The shipper generates stable cash flow from the bulk of its fleet of 48 vessels, mostly dry bulk.

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Japanese trading houses, long major players in global energy and commodities markets, recently have stepped up acquisitions in the global water business as they seek to tap a growth market with stable cash flow.

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Those types of characteristics help keep a company and its cash flow stable in a difficult economy.

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Ethiopia denies this and says it will use machines to monitor and ensure the flow remains stable.

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Moreover, the Central Bank is likely to welcome the strengthening of the BRL, as appreciation can help ease some of the building inflationary pressure that higher food prices and a stable exchange rate were allowing to flow through to the economy.

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"My goal is a stable business, doing good, positive cash flow and minimal stress, " he says.

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One strategy for playing it safe is to shorten the duration of your muni holdings and consider owning bonds that are backed by a mix of general obligations from stable issuers and revenue bonds backed by specific cash-flow rich franchises.

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Investors are more likely to hold onto a stock when they know that a stable or rising dividend is going to be paid every few months and they see either the cash flow or additional shares of the security (if they dividend reinvest) in their accounts.

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