperinflation to protectionism to global economic crisis, the possible consequences of a race to devalue would be felt close to home. With all the recent upheaval surrounding the yuan, the official currency of China, it is worth taking a look back at the currency turmoil of the past and gaining some perspective about how those concerns were dealt with on an international level.

Mar
2
2010

Written by:
Mamura Azimova

Student Debt and the Importance of Financial Literacy

A survey conducted in 2008 by the US Department of Education reflects continued increases in student debt. According to this survey, the average debt of a public university student was about $17,000 in 2004, and it rose 24% to $23,200 in 2008. While an average entry-level job pays $46,000 a year, an average college senior graduates with nearly $23,000 in debt. That’s about half of the first year salary and not including other expenses like insurance, rent, utilities, car payments, etc. These figures clearly emphasize the importance of financial literacy among students, especially in times of economic crisis.

Dec
4
2009

Written by:
Ryan Shyu

Investing Dangerously

These days, we spend a lot of time complaining about the problems posed by the financial system. Though some of these complaints are well-founded, stories like this one about an actual stock market for pirates should remind us of the merits of Wall St. and the financial sector.

Thanks to Marginal Revolution for the link and Picasa for the picture.

Mar
29
2009

Written by:
Shuang Yang

Dollar Slams Up Against A (Great) Wall

As China continues to emerge as a global power, it is beginning to flex its muscles in international finance. In the days leading up to the G-20 summit, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China, the $2 trillion central bank of China, has called for the creation of a new international currency unit. According to Zhou,

“A super-sovereign reserve currency not only eliminates the inherent risks of credit-based sovereign currency, but also makes it possible to manage global liquidity. This will significantly reduce the risks of a future crisis and enhance crisis management capability.”

Zhou, who suggests an international currency that blends the dollar, pound, yen, and euro, is backed by powerful emerging economy nations such as Russia, Brazil, and India, as well as influential people such as George Soros, in wanting to break the dollar’s dominance in the global economy.