Where bond traders hunt for yield

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:     With low Treasury yields, the BlackRock CIO of Fixed Income says asset-backed securities are one place to look for higher yields Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/20/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/09/20/mkts_blackrock_bond_yield.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the forecasts presented in this report and how Blackrock bond traders are serving their clients. Do you agree with the… Read more »

Apple’s Stock Reaches Record High

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:   Apple shares finished Monday at 411.63, up 2.8%, despite a widespread selloff everywhere else, setting a new all-time closing high for Apple stock and just the third close above $400. Mark Gongloff joins Digits to discuss. Plus: a look at Netflix and ARM Holdings. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 09/20/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/apple-stock-reaches-record-high/68369C6B-BEC4-4B0C-9634-08F739A606E3 Questions… Read more »

Copper, coal: crystal balls for the global economy

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description:  Copper, coal and other industrial commodities can be great tools for predicting economic prospects and right now they’re offering a gloomy outlook, but a closer analysis shows a glimmer of hope as the world struggles to avoid recession. Source:  Marketwatch.com Date: 09/23/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/copper-coal-crystal-balls-for-the-global-economy-2011-09-23?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Summarize the predictive nature of commodities, as… Read more »

Dow Falls Most Since October 2008

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Market Analysis.

Description: U.S. stocks fell this week, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the biggest loss since 2008, as the Federal Reserve said risks to the economy have increased and concern grew that policy makers will fail to spur growth. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 09/24/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-23/dow-average-declines-most-since-october-2008-on-economic-growth-concerns.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights of this report…. Read more »

The silver lining in the emerging markets rout

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description: Emerging markets have been caught in the global contagion sparked by the European debt crisis. But these economies still have something most others don’t: Growth in local demand for goods and services. Source: Fortune.com Date: 09/23/2011 Link:   http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/23/emerging-markets/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion:  Summarize the critical points made in the article. Do you agree with the… Read more »

RIMM rocked by slow sales

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:   Shares of BlackBerry-maker RIM sag as disappointing smartphone and tablet sales have investors wondering if the company will ever return to its glory days. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/16/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/09/16/mkts_am_rim.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial results for RIM and the explanation for the drop in share value on the stock… Read more »

Yergin on Energy 2.0

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

Description:   Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dan Yergin says the global supply of oil and gas has risen in the last 20 years, defying the predictions of “peak oil” theorists. In the Big Interview with WSJ’s David Wessel, he looks at the world’s energy future. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 09/17/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/yergin-on-energy-20/75F18B14-7BD4-45F5-A3E1-1CF6B4E28B1A Questions for discussion:… Read more »

Can stocks pay your mortgage?

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Financial Planning.

Description:  Should you take out a new mortgage — or home equity line of credit — and spend the money buying stocks? Source:  Marketwatch.com Date: 09/14/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/can-stocks-pay-your-mortgage-2011-09-14?pagenumber=1 Questions for discussion: Summarize the logic of the investing strategy presented in this report. What are the risks and advantages for an individual? Would you advise this… Read more »

Treasury 10-Year Yields Rise Most Since July on European Outlook

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

Description: Treasuries dropped, pushing 10-year note yields up the most in more than two months, after the European Central Bank coordinated with the Federal Reserve and other central banks to maintain liquidity for the euro area’s financial institutions. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/17/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-17/treasury-10-year-yields-rise-most-since-july-on-european-outlook.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial news reported. What is the… Read more »

In Europe, echoes of Lehman, with much bigger consequences

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis.

Description: What started as a sovereign debt crisis in Europe is slowly turning into a potentially disastrous banking crisis. It’s like watching a bad rerun of a movie with a worse ending. Source: Fortune.com Date: 09/16/2011 Link:   http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/16/european-banking-crisis/?iid=SF_F_Lead Questions for discussion: Summarize the critical points made in the article. How do you think this crisis… Read more »