There’s more to fear: Americans eating in

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description: Slow sales for Darden Restaurant chains Olive Garden and Red Lobster have investors asking for the check as Americans opt to dine at home. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 22, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/22/investing-bz-darden.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Why is there concern over financial details related to these firms? Do you agree with the… Read more »

How we know you’re afraid to invest

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

Description:    CNNMoney has a new way to help you gauge whether investors are greedy or fearful. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 20, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/06/19/n-fear-and-greed.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the methodology used to explain stock market behavior? Do you think it is a useful way of measuring and predicting behavior? Based on the… Read more »

Bank Investors Dismiss Moody’s Cuts As Years Too Late

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Moody’s Investors Service suffered a downgrade of its own as markets responded to the company’s rating cuts yesterday of 15 of the world’s largest banks by bidding up the value of their stocks and bonds. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 22, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-21/credit-suisse-cut-3-levels-as-moody-s-downgrades-biggest-banks.html Questions for Discussions: What does this report have to say about… Read more »

Reasons to fear Wall Street’s high-tech traders

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Description: A review of Dark Pools: High-Speed Traders, A.I. Bandits, and the Threat to the Global Financial System, by Scott Patterson. Source: Fortune.com Date: Jun 22, 2012 Link:  http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/22/dark-pools-scott-patterson/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: Summarize the sentiments in this report? What are the concerns and are they well founded, in your opinion?

Know Where The Money is Going Before You Ask For It

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description:  Squarespace founder Anthony Casalena didn’t necessarily know he wanted to start a business, but he did have a clear concept of what he wanted. “I was trying to make my personal website and I wasn’t satisfied with any of the existing services” said Casalena in interview, “I had a very clear concept of what… Read more »

Why Spain’s 7% bond yield is so scary

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Market Analysis.

Description: Sky-high borrowing costs and a lack of investor confidence may contribute to pushing Spain closer to a bailout. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 14, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/14/mkts-spain-10-year-bonds.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: What is the significance of the 7% bond yield for Spain, for Europe, and for investors? What should investors do under these… Read more »

Nokia: Are the Finnish finished?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Ignore the takeover rumors, ailing cell phone maker Nokia won’t be acquired anytime soon. In fact, now is probably the time to bail. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 14, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/14/investing-bz-nokia.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Summarize the analysis and recommendations presented by the reporter. Do you agree? What would you advise Nokia… Read more »

Rajat Gupta Convicted Of Insider Trading By U.S. Jury

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Rajat Gupta, who reached the pinnacle of corporate America as managing partner of McKinsey & Co. and as a director at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), was convicted by a federal jury of leaking inside information to hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jun 15, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/rajat-gupta-convicted-of-insider-trading-by-u-s-jury.html… Read more »

Oil Prices Keep Falling, But a Strange Gap Persists

Posted by & filed under Industry Analysis.

Description: Oil prices are down more than 20 percent since mid-March. Yet that hasn’t erased a strange anomaly in the market: the gap between two essentially identical types of oil. North American light, sweet crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate, trades just below $84 while its international equivalent, known as Brent, is priced at… Read more »

Why I’m betting big on Europe

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation.

Description: The vaunted international stock picker David Herro is betting big on banks in France, Spain, and Italy. But he doesn’t call himself a risk-taker. Source: Fortune.com Date: June 14, 2012 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/14/retirement-guide-herro-europe/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: Summarize the strategic analysis presented by David Herro. Do you agree with his thinking and advice?