Do Well and Do Good

Carbon Credit News: TerraPass Sets Transparency Standard as JP Morgan Acquires ClimateCare

A number of interesting things happening in the carbon credit world these days. UK-based ClimateCare, (one of the earlier pioneering carbon offset providers), is being acquired by JP Morgan and merged into their environmental markets group. This move signals the pending arrival of carbon trading as a big business that can generate real profits for some big players.

Simultaneously, I found this interesting tidbit through Treehugger, about a program TerraPass has begun in order to make transparent which projects the company supports with carbon credits purchased through its programs. TerraPass will post the projects on its site and actually open it up for comments from users and purchasers for a 30 day period prior to supporting the project.

You are What You Measure: GDP Accounting Up for Debate in Senate Hearings

It was after business school that all the finance people realized they should have paid attention more in accounting class. After all, if you understand how something is measured and you will likely have a real solid grasp of this issues, complexities, and realities behind it. Reading a company annual report when you know what's behind the numbers makes all the difference, and the same goes for extrapolating implications from changes in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

I only recently started paying attention (thanks to World Changing) to the sub-committee hearings of the Senate Commerce Committee, where the GDP deficiencies in accounting for the overall health of our economy and society are being debated. Robert Kennedy first brought attention to this issue 40 years ago. You can listen to his comments in this video.

Bear Stearns and Market Transparency

I suppose that I am young enough to have been shocked as I was watched the value of a major Wall Street bank dive 85% in one day. In the aftermath of the Bear Sterns collapse there are many different questions being asked. What was the proper role of the Federal Reserve in bailing out (or not bailing out) the bank? Which bank, if any, will be next to fall? What are the implications for moral hazard?

 

I currently do not own a position in BSC as of the date of this writing – this may or may not change in the future. Under no circumstances should any of the comments stated above be viewed as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security.  A decision to invest or not invest in any particular security should be made in the context of the financial situation of the individual or entity involved and, as such, this communication should not be construed as a recommended action.Please see conditions of use for important legal disclosures and information relevant to this post

Motely Fool: A Classy Stock for the Stingy Investor

It's not often that my father is enthusiastic during a shopping trip to a department store. So when he recently raved about happily shopping for shoes while sipping apple martinis, it struck my attention.

In an intense retail marketplace, these are the stories that are the key to determining a store that differentiates itself from competitors to continuously attract new customers and retain the old. His experience at Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN), coupled with its nomination for best customer service firm last year, encouraged me to dig in and check out the financials.

Read the rest of this article on the Motley Fool.

I currently do not own a position in JWN as of the date of this writing – this may or may not change in the future. Under no circumstances should any of the comments stated above be viewed as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security.  A decision to invest or not invest in any particular security should be made in the context of the financial situation of the individual or entity involved and, as such, this communication should not be construed as a recommended action. Please see conditions of use for important legal disclosures and information relevant to this post