Description: The microblogging site reportedly is planning to raise $100 million this year based on that valuation. Embedded video from CNNMoney.com Video Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 9/25/2009 Keys: Raising capital, valuations, IPO Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/09/25/f_tt_twitter_valuation.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments for concern over Twitter’s valuation. Do you have similar concerns? Explain your… Read more »
Monthly Archives: September 2009
RIM’s stock drops 17% on outlook
Description: BlackBerry maker Research in Motion reported a 37% jump in revenue after the bell Thursday, but its gloomy forecast punished the stock Friday. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 9/25/2009 Keys: Investing, stock market Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/25/technology/research_in_motion_stock_falls/index.htm?postversion=2009092517 Questions for discussion: Do you think the drop in market price is justified or is this an opportunity to buy on… Read more »
Unilever pays 1.3 bln euros for Sara Lee brands
Description: Sara Lee Corp (SLE.N)will sell its personal care brands like Sanex and Brylcreem for $1.87 billion (1.275 billion euros) to consumer goods giant Unilever and set a $1 billion share buyback plan, sending its stock up 6 percent. Sara Lee also said on Friday it has seen significant interest in its household products business,… Read more »
Dell Pays 68% Premium for Perot’s Health Technology
Description: Dell Inc.’s proposed $3.9 billion buyout of Perot Systems Corp. reflects the second-largest personal-computer maker’s ambitions in the market for health- care information technology. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 9/22/2009 Keys: Mergers and acquisitions, marketing Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aQoF5RIBfpSY Questions for discussion: Explain why this deal makes sense for Dell. How might it affect its financial metrics –… Read more »
Study shows U.S. bank CEO pay dwarfs rest of world
Description: You wouldn’t know it by his pay stubs, but Jiang Jianqing heads the world’s largest bank. Jiang, chairman of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, made just $234,700 in 2008. That’s less than 2 percent of the $19.6 million awarded to Jamie Dimon, chief executive of the world’s fourth-largest bank, JPMorgan Chase & Co…. Read more »
Why Yahoo finally made the deal
Description: CEO Carol Bartz explains why her company formed a partnership with Microsoft one year after their initial offer. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 9/16/2009 Keys: Mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/09/16/f_mpw_bartz_microsoft.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the partnership for both firms from a strategic planning point of… Read more »
Riding the bull a little longer
Description: The momentum that boosted the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq to nearly one-year highs looks to reassert itself in the week ahead. Fed meeting, housing reports, G-20 summit on tap. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 9/20/2009 Keys: Investing, stock market Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/18/markets/sunday_lookahead/index.htm?postversion=2009092008 Questions for discussion: Based on the report, do you believe the stock markets will… Read more »
Fat Profit Margins Are Road Map to Three Stocks: John Dorfman
Description: There are lots of ways to measure profitability. Many investors fixate on a company’s earnings growth, especially for one-year or five-year periods. I have nothing against that measure — well, wait a moment, I do. It is too sensitive to the starting point, making companies look unduly strong when they are coming off a… Read more »
Marchionne Managing Chrysler Means 5 Mobile Devices in Backpack
Description: To save Chrysler Group LLC, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has to create a mid-size sedan that can compete with the world’s best. It’s a three- to five-year job, and he may have two years to do it. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 9/14/2009 Keys: Management, investing, marketing Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=awHymjXNOYdI Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategies… Read more »
Is the gold rush for real?
Description: Gold is over $1,000. Our editor at large debates with readers of ‘The Buzz’ whether it’s still a good investment. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 9/08/2009 Keys: Economy, stock market, investing Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/09/08/n_buzz_gold_1000_investment.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons offered for gold price changes? What do you think will happen to the… Read more »