http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/solar/solar-stocks-rise-in-rush-to-beat-german-fit-cuts.html

Germany said last week that it would cut feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar power producers by three per cent in July, assuming that a 3.5GW threshold for new installations is reached this year, as seems likely.But share prices in the solar sector rose with the news, as analysts from JP Morgan predicted a rush of new installations before the cuts bite in July.

The rally may also be driven by the fact that the cuts were less severe than anticipated. The three per cent decrease will be deducted from deeper cuts planned for 2012.
A ‘hard cap’ on new installations now also looks less likely, although German politicians have refused to rule it out.
The deal was a compromise between the solar industry and the German government, which has expressed anxiety over the ‘unsustainable’ growth in solar installations since FITs were introduced in 2004.
With Germany now the world’s largest market for solar panels the decision has a major impact on solar manufacturers’ earnings expectations for 2011.
Share prices rose across the sector this week, with First Solar up 4.7 per cent to $147.41 per share, Trina Solar up 8.7 per cent to $28.23, LDK Solar also rising 8.7 per cent to $13.15, and Yingli Green Energy up 7.8 per cent to $11.33.
In brief:
General Electric, which is one of the world’s major wind turbine producers (alongside a host of other industrial activities), saw its share price jump 4.9 per cent after its quarterly earnings report showed profits up 51 per cent. But it reported lower earnings from its financial division, GE Capital, which was once one of the biggest sources of project finance for utility-scale power plants.
Chinese turbine maker Sinovel continued to slide after its debut at RMB86.7 ($13.15) per share on the Shanghai stock market last week. By the close of trading last week it had slipped to RMB72.43 per share.
Geothermal developer Raser Technologies continued to rise after breaking ground on its Lightning Dock well in New Mexico. Its stock was up 8.3 per cent in over-the-counter trading, closing at $0.273 per share.