Description:Â The former head of American International Group Inc is urging a closer look at the actions of Goldman Sachs Group Inc, claiming the investment bank contributed to the insurer’s near-collapse, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Source: Reuters.com Date: 01/09/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6081IB20100109 Questions for discussion: What is your view of this exchange between… Read more »
Monthly Archives: January 2010
U.S. Stocks Rise Most in Two Months as Factory Orders Increase
Description: U.S. stocks advanced, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to the biggest weekly gain in two months, as the nation’s manufacturing increased more than forecast and metal and oil prices surged. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 01/09/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a.YfWoX7if4E Questions for discussion: What does the article suggest is an important indicator of stock market performance?… Read more »
London’s Investment Banks Double Pay to Lure Back City Talent
Description: London’s investment banks are luring back traders and analysts they lost to brokerage firms during the credit crisis, compensating for lower bonuses by as much as doubling base salaries. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 01/08/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aCYBE_nDS.Ys Questions for discussion: What does the article suggest to you about the financial services industry’s dealings with compensation? Do… Read more »
High-speed computerized trading
Description: High frequency trading offers opportunities by the millisecond and a bundle of regulatory issues. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 12/30/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2009/12/30/mkts_high_frequency_trading.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the primary reasons for the fast growth in market share for this software? Do you believe that this sort of software presents any special problems… Read more »
Companies Google should buy in 2010
Description: Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in September that the search leader will buy up to one company a month in 2010. Here’s a look at some of the leading contenders. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 01/02/2010 Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/technology/0912/gallery.google_acquisitions/index.html Questions for discussion: Do you agree or disagree with the assessments made favouring these acquisitions? Explain your thinking…. Read more »
Kraft to raise Cadbury bid in next 2 weeks -report
Description:Â Kraft Foods (KFT.N) is preparing to sweeten its hostile 10 billion pound ($15.9 billion) takeover bid for British confectionery maker Cadbury (CBRY.L), reported the Sunday Times. Source: Reuters.com Date: 01/03/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60207X20100103 Questions for discussion: Do you believe the bid is overpriced? Explain your thinking. How would you assess the bidding process thus far… Read more »
Bernanke Says Low Rates Didn’t Cause Housing Bubble
Description: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank’s low interest rates didn’t cause the past decade’s housing bubble and that better regulation would have been more effective in limiting the boom. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 01/03/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=auCLZh_HZf9E&pos=1 Questions for discussion: Do you agree with Ben Bernanke’s views about the cause of the… Read more »
Investors Hope the ’10s Beat the ’00s
Description: The U.S. stock market is wrapping up what is likely to be its worst decade ever. In nearly 200 years of recorded stock-market history, no calendar decade has seen such a dismal performance as the 2000s. Source: WSJ.com Date: 12/20/2009 Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704786204574607993448916718.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read Questions for discussion:Â Summarize the highlights of the story. Do you think… Read more »
