WhatsApp with Facebook’s $19B offer?

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

Description: Facebook’s biggest deal ever. Why is Mark Zuckerberg paying $19 Billion for messaging app WhatsApp? Laurie Segall reports. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 19, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/02/19/t-facebook-whatsapp-19-billion.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How did Facebook go about evaluating WhatsApp? Do you believe it was a good deal for both sides? How can this acquisition… Read more »

What happened to the correction?

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

Description: Investors are shrugging off lackluster economic numbers. Stocks are once again pushing toward record highs. So what happened to that market correction everyone was talking about? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 21, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/02/21/bears-hibernating-market-correction-job-growth-dow-fed-taper.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What does the report say about the correction and corrections in general? Why does… Read more »

Are the Markets Headed for Another Huge Drop?

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

Description: Swan Wealth Advisors Director of Trading & Investments Mark Sebastian and Bloomberg’s Matt Miller discuss the state of the markets and investing in volatility in “On The Markets” on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Feb 20, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2014-02-20/are-the-markets-headed-for-another-huge-drop#r=nav-f-video Questions for discussion: Summarize the key metrics that… Read more »

Fed transcripts: Bernanke chose to let Lehman fail

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues, Market Analysis.

Description: FORTUNE — September 15, 2008 was a watershed moment for the financial crisis that consigned much of the world to an economic malaise from which we are still recovering. That day, government officials hastily arranged a sale of investment bank Merrill Lynch to Bank of America, while another bank — Lehman Brothers — was… Read more »

Gold-miner stock rally has just begun

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

Description: Less than two months into the year, gold miners have recouped more than a third of what they lost last year, and the rally may still have a lot more room to run. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Feb 21, 2014 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-miners-stock-rally-has-just-begun-2014-02-21?dist=countdown Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial analysis presented for gold and gold stocks…. Read more »

Cisco: Tons of cash, little growth

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Description: Poor Cisco. It was the only Dow stock to miss out on Tuesday’s Janet Yellen rally. With lackluster earnings due out after the bell, it’s no wonder investors are nervous. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 12, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/02/12/investing-the-buzz-cisco-john-chambers-juniper-f5-palo-alto.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain Cisco’s stock price movements. Why have investors moved away?… Read more »

World’s hottest diamond markets

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: De Beers CEO Phillipe Mellier says the hottest diamond markets in the world are the U.S. and China. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 14, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/02/14/wbt-de-beers-group-ceo-phillipe-mellier-diamond-industry-valentines-day.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What is the state of the diamond market and De Beers in particular? Would you be an investor is the industry?

Super-rich CEOs are mad as hell, and not gonna take this anymore

Posted by & filed under Management Issues.

Description: As the insensitive comments and sky-high salaries add up, it’s easy to start thinking that CEOs and other execs have completely lost touch with the lives of everyday Americans. Sadly, that’s likely the case. Source: Fortune.com Date: Feb 14, 2014 Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2014/02/14/out-of-touch-ceos/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the basic argument presented in this report. Do… Read more »

Comcast-Time Warner Cable’s Jolt to Big Media

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Description: When Time Warner and AOL announced the consummation of their private courtship in 2000, cable pioneer Ted Turner enthused that the deal felt “better than sex.” That marriage was so ill-fated, it turns out, that a male praying mantis might have exclaimed the same. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Feb 14, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-14/comcast-time-warner-cables-jolt-to-big-media#r=nav-r-story Questions for… Read more »