Investment Opportunities

• Deep Sea Oil Exploration – as the world searches for the last drop
• Oil Field Decommissioning – as the number of depleted oil fields increases
• Alternative Energy Sources – to meet increasing demand and to make up for dwindling oil, gas, and coal
• Energy Conservation & Efficiency – to lower skyrocketing energy costs
• Emerging Market Electrical Power – moving from an era of short supply to meet growing consumer and industrial needs in emerging markets
• Emerging Market Consumer Products & Financial Services – new world economies will look like U.S. in 50’s and 60’s
• Development of Wind Energy – makes up for lost fossil fuels, meets increasing demand, and is environmentally friendly
• Development of Solar Energy -  the twin of wind energy
• Bio-based Energy Sources – bio-diesel, ethanol, and methanol will have niches
• Internal Combustion Replacement – fuel cells, clean diesels, and hybrids will make up for less oil, increase efficiency, and be more environmental friendly
• Renewed Interest in Nuclear – there are acceptable answers to safety and waste
• Clean Coal Technology – takes advantage of an abundant U.S. and Chinese resource while addressing environmental issues
• Lightweight Strong Materials – reduce energy costs for transportation
• Specialized Agricultural Products – for bio-energy and improved diet
• Food Testing – to allay increasing health concerns
• Medical Testing Equipment – to reduce health care costs through early detection and improved diagnosis
• Environmentally Friendly Fertilizers & Pesticides – for increased production
• Environmental Cleanup & Preservation – to provide clean air and water for better health
• Agricultural Efficiency – to increase yield and reduce cost as demand increases
• Cargo Ships -  to meet global raw material and trade needs
• Railroads – to meet demand in coal, grains, raw materials, and global trade goods
• Metal Recycling – to reduce energy cost and meet raw material demand
• Specialty Chemicals – in high growth areas to increase product efficiency and effectiveness and reduce environmental impacts
• Environmental Friendly Mining – to meet raw material and infrastructure demand in a politically correct manner

Major Growth Trends

• Shrinking Oil Supply – along with increasing energy demand will drive alternative energy.
  
  
• Increasing Global Trade – will fuel middle class growth and increase infrastructure needs, especially railroads and bulk shipping.
  
  
• Emerging Middle Classes – will increase world demand for electricity, consumer products, and financial services.
  
  
• Increasing Energy Demand – will drive many alternative technologies.
  
  
• Increasing Demand for Agricultural Products – will be driven by demand for fuel and better diets.
  
  
• Environmental Cleanup and Preservation – will coincide with alternative energy solutions.
  
  
• Increasing Health Care Demand – will drive demand for testing products that have repeat usage and less political risk than other areas in this sector.
  
  
• Continued Decline in the U.S. $ – will make overseas investments attractive.
  
  
• Increasing Demand for Natural Resources – will be fueled by trade, the need for infrastructure, and middle class growth.

Growth Trends for the Future
When looking for investment opportunities, I use a top-down approach. This means that I look around the world for trends that I think will produce investments with long-term growth potential. Many of the trends I see are inter-dependent so it is often hard to separate one from another, but the lists of major growth trends and investment opportunities cover the spectrum of where I see the best possibilities for long-term growth. View the growth trends page to see a list of trends that I see influencing future investment opportunities. View the investment opportunities page to see a list of how these opportunities will benefit from these major trends.


Mike Shinn for www.fizone.com
December 14, 2005