Description: Economist Jeffrey Sachs says the policies of the Reagan administration led to the destruction of the American middle class. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/23/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/12/22/n_opinion_jeff_sachs.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented by Jeffrey Sachs favoring greater government involvement in the economy. What are the items you agree with and those… Read more »
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Apple at the retail crossroads
Description:Â People love to speculate on the future of Apple Inc. I am no exception. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 12/23/2011 Link:Â http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-at-the-retail-crossroads-2011-12-23 Questions for discussion: Do you agree with this assessment? What would you advise investors do today?
Oracle Sales, Profit Miss Estimates
Description: Oracle Corp. (ORCL) dropped the most in more than nine years, dragging down other software makers, after it reported quarterly sales and profit that missed analysts’estimates in a sign companies are spending less on programs that help them manage operations. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 12/21/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-20/oracle-misses-estimates-as-clients-throttle-tech-spending-shares-decline.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this… Read more »
The super rich just don’t get it
Description:Â Wealthy financiers are trying to turn the Occupy movement into a rich vs. poor debate. What they still don’t understand is that Americans don’t hate the rich. They hate the rich in finance. Source: Fortune.com Date: 12/23/2011 Link:Â http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/22/jamie-dimon-rich/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summarize the opinions and ethical issues expressed in this report? What is… Read more »
Finance on the Ropes
Description:Â For Wall Street, it’s been a series of unfortunate events Source: Businessweek.com Date: 12/22/2011 Link:Â http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/finance-on-the-ropes-12222011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points presented in the report. What is your opinion of this thinking?
What would make Caterpillar add jobs
Description: Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman explains what the company needs to hire in the near and long-term. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/13/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/12/13/n_cat_ceo_adding_jobs.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the challenges facing the firm? How do these issues relate to your understanding of the state of the economy? What should companies, governments and… Read more »
Whole Foods shareholder’s big payday
Description:Â When things looked bleak for Whole Foods in 2008, private-equity retail specialist Leonard Green & Partners gave the natural foods retailer a $425 million cash injection, gobbling up preferred stock that was later converted to nearly 30 million shares. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 12/13/2011 Link:Â http://www.marketwatch.com/story/whole-foods-shareholders-big-payday-2011-12-13?dist=afterbell Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial analysis presented in… Read more »
Investing after the Arab Spring: Unfinished business
Description:Â The ongoing revolutions across the Middle East would seem to be good news for markets. But so far they’ve scared most foreign investors away. Source: Fortune.com Date: 12/13/2011 Link:Â http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/13/investing-middle-east-north-africa/?iid=SF_F_Lead Questions for discussion: Summarize the opinions expressed in this report? What would your advice be to investors at this time?
Put a put income strategy to work for you
Description:Â Most investors own some mix of stocks, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. In building an equity asset allocation for their portfolio, without knowing it, or simply accepting it, they are taking about 100% of the risk of the equity markets. There is however a safer option for building the equity portion of your… Read more »
All the world’s a game
Description: Video games will be the fastest-growing and most exciting form of mass media over the coming decade, says Tim Cross Source: TheEconomist.com Date: 12/10/2011 Link: http://www.economist.com/node/21541164 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. What does this report suggest about investing strategies related to the growth of the industry?
