Japanese Radiation Spreading: How to Trade (PWND, FAN, TSL, HSOL, LDK, GEX)

Japanese stock prices fell further during Monday trading in Tokyo, as reports of radiation leaking from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and spreading into nearby soil and seawater increased the already high-level of tension in Japan. The Nikkei 225 index of Japanese stocks was down 57.60 points or, 0.60%, to 9,478.53 by the end of Monday's trading session. The nuclear power plant's cooling system was damaged from the earthquake and tsunami earlier in the month and the fires and explosions that followed. Workers have been trying ever since to cool the reactor and avoid a potential nuclear meltdown. However, the repair efforts have met with many obstacles and it doesn't look like the situation is any closer to being brought under control. Workers fled from the site over the weekend when radiation levels were reported as being 10 million times above the normal level. However, officials later said that the figure was incorrect and that contaminated water inside the number 2 reactor had actually been measured at 100,000 times normal levels. Radiation levels much higher than usual have also been reported in the seawater near the nuclear power plant. Last week the level of radiation in nearby seawater was said to be just over 1,000 times higher than normal but the radiation level climbed to 1,850 times normal over the weekend. Last week, radiation levels in Tokyo's tap water were reported to be more than twice the recommended limit for consumption by infants leading to a huge increase in demand for bottled water. The concern over radiation in the Japanese water and food supply has spread internationally, with countries like the United States, Russia, South Korea, Canada and many more putting restrictions on Japanese milk and food imports. There are also a number of reports coming in that the radiation has reached the United States but that the elevated radiation levels are not a danger at this point in time. With almost nothing but negative news coming out of Japan regarding the damaged Japanese nuclear power plant, there is increasing concern over the use of nuclear power not only in Japan but throughout the world. If the radiation from the badly damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continues to seep into the sea, land and air and spread throughout the world, governments will be under increasing pressure to promote cleaner and less dangerous energy sources for power, such as solar and wind power. This could be good news for investors in wind power investments like the PowerShares Global Wind Energy PWND ETF and First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy FAN ETF. Solar power companies like Trina Solar Limited TSL, Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd. HSOL and LDK Solar Co. Inc. LDK could also see their long term fortunes improve. The Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy ETF GEX is an investment option for those who want exposure to a broader assortment of alternative fuel companies.