Lagarde: Fiscal cliff a big risk

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

Description:  IMF Director Christine Lagarde says global markets don’t want just a short-term fix to America’s fiscal cliff. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 11, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/10/11/n-imf-christine-lagarde-america-fiscal-clif.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are Christine Lagarde’s concerns over the US “fiscal cliff”? Do you believe markets have factored in a real possibility of another crisis?… Read more »

ICICI Bank CEO Says India Credit Boom Intact

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

Description: The head of India’s’largest private bank says her country’s’demographics and consumer-driven growth model will buoy lending despite troubles abroad. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Oct 12, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/SWln47 Questions for Discussions: What does this report have to say about ICICI Bank and the banking sector in India? What does the growth rate… Read more »

Icahn Makes Offer to Acquire Oshkosh in $3 Billion Deal

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:  Carl Icahn, the billionaire activist investor, offered to buy Oshkosh Corp. (OSK) for about $3 billion, saying the supplier of military vehicles’ management has failed to deliver on pledges to improve profitability. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Oct 11, 2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-11/icahn-makes-offer-to-acquire-oshkosh-in-3-billion-deal#r=bloomberg Questions for Discussions: What are the financial and the managerial issues the firm is… Read more »

Stocks Doubled

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description:  Four years ago the stock market was in free fall. Since then, it’s regained plenty of altitude. Many people missed out on the rally, though; rather than investing, U.S. households stashed a record $8.6 trillion in cash deposits. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Oct 11, 2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-11/stocks-doubled#r=nav-f-graphic Questions for Discussions: What does this chart tell… Read more »

Sprint Says It Is in Negotiations With Softbank of Japan

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description:  Sprint Nextel confirmed on Thursday that it was in talks with Softbank of Japan over a “potential substantial investment.” A deal would give the struggling American cellphone service provider a deep-pocketed backer to help finance its turnaround effort. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 11, 2012 Link:  http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/softbank-of-japan-said-to-near-a-deal-for-control-of-sprint/ Questions for Discussions: Explain the reasons for the… Read more »

El-Erian: Five global risks to grasp

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

Description:  Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian talks fiscal cliff, European crisis, China slowdown and more. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 04, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/10/04/f-el-erian-pimco-ceo-global-risks.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the risks presented by El-Erian in this report. How great is each risk in terms of affecting economic activity in general and some specific industries, in… Read more »

Cody Willard: Why I’m Dumping Zynga Shares

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

Description: Zynga shares tumbled today after the company forecast a third quarter net loss and lowered it’s financial outlook. MarketWatch’s Cody Willard on The News Hub explains why he’d giving up on the company and dumping its shares. Photo: Getty Images. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Oct 05, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/SzAuQV Questions for Discussions:… Read more »

5 charts every investor needs this quarter

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Market Analysis.

Description:  Neither previous quarterly performance nor the election year cycle have proved to be good predictors of the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s. Source: Moneywatch.com Date: Oct 05, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-charts-every-investor-needs-this-quarter-2012-10-05?dist=lcountdown Questions for Discussions: What do each of these charts tell you about investing? Which do you think is most relevant today? Which other charts would… Read more »

Zynga, Facebook weigh down techs

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning.

Description:  An early tech rally fizzled on Friday as the sector was weighed down by losses in shares of Zynga Inc. and Facebook Inc. Source: Moneywatch.com Date: Oct 05, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/zynga-facebook-slide-tech-stocks-rally-2012-10-05?dist=lcountdown Questions for Discussions: Explain the crash in share value for Zynga and Facebook. Are these buying opportunities or worrisome trends? How would you… Read more »

Where’s the Shareholder Outrage at Hewlett-Packard?

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

Description:  Here’s a vastly boiled-down refresher on corporate governance: A public company’s management is accountable to its board of directors, which in turn answers to shareholders, who are, after all, the “owners” of said public company. These holders keep executives and directors honest by casting votes based on tens of millions of shares dispersed across… Read more »