Bank bashing is back, stocks suffer

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: Banks are making a profit but they are taking heat from all sides. Neither the market nor Main Street is happy with them right now. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/23/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/23/n_bz_bank_bashing_stocks.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to why banks and bank stocks are out of favor? Do you agree… Read more »

Where Apple is vulnerable: Motorola’s view

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha says that the only possible weakness for Apple is as it scales up, it may lose its innovative edge. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/22/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/22/t_ls_motorola_apple.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented by Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha. Do you agree with his assessments and projections for… Read more »

Bonds: How to Play Interest Rate Peril

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description:  With uncertainty high, some bond investors are looking to “unconstrained” managers who take a more active approach to selecting fixed-income securities Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/23/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jun2011/pi20110623_808293.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the various strategies employed to manage bond funds? As an investor, which strategy looks best to you today looking forward?

Overbuilding in Spain Leaves Many White Elephants

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators.

Description: Last March, local officials inaugurated a brand new airport in Castellón, a small city on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. They are still waiting for the first scheduled flight. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/business/global/25iht-transport25.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the financial planning problems in Spain? How can they be resolved?

Putting RIM back on the winning track

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: The most telling aspect of Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIM-T28.23-0.91-3.12%) recent conference call was the amount of time its CEOs spent explaining why they should keep their jobs. Source: GlobeandMail.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/putting-rim-back-on-the-winning-track/article2074548/ Questions for discussion: Summarized the reasons for RIM’s recent dramatic fall is share value? How much is… Read more »

Keeping companies like Facebook private – forever

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation.

Description:  Fortune editors Dan Roth and Dan Primack believe companies will continue to go public even if regulators relax rules forcing them to. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/15/f_deal_ipo_facebook.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to the laws governing when a firm must go public. Are there winners or losers in… Read more »

Jim Rogers: ‘I’m staying liquid’

Posted by & 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… Read more »

Pandora Falls Below IPO Price, Reversing Yesterday’s Gain

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis.

Description:  Pandora Media Inc. fell, erasing yesterday’s gain, amid concern that competition may stymie efforts by the online-radio company to reach profitability. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/16/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-16/pandora-falls-below-ipo-price-reversing-yesterday-s-gain.html Questions for discussion: Explain the volatility of the stock value. How would you estimate a value for the firm? Would you be an investor today?

Penney Nabbing Johnson From Apple Sets ‘Huge Expectation’

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Management Issues.

Description: Ron Johnson, who helped turn Apple Inc. (AAPL) into a retail star with flashy big-city stores, now faces the challenge of conjuring up similar buzz around 109-year-old retailer J.C. Penney Co. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 06/15/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-15/j-c-penney-nabbing-johnson-from-apple-sets-huge-expectation-.html Questions for discussion: Why did the stock rise in value so dramatically? Do you think it was… Read more »

UPDATE 3-Perkins restaurant chain files for bankruptcy

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: The owner of the Perkins and Marie Callender’s restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy on Monday with plans to close 65 of its 600 locations and cut 2,500 jobs, according to court documents. Perkins & Marie Callender Inc became the latest food company to fall victim to a sluggish recovery and soaring food prices. Last… Read more »