Description: U.S. bank investors may be rewarded with an extra $22 billion annually after government tests showed the industry has regained enough strength to boost dividends and share buybacks. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 03/19/2011 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-18/jpmorgan-leads-22-billion-increase-in-payouts-buybacks-after-fed-review.html Questions for discussion:Â What does this report suggest about the state of affairs at JPMorgan and possibly other institutions? Does… Read more »
Monthly Archives: March 2011
Japan quake shakes up oil prices
Description: The earthquake in Japan may not cause prices to plunge more Friday but the long-term impact on oil could be drastic Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/11/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/11/mkts_japan_quake_oil2.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How does this incredible disaster in Japan connect to the international demand and price for oil? What are some of the… Read more »
BullHorn: SXSW: Who’ll be the best?
Description: Foursquare and Gowalla were big hits last year at the technology conference in Austin, Texas. Are they takeover targets now? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/10/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/10/mkts_bh_sxsw_bsft_fnsr.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented about each company. Do you think any one of these companies has an advantage in the developing technologies… Read more »
Bargains for Stock Investors
Description: Value-stock investors can find buying opportunities in any market climate. Michael Scanlon, co-manager of John Hancock Large Cap Equity Fund, talks about three stocks he sees as bargains: Microsoft, Sirius XM and Lazard. Jonathan Burton reports. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 03/08/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/bargains-for-stock-investors/21F018C1-4AD2-4A08-978E-566865F6A54B Questions for discussion: Summarize the evaluation methods and investing… Read more »
GM keeps churning with big CFO shift
Description:Â The Microsoft guy who brought his much-needed financial chops to General Motors Co. when the Detroit auto maker needed them the most is on his way out after just a year on the job. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 03/11/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gm-cfo-calls-it-quits-investors-wince-2011-03-10?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion:Â Â Why do you think investors responded as they did? Do you… Read more »
Bernanke Recovery Flawed as Companies Get Credit Denied to U.S. Consumers
Description: Thirteen hundred miles from Wall Street, Alex Fairchild is still waiting for a little of the U.S. government’s multitrillion-dollar bailouts and Federal Reserve largesse to trickle his way. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/11/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-11/bernanke-recovery-flawed-as-companies-get-credit-denied-to-u-s-consumers.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about the credit crunch and recovery process? How should investors and businesses… Read more »
BullHorn: Jobs back, Monster Hiding
Description: LinkedIn and other social networking sites have taken the teeth out of job search website Monster.com. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/04/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/04/mkts_bh_jobs_monster.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the analysis presented of these firms? How should investors respond to the trends shown? Do you believe Monster has lost its ability… Read more »
Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash
Description: Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 03/01/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/why-2011-may-be-the-end-of-the-housing-crash/9A7D3C38-BBDD-4DCF-8C8D-41A080E3969B Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis and metrics used to argue that housing might be turning around this year. Do you agree with the analysis presented? Why did prices collapse so abruptly and why might that not happen now? Instead of actually buying a house,… Read more »
Saudi Stocks End Longest Losing Streak Since 1996 After State Purchases
Description: Saudi stocks rose for the first time in three weeks, rallying the most in more than two years, after the finance minister said the Arab world’s largest economy is benefitting from higher oil prices and in “excellent†shape. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/05/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-05/saudi-stocks-end-longest-losing-streak-since-1996-after-state-purchases.html Questions for discussion:  Explain the recent price behavior of the… Read more »
Cheap, Ultrafast Broadband? At Least Hong Kong Has It
Description: HONG KONG residents can enjoy astoundingly fast broadband at an astoundingly low price. It became available last year, when a scrappy company called Hong Kong Broadband Network introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home service: a speed of 1,000 megabits a second — known as a “gig†— for less than $26 a month…. Read more »
