tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post2398735393679188102..comments2008-07-10T09:14:35.929-04:00TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-50483482453382889492008-07-10T09:14:00.000-04:002008-07-10T09:14:00.000-04:00Hi Jegan<BR/><BR/>The point of the story was not really aluminum. It was, beware of the reality behind the "beats".<BR/><BR/>j.,<BR/>you have to find companies who can raise prices quicker than input costs are rising - otherwise you have a crushed profit margin. Expect a lot of profit margins in our "food and energy only" inflation environment.<BR/><BR/>The danger now becomes inflation leads to deflation.TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-58311535669771743562008-07-09T20:03:00.000-04:002008-07-09T20:03:00.000-04:00well this is exactly what i was worried about. i thought rising aluminum prices (and an anticipatory breakout of prices) would help them battle rising inputs, sort of like the ferts where the prices are accelerating more so than the inputs. clearly that is not the case. what will be the true test is if alum prices do breakout and yet they still are seeing margin contraction, then they're really up a creek.J. (marketfolly)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07691612544809256786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-81952802225484578172008-07-09T19:39:00.000-04:002008-07-09T19:39:00.000-04:00Also, let's face it, aluminum sales are affected by auto, home and aircraft products... And each is being pummeled by the market. That's bad short term.<BR/><BR/>Saudi Arabia is building an aluminum smelter to rival all others.. That's bad long term.( Not to mention the issue of oil consumption in Saudi Arabia as they use oil for electricity and aluminum takes a **lot** of electricity.) <BR/><BR/>There are other factors that affect aluminum right now as well.. China has placed restrictions on aluminum smelting and they charge a megawatt per hour penalty against the industry if they exceed their usage.. That would seem to be a plus... Temporarily anyway... <BR/><BR/>Thx jegan ;-)jeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05850061548373752817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-19339093505871967982008-07-09T17:03:00.000-04:002008-07-09T17:03:00.000-04:00right = write.TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-76560460480434111312008-07-09T17:02:00.000-04:002008-07-09T17:02:00.000-04:00Pure talent<BR/><BR/>A lot of the posts I now right in the evening or morning and just schedule them to hit during the day.<BR/><BR/>Today I was off, but most of my posts will be clustered in groups that are real time.<BR/><BR/>I am trying to just type up the trades during the day but in crazy days like we've had of late it is hard to not be watching a lot.<BR/><BR/>Generally I check in every hour, look at my watch lists and see if anything interesting is going on. Since I don't smoke it replaces my smoke break ;)<BR/><BR/>I eat at desk or don't eat lunch, come in early and go late. Then take work home. I'm on the computer all day for work anyhow. <BR/><BR/>But hopefully this arrangement is not for much longer.TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-84454062568588450392008-07-09T16:57:00.000-04:002008-07-09T16:57:00.000-04:00how are you able to keepup with the market and update the site.great!.kudos..<BR/>I remember you saying that you have a fulltime job. I was wondering how could you manage.?Passionate Investorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13667970151880837018noreply@blogger.com