Notes From All Over -- April 13, 2022

Updates

Later, 9:41 a.m. CT: wow, QCOM announces an increase in its dividend to 75 cents / share, now paing 2.16%. Record date: 6/2/22; pay date 6/23/22. Previous: 68%. Increase: 10.3% increase.

 Original Post

Renewable energy is so dead. It's now "energy transition."

E15: lots of ink ... for 24 hours. It's a meaningless gesture. 

China: something to think about. Wasn't it just yesterday that "they" were talking about the yuan becoming the reserve currency. From Craig Fuller.

Over the next decade, China will lose its status as the world's manufacturing hub, while America will retain its status as the global reserve currency. Supply chains are going to reorientate away from China and back towards North America.

Germany: from chemicals giant BASF CEO -- "Cheap Russian energy has been the basis of our industry's competitiveness." Folks forget about the cheap domestic lignite Germany used for decades.

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site.  Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. 

Apple: I didn't expect to see this. From investing.com, one of two high-quality dividend stocks for protection from inflationary pressures. Link here. The other one: Home Depot.

Speaking of dividends:

• ENB: 5.86% (despite recent run-up in price)
• EPD: 7.03% (ditto)
• WMB: 4.89% (ditto)
• MNRL:  6.54% (ditto) -- the shares are now up to $27.23 and should be up again today -- it's a $20-stock"
  
• T: 5.67% (recently halved; also recent 24% "special dividend")
• PG: announced a five percent increase in its dividend. Just like clockwork.
  

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site.  Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. 

Tech: I don't know if folks have noted that tech, especially semi-conductors / chips have fallen significantly; this tells me all I need to know about the lure of dividends when US CPI goes to 8.5%

CPI: am I missing something or did the March 8, 2022, CPI rate of 8.5% announcement get almost no headlines. I read somewhere the CPI came in less than expected.

The sports page: I don't care for professional NBA at all -- with some exceptions -- but I have to admit I enjoyed the "play-in" game last night. The post-game analysis comments by Charles Barkley were priceless. The celebration by the Timberwolves and their fans in home stadium was something to behold. Two fans were seen wearing masks. I half-expected them to be escorted from the building.