Movers & Shakers: Oil & Gas, Mining and the coming Sovereign Debt Crisis

A summary of the latest stock ideas and global insights from the Stockopedia Community.

Markets & Macro

Nils Jensen argues strongly that the UK is in a balance sheet recession and that household de-leveraging has much further to run. He examines 5 recommendations for investing in a structural equity bear market. Tim Price asks irrespective of who inherits the Brown whirlwind, where we will find the political will to cut the national debt before a crisis? Oilguy is anxious that we are entering an era with no global reserve currency, Naked Capitalism reviews the recent Senate interrogation of Goldman Sachs, while Andrew Butter analyses what the SEC may have missed in its attack on the "vampire squid".

One technical analyst, Robert Newgrosh, stands firm with his prediction that the FTSE is going to 10,000 by 2012 but Larry Pesavento, the pattern recognition expert who uses astrological patterns (!), saw last weekend as a major market turn date, as big as the March lows of 2009, which he predicted. One of our Top Contributors, Tournesol talks frankly about his decision to go into cash after a recent Damascene moment.

In Smallcapland, news this week that London’s Alternative Investment Market saw 16 new admissions in Q1 should give heart to management teams toying with a fundraising. Unfortunately, the impending general election and Euro sovereign debt are all having a sapping effect on confidence. As a result, Richard Power has noted that smallcap share prices have largely disappointed this year despite the corporate newsflow  being mainly positive.

Oil & Gas Focus

A key highlight in O&G in recent weeks has been our recent "Meet the Management" Interview with Roger Cagle of SOCO International PLC. EmptyEnd's M&A thread continues to be very active. The Oil Council is asking where the Oil & Gas technology successes of the future will be, while Tim Heeley of Nighthawk Energy asks whether unconventional Oil is becoming conventional.

Elias Jones suggests that there's all still to play for at Tower Resources, while Darron Preston asks whether the potential of Regal Petroleum has been overlooked by the market.  There's been a lot of discussion about the impact of the Transocean fire on BP. In terms of sector research, Edison have released a note on Rockhopper Exploration and Fox Davies looks at the latest news from Victoria Oil & Gas, Gulfsands Petroleum and Ascent Resources.

In the Oil Services space, Fat Prophets look at John Wood Group and Petrofac, while Mansiarad updates on Lamprell.

Down the Mines

The excellent threads by Marben and Xigris on Extract Resources and Polo Resources continue to see a lot of activity. You can see our recent podcast with African Aura's CEO here. It's also worth checking out Mining Maven's recent Q&A with Range Resources and Regency Mines, as well as their latest updates on Red Rock Resources and Goldstone Resources.

Meanwhile, Edison have released interesting recent research on Sirius Exploration and Emed Mining, while Fox Davies has initiated coverage on African Barrick Gold and Hardy Oil & Gas. 

Elsewhere on Stockopedia

Timarr asks why do major takeovers persist despite value destruction for buyers, while also taking a look at Wall Street Interview tactics and Monty Hall economics. Hybridan reviews the buzz around PLUS quoted renewable energy business, Good Energy while noting disappointing sales for Mercury Recycling, the recycler of fluorescent tubes. Edison revisit Vectura Group in light of Sandoz's acquisition of Oriel Therapeutics and have produced an in-depth note on Lincat, a provider of commercial catering equipment for professional kitchens.

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Safe investing,

The Stockopedia Team