Description: Bank of America to pay a $16.65 billion settlement to the federal government and six states for mortgage securities fraud that lead to the financial crisis. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 21, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/08/21/bank-of-america-settlement-17-billion-mortgage-securities-fraud-doj-holder.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Evaluate the settlement agreed to in this case. Do you think jail time for… Read more »
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Is it smooth sailing for Wall Street’s bulls?
Description: Stifel Nicolaus Portfolio Manger Chad Morganlander and JPMorgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli discuss markets, the economy and Fed rate policy. They speak on “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg .com – video report Date: August 21, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/is-it-smooth-sailing-for-wall-street-s-bulls-KQPMTzQeQLCO7VQfYY0VHw.html Questions for discussion: What do the people interviewed in this report say that favors… Read more »
Why Samsung Is Hoarding Its Cash
Description: Now that it’s selling Nooks to consumers, Samsung Electronics has a new way to compete with Apple and Amazon.com. The Korean company on Wednesday unveiled its new Samsung Galaxy Tab Nook, a 7-inch tablet that uses software for the Barnes & Noble electronic reader. Source: Businessweek.com Date: August 22, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-22/why-samsung-is-hoarding-its-cash#r=hp-ls Questions for… Read more »
Too Much Corn With Nowhere to Go as U.S. Sees Record Crop
Description: The ripening corn and soybean fields stretch for miles in every direction from Dennis Wentworth’s farm in Downs, Illinois. As he marveled at his best-yielding crops ever, he wondered aloud where the heck he’ll put it all. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Aug 22, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-22/too-much-corn-with-nowhere-to-go-as-u-s-sees-record-crop.html Questions for Discussions: How does this article illustrate the… Read more »
Why Target will pull out all the stops to save face in Canada
Description: It only took 15 months after Target Corp. made a wildly hyped venture into Canada before someone sounded a death knell for the mass merchant. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Aug 22, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/08/22/why-target-will-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-save-face-in-canada/ Questions for discussion: What is the financial damage to Target due to its poor performance? How would you deal with the… Read more »
Blackstone CEO: Regulation making markets safer
Description: Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman says regulations have eliminated risk: ‘We probably have a safer world, but a world that will grow slower.’ Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: August 06, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/08/06/stephen-schwarzman-blackstone-financial-regulations-safer-markets.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What does Stephen Schwarzman have to say about the current environment with respect to risk and growth? Do… Read more »
Zillow CEO: Why Trulia is worth it
Description: Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff explains why he wants to buy Trulia and talks about future growth for the combined company. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/07/28/zillow-ceo-trulia-deal.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons given for the deal. Do you think they deal is a good one? How will this deal… Read more »
Arrogance Is Good: In Defense of Silicon Valley
Description: Sam Altman sits behind his desk with his knees pulled up to his chest, eating dried apricots. He’s 29, but even the most laissez-faire bartender would card him. His hand is forever grabbing his hair while he thinks, making it stick up in Einsteinian tufts. Source: Businessweek.com Date: August 07, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-07/silicon-valley-tech-entrepreneurs-behind-the-stereotype#p1 Questions… Read more »
Two cheers for ‘too big to fail’
Description: Had the government not rescued the big banks during the 2008 financial crisis, the public’s expense would surely have been far greater. Source: Fortune.com Date: August 07, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/08/07/two-cheers-for-too-big-to-fail/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments put forward in this article. Do you agree?
Canada’s very own private-equity giant Onex quietly tops returns of big-name U.S. rivals
Description: The best performer of the biggest publicly traded private-equity firms this year won’t be found among U.S. giants such as Blackstone Group LP or KKR & Co. The leader is Canada’s own contender, the dark horse in the race, Gerry Schwartz’s Onex Corp. With a 15% stock gain, Onex is running well ahead of… Read more »
