News Hub: Dow Steamrolled by Caterpillar
July 25, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Market Analysis
Description: Blue chips slipped, but finished with a strong weekly advance, as investors weighed Caterpillar’s disappointing results against a new agreement on a Greek financing plan. Laura Mandaro has details.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 07/22/2011
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the significance of Caterpillar’s results and stock movement.
- What does the continuing rise of gold suggest about the direction of economy, the US dollar, interest rates, and inflation?
- As an investor, do you see value in the companies in the Dow today?
Demystifying the Euro bank test
July 18, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis
Description: CNN’s Jim Boulden blasts through the jargon of the European bank stress tests.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 07/15/2011
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/07/15/n_euro_bank_stress.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize what the “tests” are supposed to show.
- Are there any weaknesses to the test?
- How would you advise investors to deal with the current conditions?
Markets Hub: Icahn Makes Surprise Bid for Clorox
July 18, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Company Analysis
Description: Carl Icahn made a surprise bid for Clorox, and suggested the company shop itself around as well. It’s a classic Icahn move, Deal Journal’s Shira Ovide reports.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 07/15/2011
Questions for discussion:
- What is the “classic Icahn move”?
- What do you think he is trying to achieve?
- What should investors do at this time?
- What should management of Clorox do?
Is the euro a better bet than the dollar?
July 11, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis
Description: A commitment to reform in Europe could mean the euro is a better value than the greenback, according to currency fund manager Axel Merk.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 07/08/2011
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/07/07/mkts_buzz_euro_dollar.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the views presented.
- Do you agree with the analysis?
- How would you advise investors to deal with current conditions?
AM Report: Higher Jobless Rate May Thwart Recovery
July 11, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators
Description: The News Hub covers the nation’s unemployment rate, that ticked up to 9.2% in June. The rise in jobless figures, coupled with only 18,000 non-farm payrolls created, has some calling into question the prospects for economic recovery.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 07/08/2011
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the economic consequences of the jobs reports?
- How do you think the Fed will respond?
- What should investors do at this time?
- What should businesses do?
Greece Sells Assets to Whittle Down Debt
July 4, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators
Description: To help get out of its debt crisis, the Greek government has come up with a way to raise some cash: Sell off everything from planes and trains to huge parcels of land along the Greek coastline. WSJ’s Charles Forelle reports from Athens.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 06/27/2011
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the scenario described for how Greece accumulated unmanageable debts and how it might extricate itself.
- How are the financial planning issues similar and different for a country in comparison to that of a company?
- How might politicians handle these issues differently than a manager of a company?
- What would your advice be to Greece?
Jim Rogers: ‘I’m staying liquid’
June 20, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis
Description: The legendary investor sees more troubling times for the global economy and says he is staying away from stocks for the foreseeable future.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 06/16/2011
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/16/n_rogers_debt.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the analysis presented by Jim Rogers.
- Do you agree with his assessments and solutions?
- How would you approach investing today and for the next few years?
BullHorn: Metal meltdown
May 9, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis
Description: Silver has plunged, gold has taken a hit and the commodity bubble may be finally bursting.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 05/06/2011
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/05/06/mkts_bullhorn0506.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the analysis presented in this report.
- Do you agree that the commodities bubble is bursting?
- What do you believe is the reason for the recent price drops?
- Is this good or bad for the economy in general and for other businesses in particular?
Japan’s 4.5 trillion yen jump start
May 2, 2011 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis
Description: Japan is preparing a supplemental budget of 4.5 trillion yen to help the country recover from lost production due to the tsunami.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 04/28/2011
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/04/28/n_japan_economy.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the economic and business situation in Japan.
- Do you believe the projections are likely to be true?
- Which businesses would you expect to be particularly harmed during this reconstruction period?
- Are there any companies that can be expected to benefit from the reconstruction effort?
The myth of China’s building boom
December 6, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Economic Analysis
Description: Jim Chanos is outspokenly bearish on China and it’s construction economy.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 12/03/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/12/03/f_chanos_china_bubble.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the basic points presented in this report?
- Do you agree with the opinions and arguments made?
- What is the message to investors?
- Are there ways to mitigate the risks described in the report?
