Goes in January? What is the retreat in green investment funds

Alternative energy funds and ETFs have withdrawn seen 2013 of fantastic profits from some year. There is a saying in the investment world, that "as goes January, so the year goes." It's time to save this sector or stocks in General? Maybe, but wise long-term alternative energy should investors avoid rash steps that at this point.

Alternative energy fund yields

Mutual funds are around 4% in the average year-to-date and are basically flat for the last three months. Nevertheless, alternative energies are mutual funds by 22.7 percent last year, and not a single fund is trading in the red.

By far, the best performance is in the last 12 months firsthand alternative energy (ALTEX), up to 75 percent for the year. Who owns most of the stock funds are the high flying solar industry, including SolarCity Corp (SCTY), SunPower Corporation (SPWR) and GT Advanced Technologies Inc (GTAT).

Exchange-traded funds are on average just 0.9 percent. If the outlier iPath global carbon ETN (GRN) is removed, ETFs are 1.6 percent but down rather. On the other hand, the 17 alternative energy of ETFs scored a strong result last year to 34 percent in the average. Not surprisingly, two solar ETFs were the best one year yields - Guggenheim solar (TAN) and market vectors solar energy ETF (KWT).

The lowest funds on an annual basis are global X lithium ETF (LIT) and market vectors rare earth/strategic metals (REMX). Reflect these two funds the dip in raw materials markets, to live mainly in developing countries. Investors have soured on emerging markets in recent years betting on lower growth in China. The logic goes as China manufacturer in the world, and therefore the largest market for these materials, a slowdown in China will lead an economic burden for this sector.

Where we see opportunity

A Fund where we see opportunity, is Allianz RCM Global water (AWTAX), has risen to rank 1. This Fund for recycling has decent is a relatively low risk. His stock fundamentals are strong, and it has moderate management fees. AWTAX is relatively small in relation to its annual price class, commercial, so this looks like a good entry point.

iPath global carbon ETN (GRN), the Barclays global carbon index followed, finally had a lift. Profits began in April 2013 occur, then accelerates shortly after new year's. This reflects the fact so carbon markets from a ground dug crony. Despite these developments, it can take years before a viable CO2 market is emerging.

Goes in January?

Throwing so a closer look at the adage "as goes January, so goes the year." Is the S&P-500 to over 5 percent for the year so far is spooking investors. A brief look at the facts, but reminds me less reason to worry about than there slogan implies.

Look at historical data for the S - and P-500 back to 1950, there is a very high correlation of market direction for the month of January and the rest of the year. It was 70 percent of the time, when the market was in January at the time for this year, or if it was down in January for the year. The 45 years that there is a correlation, 32 of them were in one market and only 13 had a lower correlation. So the trend much more for one until January as from January. Is more interesting however, that as the S - and P-500 in January was low, it finished trading up for the year of 16 times. In other words, a from January a year forecast predicted several times that it later in the year. Although previous behavior to predict the future not always not too would I get forecast losses on the stock exchange in January down in 2014.

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Remember to consult a professional before important financial decisions with your investment.

This article originally appeared on the Roen financial report it Monte and was published with permission.

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USDA Announces $10 Million in Rural Smart Grid Funds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on September 20 the latest in a series of funding steps to modernize and improve the efficiency of rural electric generation and transmission systems. The agency will offer loan guarantees to support nearly $10 million in smart grid technologies.

One of the loan recipients is Nobles Cooperative Electric, which serves counties in southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. Their loan includes $850,000 in smart grid projects. The Gundy Electric Cooperative, Inc., which serves customers in Iowa and Missouri, has also been selected for a loan guarantee that includes over $700,000 in smart grid projects. Earlier this month, the USDA announced it had met its goal to finance $250 million in smart grid technologies in fiscal year 2012. See the USDA press release.

In 2009, the Energy Department released the first Smart Grid System Report, which examined smart grid deployment nationwide. The report noted that smart grids have the potential to dramatically change how we experience electricity in the country. See the July 22, 2009 edition of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network News newsletter.

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USDA funds boost renewable energy production

The US Department of agriculture (USDA) on August 14 announced that 106 projects in 29 States, Guam and Puerto Rico were selected for funding for the production of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Funding comes through the USDA rural energy for America program (REAP).

An example of a selected project is in Washington County, Iowa, where a recipient a guaranteed loan given to construct a 50 kW (kilowatt) wind turbine on his farm. The turbine is expected to generate about 103.200 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year - enough to meet the annual requirements of the nine homes. WTE Dallmann LLC in Calumet, Wisconsin, is to help another recipient of a grant REAP, to finance the installation of an anaerobic digester that generates more than 4.80 million kWh of electricity - power for 420 houses per year. The electricity will be sold to the local utility. See the press release of the USDA and the full list of projects.

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Department of energy awards funds for the concentration of solar energy

The Department of energy announced its new investments in 21 projects on June 13 to the advancing state of the art solar power (CSP) technologies focused. The $56 million in awards include three years subject to Congressional appropriations, and cover 13 States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont and Washington. In the context of the planned three-year initiative, Congress authorized an initial $16.30 million in fiscal year 2011. Additional requirements in the amount of $39,70 million in fiscal years 2013 and 2014, to support these CSP projects plans made to the Department of energy.

Carried out the research projects – in partnership with the private sector, laboratories and universities – the Department of energy SunShot support initiative, a joint national effort to solar power to make the end of the decade with traditional energy sources competitive. For example, national laboratories falling particles receiver and heat exchanger system to increase efficiency and lower costs develop DOE's Sandia.

The awards are innovations in new components to reduce, increase speed operating temperatures of and efficiency of CSP systems help. The 3-year applied research, the dramatic improvements in the CSP projects performance while driving progress towards target SunShot 75% cost reduction focus. CSP technologies use mirrors reflect and to produce sunlight to heat, which then is used to produce electricity to focus. CSP systems differ from other solar energy technologies through its ability to store energy as heat so that consumer demand cannot be satisfied, even if the sun shines not also during the night. See DOE press release, the full list of the awards, and the site SunShot initiative.

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