Sept. 21-25: Stocks' Two-Week Surge Ends

The Dow, NASDAQ, 20SSI still up from August

MarketWatch reports that the nearly six-month surge in stocks is a concern the market might have overextended the current financial environment forcing some companies into the red. These include Caterpillar and American Express while Research in Motion lead tech companies into red ink.

The Dow lost 155 points for the week and NASDAQ nearly 42, a 1.6% and 2% slide respectively. The 20 Solar Stocks Index dropped 12.26 points, a 2.8% dip.

Numerous economic reports this week showed disappointing data for durable-goods order and new home sales were the main cause, says MarketWatch, for the market's slip.

All but one stock in the 20SSI were down although the index overall is well ahead of the August close. Either investors cashed out their short-term gains or feel edgy themselves about the overall rapidity of market gains since March. Paranoia strikes deep...

20 Solar Stocks Index Week of September 21-25, 2009

Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	9820.20	9665.19	-155.01	-1.603%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2132.86	2090.92	-41.94	-2.005	1628.03	1293.85
Akeena Solar AKNS	1.23	1.17	-.06	-5.128	2.28	.61
Amtel Systems ASYS	5.50	5.34	-.16	-2.996	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.03	13.10	+.07	+.5372	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	17.62	16.74	-.88	-5.256	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	13.53	11.99	-1.54	-12.84	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.1800	.1770	-.0030	-1.695	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.88	1.86	-.02	-1.075	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	156.15	152.87	-3.28	-2.145	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	5.86	5.69	-.17	-2.987	4.00	4.02
JA Solar JASO	4.60	4.04	-.54	-13.86	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	89.37	92.46	-3.09	-3.457	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	9.39	8.83	-.56	-6.342	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	18.90	17.29	-1.61	-9.311	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	6.00	5.38	-.62	-11.52	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	1.90	1.80	-.10	-5.555	1.60	1.23
SolarFun SOLF	6.43	5.80	-.63	-10.86	6.12	2.30
SunPower SPWRA	33.09	30.53	-2.56	-8.385	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	16.96	15.75	-1.21	-7.682	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	31.45	31.45	NC	NC	10.09	7.23
Yingli YGE	14.05	12.60	-1.45	-11.51	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 447.12	Current 434.86	Change -12.26/-2.8%	Avg Stock -5.697%	1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** The Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.
NOTE: All above stocks have market capitization of $100M+ except Akeena Solar, Amtel Systems
and Entech Solar. This listing is strictly informational and implies neither endorsement or disapproval
of any stock listed. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Sept 14-18: Solar Outpaces Dow, NASDAQ Again

Strong week all around; Dow approaches 10,000

The 20 Solar Stocks Index (20SSI) gained a sparkling 8% this week compared to the Dow's and NASDAQ's 2.2 and 2.5% gains respectively. It is usually a blah month for trading but all three indexes gained for the second straight week.

MarketPlace reported consumer stocks, including Procter & Gamble, Sara Lee and Home Depot, showed lead the rally that pushed the Dow up nearly 214 points. The NASDAQ gained nearly 52 points, the eighth week in the last ten to rise.

The 20SSI gained over 33 points for the week with First Solar, JA Solar and SunPower leading the pack. All but four stocks went up in what could be the beginning of a consistent rise for solar installations. Here in California news of steep rate hikes next year by Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric certainly helps the industry without the need for more state or federal incentives. Even conservative companies are looking at renewable energy because the low cost of panels and ever-increasing electricity costs make solar or wind power imperative. Solar trackers are coming more into play as more incentives are performance based and they help to eke out more power as the panels follow the sun's path.

China is committing to 20% of its power demand to come from solar and wind by 2020. As authoritarian governments go, implementation of solar projects are much quicker to be built than in most Western (democratic) countries with their layers of government and compliance. China's commitment could drive up the cost of panels worldwide as their multi-megawatt PV projects devour existing panel supplies. This is no far out possibility. It is said the cost of concrete, steel and copper was sky-high because of the copious amounts of these materials used to complete the Beijing Olympics.


The 20 Solar Stocks Index Week of September 14-18, 2009

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	9605.41	9820.20	+214.79	+2.236%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2080.90	2132.86	+51.96	+2.496	1628.03	1293.85
Akeena Solar AKNS	1.1701	1.23	+.0599	+5.119	2.28	.61
Amtel Systems ASYS	5.01	5.50	+.49	+9.780	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.51	13.03	-.48	-3.684	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	16.58	17.62	+1.04	+6.272	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	13.40	13.53	+.13	+.9701	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.1750	.1800	+.0050	+2.857	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.94	1.88	-.06	-3.191	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	136.75	156.15	+19.40	+14.18	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	5.35	5.86	+.51	+9.532	4.00	4.02
JA Solar JASO	3.90	4.60	+.70	+17.95	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	88.05	89.37	+1.32	+1.499	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	9.75	9.39	-.36	-3.833	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	17.21	18.90	+1.69	+9.819	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	5.86	6.00	+.14	+2.389	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	1.90	1.90	NC	NC	1.60	1.23
SolarFun SOLF	5.94	6.43	+.49	+8.249	6.12	2.30
SunPower SPWRA	29.15	33.09	+3.94	+13.51	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	15.97	16.96	+.99	+6.199	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	29.07	31.45	+2.38	+8.187	10.09	7.23
Yingli YGE	12.98	14.05	+1.07	+8.243	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 413.67	Current 447.12	Change +33.45/+8%	Avg Stock +5.7%	1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** The Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.
NOTE: All above stocks have market capitization of $100M+ except Akeena Solar, Amtel Systems
and Entech Solar. This listing is strictly informational and implies neither endorsement or disapproval
of any stock listed. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Sept 8-11: Solar Outgains Dow, NASDAQ

But China's getting the PV manufacturing jobs

For the first time in seven weeks, the 20 Solar Stock Index outpaced both the DJIA and NASDAQ. Even though all three indexes finished down Friday, the 20SSI was up over 32 points to finish the week at 413.67, an 8.5% gain. The Dow finished up 164.14 this week, about 1.74% ahead and NASDAQ ended up 62 ahead, about 3% up.

Friday's sour close ended a five straight trading days of gains, so evidently short-term profit taking was the trend of the day. Still, the week was the best for all three indexes since the week ending July 24.

Seventeen stocks in the 20SSI went up. Energy Conversion Devices (ECD), which owns the UniSolar thin-film PV line, gained nearly 29% despite reporting dismal sales for the quarter ending June 30. ECD also makes nickel metal hydride batteries which power most hybrid cars today. First Solar gained 12.58% after having just signed a contract with the Chinese government to build a 2-gigawatt plant in Mongolia. First Solar's cadmium-telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology is leading the world in low-cost PV.

All-in-all it was a good week for Wall Street in a month that historically is a bad trading month. Too bad the good news for solar does include more green jobs in America. Evergreen Solar, based in Massachusetts, just began production from a new plant in China, as well. The policy of giving tax credits to oil and coal with no incentives for new solar plants under the Bush administration has allowed China, Japan, Germany and Spain to excel in this emerging industry. Solar photovoltaics is yet another industry pioneered by Americans that Americans buy from factories in other countries. Will this ever end?

20 Solar Stocks Index Week of September 8-11, 2009

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	9441.27	9605.41	+164.14	+1.735%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2018.78	2080.90	+62.12	+3.077	1628.03	1293.85
Akeena Solar AKNS	1.09	1.18	+.09	+8.257	2.28	.61
Amtel Systems ASYS	5.01	5.01	NC	NC	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.45	13.51	+.06	+.9955	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	14.90	16.58	+1.68	+11.28	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	10.41	13.40	+2.99	+28.72	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.1805	.1750	-.0055	-3.142	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.68	1.94	+.26	+15.47	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	121.47	136.75	+15.28	+12.58	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	5.19	5.35	+.16	+3.082	4.00	4.02
JA Solar JASO	3.42	3.90	+.48	+14.03	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	87.18	88.05	+.87	+.9901	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	8.94	9.75	+.81	+9.060	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	16.59	17.21	+.62	+3.737	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	5.55	5.86	+.31	+5.585	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	1.78	1.90	+.12	+6.741	1.60	1.23
SolarFun SOLF	5.16	5.94	+.78	+15.11	6.12	2.30
SunPower SPWRA	26.07	29.15	+3.08	+11.81	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	14.85	15.97	+1.12	+7.542	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	26.43	29.07	+2.64	+9.988	10.09	7.23
Yingli YGE	11.83	12.98	+1.15	+9.721	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 381.27	Current 413.67	Change +32.4/+8.5%	Avg Stock +8.165%	1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** NOTE: Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.

Aug 31-Sep 4: Dow, NASDAQ, Solar Slip Equally

And September's historically bad month on Wall Street

A report this morning showed a decline in job losses in August which seem to have helped industrial like GE and Caterpillar lead stocks on Friday. However, the gains were not enough to offset losses earlier this week, as reported on MarketWatch.

The Dow lost 103 points for the week ending today, about a 2% drop. This was only the second decline in eight weeks for the index and stopped a two-week gain. September is historically a bad trading month on Wall Street so this week's beginning appears typical. NASDAQ fared better, dropping 10 points, a half-percent loss.

Solar stocks in the 20SSI dropped 3.35 points to 381.7, just .88% down. At least solar's slight drop falls between that of the DJIA and NASDAQ so there's equal opportunity disappointment. Kyocera made the biggest gain this week, up 5.75 or 9% even thought it is not a pure-play solar company. Yingli Solar contracted on Tuesday with a major Czech land development company to supply 5MW of panels for planned industrial parks and office complexes, which could account for its strong week.

Still, panel inventories continue to run high and, and least here in California, there is plenty of groveling for projects considered too small by the major solar players just last year. First Solar, a thin-film PV maker which finished at 191.72 on May 22 continues its decline since then with a 121.47 close today--a shedding of 36%. Less demand in Europe and the incredible low cost of crystal silicon wafers and panels recently is likely to blame for First Solar's slipping.

20 Solar Stocks Index Week of August 31-September 4, 2009

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	9544.2	9441.27	-102.93	-1.090%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2028.77	2018.78	-9.99	-.4948	1628.03	1293.85
Akeena Solar AKNS	1.09	1.18	+.09	+8.257	2.28	.61
Amtel Systems ASYS	5.03	5.01	-.02	-.3992	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.27	13.45	+.18	+1.356	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	15.19	14.90	-.29	-1.946	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	11.92	10.41	-1.51	-14.51	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.1800	.1805	+.005	+2.777	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.65	1.68	-.24	-14.54	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	124.21	121.47	-2.74	-2.255	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	5.27	5.19	-.08	-1.541	4.00	4.02
JA Solar JASO	3.62	3.42	-.20	-5.847	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	81.44	87.18	+5.74	+9.341	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	9.24	8.94	-.30	-3.355	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	16.55	16.59	+.04	-.2416	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	5.73	5.55	-.18	+3.335	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	2.07	1.78	-.29	-16.29	1.60	1.23
SolarFun SOLF	5.30	5.16	-.14	-2.713	6.12	2.30
SunPower SPWRA	26.14	26.07	-..07	-.4208	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	18.00	14.85	-3.15	-21.21	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	27.70	26.43	-1.27	-4.805	10.09	7.23
Yingli YGE	11.02	11.83	+.81	+7.350	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 384.62	Current 381.27	Change -3.35/-.88%	Avg Stock -2.510%	1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** NOTE: Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.