What to Look Forward to in 2009
I know it’s a little premature to be talking about 2009 but I wanted to beat the rush, so here are some of things we have to look forward to in 2009.
Honda hybrid - Apparently someone finally convinced Honda that the ‘cover up half of the back tire’ look was downright ugly and so in 5 short months Honda lovers can own a Honda hybrid …without having to tint the windows so much. No word yet on mpg.
Energy - What do the Phoenix Suns, Jay Leno, and Sun Chips have in common? They’ve all gone solar. Look for the conversation surrounding energy sources to turn up a notch, what with T. Boone flying everywhere to promote his energy plan for the U.S.A., and businesses taking energy procurement or energy-creation under their own wings as part of company strategy. In 2009, and more so in the following years, expect to see the energy industry decentralize and the ability to choose where you get your energy from. What Dean Foods is doing in Gooding, ID (turning cow poo into energy) is a good example of what is down the road.
Economy - Cheer up, there’s always fourth quarter… but don’t expect much in the next two years. Some economic researchers point to a linkage between the U.S. Presidential election cycle and market performance.
“Stocks tend to advance most during the year immediately preceding and the year of the election, but only tread water during the other two years of the four-year cycle,” noted Mark Vakkur, author of “Seasonality And The Presidential Election Cycle.” Upon close examination, it becomes apparent that the first half of the first Presidential year slowly increases, but from the second half of that year through the third quarter of the second Presidential year, the market does indeed only appear to “tread water.” Not until the fourth quarter of the second Presidential year does the market start its big rally.”
Bruce Springstein - Super Bowl halftime 2009. Will the outspoken Obama supporter invite other musicians pulling for Obama like Billy Joel and Barbara Streisand to join him on the stage? Pending an Obama win, maybe America will see the President of the U.S.A. on the halftime stage. Springstein, Joel, Streisand and Obama…with Bill Clinton on the saxophone.
Last but not least - Eco-fashion. Levi’s, Gap Inc., even WalMart is getting on the act. The landscape of eco-clothing brands will continue to get cluttered but expect to see, as we have already with NAU, for unavoidable consolidation as wallets get tighter.
