Description: Despite people feeling better about the economy, one prominent economist says we’ve already dipped into a recession. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 29, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/11/29/n-velshi-recession-your-money-daily.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments for suggesting the US is already in recession? What does each of the four indicators presented represent? Do you believe… Read more »
Monthly Archives: December 2012
What Awaits Mark Carney at the Bank of England
Description: He has been touted as the best man for the job, but what exactly can Mark Carney expect when he takes on the role of governor at the Bank of England next year? DeAnne Julius, former MPC member, and Chris Giles, economics editor, lay out some of the challenges to the FT’s Seb Morton-Clark…. Read more »
Why mortgage deduction may sail by fiscal cliff
Description: Commentary: Initial reports from retailers are unreliable Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 29, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-mortgage-deduction-may-sail-by-fiscal-cliff-2012-11-29?dist=afterbell Questions for Discussions: What are the implications of a move to reform mortgage deductibility? Do you think it can be phased out gradually without causing excessive stress on the housing recovery? How might investments in home building companies be… Read more »
Hedge Funds Find Tech Stocks in the Bargain Bin
Description: Fans of tech stocks and train wrecks got to combine their interests in 2012, as several high-profile companies endured an awful year: Shares of Facebook are off 31 percent, Zynga is down 73 percent, and Groupon is at negative 79 percent. Yahoo! struggled, Netflix fell, and even Apple had a rough stretch that lopped… Read more »
Fiscal Cliff Fears Drive Huge Spike in Dividend Payouts
Description: Taxes on dividends may go up on January 1. And companies are shoveling dividends out to their shareholders before the taxman comes calling. Source: TheDailyBeast.com Date: Nov 28, 2012 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/28/fiscal-cliff-fears-drive-huge-spike-in-dividend-payouts.html Questions for Discussions: What is the history of dividend payouts and changing tax policies? Do you think the payouts are good for the… Read more »
