March 1-5: Dow, NASDAQ Up Again; Solar Rallies

Solar index shows 19 of 20 gain for week

There was a general rally of American stocks as recent Labor Department data showed non-farm payrolls fell by 36,000 last month which is far below the 90,000 expected by economists polled by MarketWatch. Unemployment held at 9.7%. slightly better than a 9.8% projection.

The Dow shot up nearly 291 points to finish today at 10566.20, a 2.3% gain. The NASDAQ index 88 points to close at 2326.35, nearly a 4% gain. It was the second consecutive week of gains for both indexes. Nineteen of the 20 Solar Stocks Index saw gains and finished the week at 369.61, a 4.6% surge.

Top winners in solar were Canadian Solar, Evergreen Solar and SunTech. Solar could see a continued rebound as warmer weather gets more of the nation thinking solar power.

20 Solar Stocks Index Week of March 1-5, 2010

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	10325.26	10566.20	+240.94	+2.333%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2238.26	2326.35	+88.09	+3.935	1628.03	1293.85
Akeena Solar AKNS	1.05	1.11	+.06	+5.714	2.28	.61
Amtel Systems ASYS	8.69	8.80	+.11	+1.265	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	12.24	12.29	+.05	+.4084	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	19.12	21.53	+2.41	+12.60	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	7.20	7.88	+.68	+9.444	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.1640	.1780	+.0140	+8.536	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.12	1.29	+.17	+15.17	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	105.75	108.62	+2.87	+2.713	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	5.95	5.38	+.57	+10.59	4.00	4.02
JA Solar JASO	5.12	4.96	-.16	-3.225	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	88.94	91.73	+2.79	+3.136	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	6.19	6.62	+.43	+6.946	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	12.11	12.90	+.79	+6.523	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	5.07	5.50	+.43	+8.481	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	2.34	2.28	-.06	-2.631	1.60	1.23
SolarFun SOLF	6.60	6.84	+.24	+3.636	6.12	2.30
SunPower SPWRA	18.75	20.42	+1.67	+8.906	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	13.26	14.86	+1.60	+12.06	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	22.00	23.54	+1.54	+1.07	10.09	7.23
Yingli YGE	11.58	12.88	+1.30	+11.22	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 353.08	Current 369.61	Change +16.53/+4.6%	Avg Stock +6.11%	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 capitalization 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.

Jan 4-8: Dow, NASDAQ A-OK; Solar up 7.55%

Good start despite jobs report...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 190 points during the first week of 2010 to end at 10618.19, a 1.823% gain. The NASDAQ also closed up by 48 points to finish today at 2317.17, a 2.116% surge. The 20 Solar Stocks Index (20SSI) however, topped both with a nearly 34 point jump to end the year's first week at 482.01, a 7.55% leap.

A late rally today boosted major stock indexes despite a disappointing jobs report of 85,000 payroll cuts last month which was more than expected. MarketWatch reports the unemployment rate remains at 10%, a squeak better than the 10.1% expected. Actually throughout the recent economic slowdown, stock investors have often shrugged off poor jobs news. Oddly, the S&P 500 has averaged a .3% gain on days the Labor Department jobs reports were short of expectations and actually fell .1% on days DOL beat expectations, according to data from Shaeffer's Investor Research reported in MarketWatch.

All but one stock in the 20SSI gained this week. Chinese solar companies or those with Chinese-made panels or related equipment, tended to do better. China's commitment of have 15% of its electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020 is already spurring more solar industry interest. Some say panel prices have or are near to bottoming out and could likely go up again as spring nears.

Solar's biggest winners this week were Canadian Solar, Energy Conversion Devices, Evergreen and SolarFun. Average solar stock increase in the 20SSI was over 11% for the week.

20 Solar Stocks Index Week of Jan 4-8, 2010

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	10428.05	10618.19	+190.14	+1.823%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2269.15	2317.17	+48.02	+2.116	1628.03	1293.85
Akeena Solar AKNS	1.24	1.36	+.12	+9.677	2.28	.61
Amtel Systems ASYS	11.07	11.11	+.04	+.3613	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.94	14.55	+.61	+4.376	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	28.82	32.68	+3.86	+13.39	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	10.57	12.55	+1.98	+18.73	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.10	.11	+.01	+10.00	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.51	1.79	+.28	+18.54	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	135.40	139.68	+4.28	+3.161	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	5.56	5.95	+.39	+7.014	4.00	4.02
JA Solar JASO	5.70	6.62	+.92	+16.14	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	88.31	91.55	+3.24	+3.668	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	7.01	7.96	+.95	+13.55	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	13.62	15.02	+1.40	+10.27	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	4.76	5.76	+1.00	+21.00	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	2.82	2.75	-.07	-2.545	1.60	1.23
SolarFun SOLF	7.63	10.08	+2.45	+32.11	6.12	2.30
SunPower SPWRA	23.68	25.28	+1.60	+6.756	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	16.63	18.03	+1.40	+8.418	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	53.97	61.08	-+7.11	+13.17	10.09	7.23
Yingli YGE	15.81	18.10	+2.29	+14.48	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 448.15	Current 482.01	Change +33.86/+7.55%	Avg Stock +11.11%	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 capitalization 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.

Solar Stocks Average Up Over 41% for Week

Three stocks up over 70%

If the key 20 Solar Stocks Index (20SSI) were a Broadway show premiering March 9, the reviews would be boffo. The last minute surge on the date marks the beginning of a young bull market that's seen the Dow up 5.53% and the NASDAQ up 6.15%. Not to be outdone is the 20SSI rising a stupendous 54.25% from the opening bell March 9 through end of trading today.

This week was the biggie with DJIA up 6.83%; NASDAQ +6.03% and this index rocketing 41.54%. Three gainers were up 70% or more: Entech Solar, Evergreen Solar and JA Solar with four more in the 60-70% range. As mentioned in yesterday's post the reasons range from guaranteed loans for solar manufacturers; fat contracts for utility-scale projects getting underway; and the SEIA's report that 2008 was the third straight record-breaking year for growth in the PV industry.

There's another reason, too, that should not be overlooked. Despite the weather in parts of the country, it is springtime, a time when people get serious about installing solar to ease their power bills this summer thanks to that modern-day wonder called air conditioning. A good 40% of a typical summer electricity bill--commercial or residential--is just for keeping cool. For those smart--and lucky--enough, that abundance of summertime sun can be converted to the coolness of an oasis with solar technology. Better yet for our country it creates badly needed jobs while it reduces emissions. Bearing those factors in mind, solar stocks seem a pretty safe bet.

Week of March 23-27, 2009

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09
Dow Jones DJIA	7278.38	7776.18	+497.80	+6.830%	8952.89
NASDAQ	1457.27	1545.20	+87.93	+6.030	1628.03
Akeena Solar AKNS	.75	1.11	+.36	+48.00	2.28
Amtel Systems ASYS	3.06	3.46	+.40	+48.00	4.00
Applied Materials AMAT	10.21	11.23	+1.02	+9.990	10.67
Canadian Solar CSIQ	4.50	5.76	+1.26	+28.00	7.00
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	13.23	15.77	+2.54	+19.191	29.33
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.1851	+.32	+.1349	+72.87	.28
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.37	2.33	+.96	+70.00	3.60
First Solar FSLR	120.37	147.36	+27.99	+22.42	157.80
GT Solar Int. SOLR	3.89	4.22	+.33	+15.17	4.00
JA Solar JASO	2.31	3.93	+1.62	+70.12	5.09
Kyocera KYO	67.49	68.07	+.58	+.0085	71.87
LDK Solar LDK	4.27	7.19	+2.92	+68.38	14.84
MEMC Elect. WFR	14.88	18.38	+3.50	+23.52	15.76
Renesola SOL	2.35	3.70	+1.35	+57.84	5.15
Satcon SATC	1.25	1.63	+.37	+30.04	1.60
SolarFun SOLF	3.55	4.67	+1.12	+31.55	6.12
SunPower SPWRA	22.42	25.30	+2.83	+12.59	45.13
SunTech STP	6.91	11.65	+4.74	+68.59	13.55
Trina Solar TSL	7.49	12.33	+4.84	+64.62	10.09
Yingli YGE	3.77	6.15	+2.38	+63.12	7.25
Percent change all 20 stocks this week:				+41.54%

March 9-13: Solar Stocks Top Dow, NASDAQ

Rare four-day upswing...

For the fourth consecutive day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained and the NASDAQ followed suit. At day's end, the Dow finished at 7223.98, an even 9% up from Monday's 6626.95 open; the NASDAQ gained 137.65 points, 10.63% up for the week.

This embryonic surge that began on Tuesday with a 389-point gain is welcome, to say the least, but does it mean that Monday, March 9 marked the pivotal end to one of the worst bear markets in American history is anyone's guess. As for solar stocks however, I give a qualified "Yes."

All but three of the key 20 Solar Stocks Index (20SSI) finished not only higher this week but a glossy 12.57% average gain. Big winners were Evergreen Solar, Amtel Systems, SunTech, Canadian Solar and Applied Materials. Losers showed modest drops except for Entech Solar which appears to be staying afloat only by laying off personnel.

Granted, if this is a real turnaround it's much too early to tell. However, with recent DOE reports that available coal supplies are much less than forecast and CO2 levels accelerating faster than ever, the road to solar and wind is the de facto route for clean, renewable energy production. Solar stock investments could be the new GM, Standard Oil and Microsoft stocks of the 21st century.

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The Jon Stewart-Jim Cramer face-off on Thursday's The Daily Show is worth the watch. Stewart openly criticized Cramer's apparent disingenuousness as a financial commentator on CNBC leading up to the Wall Street collapse. The crux of the discussion according to Stewart is whether Cramer should act as an advocate for any particular Wall Street stocks or for the average laymen watching his "Mad Money" program. The upshot of Cramer's guest appearance is that he committed to Stewart to doing a better job of reporting financial news as it is rather than how he perceives it could or should be. Here's the link: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220536&title=jim-cramer-pt.-1

Week of March 9-13, 2009

	Monday Open	Friday Close	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09
Dow Jones DJIA	6626.95	7223.98	+597.03	+9.00%	8952.89
NASDAQ	1293.85	1431.50	+137.65	+10.63	1628.03
Akeena Solar AKNS	.61	.6702	+.0602	+9.86	2.28
Amtel Systems ASYS	2.63	3.30	+.67	+25.47	4.00
Applied Materials AMAT	8.70	10.49	+1.79	+20.57	10.67
Canadian Solar CSIQ	3.0601	3.72	+.6599	+21.56	7.00
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	17.45	19.12	+1.67	+9.57	29.33
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.23	.1950	-.0350	.-15.22	.28
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.03	1.42	+.39	+37.86	3.60
First Solar FSLR	108.49	129.55	+21.06	+19.41	157.80
GT Solar Int. SOLR	4.02	3.89	-.13	-3.24	4.00
JA Solar JASO	1.91	2.30	+.39	+20.41	5.09
Kyocera KYO	54.21	64.80	+10.59	+19.53	71.87
LDK Solar LDK	4.40	4.55	+.15	+3.40	14.84
MEMC Elect. WFR	13.68	15.43	+1.75	+12.79	15.76
Renesola SOL	2.1201	2.26	+.1399	+6.60	5.15
Satcon SATC	1.23	1.21	-.02	-1.63	1.60
SolarFun SOLF	2.30	2.80	+.50	+21.74	6.12
SunPower SPWRA	23.39	24.38	+.99	+4.23	45.13
SunTech STP	5.34	6.88	+1.54	+28.83	13.55
Trina Solar TSL	7.23	7.39	+.16	+2.21	10.09
Yingli YGE	3.88	4.18	+.29	+7.45	7.25
Percent change all 20 stocks this week:				+12.57%

Bulletin: Solar Stock Index Up 12.35% Today

After another mournful Monday on the Dow and NASDAQ both were up at day's end Tuesday. The DJIA gained 236.16 or 3.32%; the NASDAQ was up 54.11 or 3.9%. All but one company, Entech Solar, in this blog's 20 select solar stocks index was down if only by a cent. Overall increase was 12.35%.

Top gainers were Evergreen Solar (ESLR) at 21.01% up; Renesola (SOL), 18.86 up; and SolarFun at 15.4% up. In a conversation with a major panel manufacturer this morning, some large orders are coming in for spring delivery. After the bloodbath of the past two weeks, maybe traders simply saw pricing as too good to pass up.

Overall, tech stocks did well after the pounding sell-off yesterday. Banking stocks also rallied--if only for the day--on comments made by Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke.

"I don't see any reason to destroy the franchise value or to create the huge legal uncertainties of trying to formally nationalize a bank when that just isn't necessary," Bernanke stated before the Senate Banking Committee.

Two major banks most eyed for possible nationalization were both up. Bank of America climbed 82 cents a share to $4.73, 21% up. Citigroup closed 46 cents up to $2.60, 22% up.

More good news came from Home Depot which had higher-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings which likely raised investor's hopes on consumer spending. Home Depot went up $1.96 a share today, a 10% boost.