No. 2 - America's Aging Infrastructure

There's no question the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis was a terrible tragedy. But that event, along with the steam pipe explosion in New York last month, raises a bigger issue. The aging infrastructure in our nation is becoming a widespread problem. Is there an appropriate Wall Street response?

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that the U.S. needs to spend $1.6 trillion to fix roads and infrastructure in this country by 2010. The knee-jerk reaction to a report like that, following a tragedy like the one in Minnesota, is to buy the infrastructure powerhouses like Fluor (FLR) and Foster Wheeler (FWLT).

The fact is, Guy Adami says, you should own these sorts of companies anyway – and not because of any single event. Companies that capitalize on the global infrastructure boom should be owned as an investment, he says.

And as cynical as it sounds, Jeff Macke says, this country probably won’t pony up to spend the cash needed to fix the roads, rails and bridges that desperately need fixing. There will likely be more accidents and more tragedies – and for that, unfortunately, there’s reason to look at a company like Exponent (EXPO), which specializes in consulting for architectural engineering and analyzing catastrophes.

If you have to trade a tragedy like this, Eric recommends funds such as Meadowbrook Insurance Group (MIG) that are in the business of purchasing toll roads – a space that has become very profitable, he says.

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Trader disclosure: On Aug 2nd 2007, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Macke Owns (ATVI), (HAS), (DIS); Bolling Owns (MPEL), (BP), (T), (XOM),Gold; Bolling Is Short Natural Gas; WWE Programs Air On Networks Of NBC Universal; NBC Universal Is The Parent Company Of CNBC