Bankers, Expect Your 2012 Bonus to be Down 30%

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: As investment bank bonus pools continue to shrink, banks are expected to continue to layoff staff. The WSJ’s Deborah Kan speaks to Christian Brun from executive search firm Wellesley Partners about just how bad it’s about to get. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Sep 07, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/Qi5MdW Questions for Discussions: According to… Read more »

No Joke: Jay Leno Took Pay Cut of 50%

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Description: Late-night talk show host Jay Leno took a 50% pay cut as part of NBC’s budget-chopping effort last month at “The Tonight Show,” the network said, detailing the scope of the changes for the first time as well as the reasoning behind them. Christopher Stewart has details on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty Images. Source:… Read more »

Too quick to a call bottom for U.S. home prices: Shiller

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: The much-anticipated bottom of the U.S. housing market may finally be upon us, as the closely watched S&P/Case Shiller index of home prices rose 0.5 percent from last year – marking the first time since 2010 that home prices increased year-over-year. Source:  BNN.ca – video report Date: Sep 07, 2012 Link:  http://www.bnn.ca/News/2012/9/7/Too-quick-to-a-call-bottom-for-US-home-prices-Shiller.aspx Questions for… Read more »

Are the Big Banks Keeping Their Commitment to Small Businesses?

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

Description:   Last September in Cleveland, 13 of the nation’s largest banks stood beside Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Karen Mills, chief of the Small Business Administration, and announced a commitment to increase small-business lending by $20 billion over the following three years. Source: NYTimes.com Date:  Sep 06, 2012 Link:  http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/are-the-big-banks-keeping-their-commitment-to-small-businesses/?ref=smallbusiness Questions for Discussions: … Read more »

The Mystery Man Behind Weight Watchers And The Private Equity Deal Of The Century

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Description:  The private equity industry has produced legendary investors like Steve Schwarzman, David Rubenstein and Mitt Romney. But none of these guys have done a deal quite like Raymond Debbane, an unknown and secretive private equity investor who is based in New York. Debbane is the man behind Weight Watchers International, which is the private… Read more »

Dallas Cowboys Lead NFL With $2.1 Billion Valuation

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Description:  The most famous quote attributed to legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi is “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” But if Lombardi had coached in this era instead of the 1960s he may have substituted the word “marketing” for “winning.” Source: Forbes.com Date: Sep 05, 2012 Link:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2012/09/05/dallas-cowboys-lead-nfl-with-2-1-billion-valuation/ Questions for Discussions: What… Read more »

Facebook Shares Hit New Lows

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Description: Facebook shares fell 5% to new lows Friday as two analysts from firms that underwrote its initial public offering cut their price targets on the shares, Paul Vigna reports on the News Hub. Photo: AP. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: Aug 31, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/R3hzXy Questions for Discussions: Summarize the explanation in this… Read more »

Bernanke: Fed Gears Up to Do More to Lift Economy

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Description: Fed chairman Ben Bernanke expressed concern over the labor market, defended the central bank’s monetary policies and left no doubt he plans to do more to lift the economy at the next meeting in September. Sudeep Reddy reports on Markets Hub. Photo: AP. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: Aug 31, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/R2sKQl… Read more »

QE3 and the looming currency war

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Description:   Commentary: An unstable situation could worsen Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Aug 29, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/qe3-and-the-looming-currency-war-2012-08-29-11103146?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions:  What are the international concerns related to the Fed action to stimulate US economic activity? How would a change in currency values affect commodity markets?

Reduced Estimate for Facebook Revenues

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Description:  Ad, other revenues at the site will fall short of expectations Source: eMarketer.com Date: Aug 31, 2012 Link:  http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009314&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#LSUMqlXHZEGugLmO.99 Questions for Discussions: Why has eMarketer reduced its forecast of ad revenues? What is the basis for their forecast? What does this say about the risks associated with forecasts, especially for firms like Facebook? How… Read more »