Wood Biofuels, Venture Capital and Skin Moisturizers

| comments (2) in Timber Market Analysis, Wood Bioenergy

A fundamental mismatch exists between clean energy projects and venture capital funds.  This conclusion, in a Harvard Business School working paper “Venture Capital Investment in the Clean Energy Sector” by Shikhar Ghosh and Ramana Nanda, emphasized investor expectations of extraordinary more…

How Do Exchange Rates Affect US Forest Products and Timberland Investments?

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Timber Market Analysis, Timberlands

When studying exchange rates and currency markets, I sometimes think of the old joke “the quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and stick it back in your pocket.”   Currency markets shake more than more…

Forecasting Stumpage Prices and Timberland Investment Performance Requires Local Knowledge of Wood Demand

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Forisk, Stumpage Forecasting, Timber Market Analysis, Wood Demand & Procurement

Last week, I met with the CEO of one of world’s largest forest management and consulting firms.  We ended up discussing a mutually perplexing question, “why do some timberland investors prioritize macro issues like housing at the expense of understanding more…