How to take the bull market by the horns

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

Description: Investment strategists say the fundamentals of the stock market are still strong and gains are possible with the right buying strategy. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 10, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/03/10/investing-bull-market-five-year-anniversary.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What does this report have to say to investors? Do you agree?

This company loves the snow

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

Description: Let it snow. Douglas Dynamics, a maker of snow plows, loves the winter weather. It reported strong earnings and its stock (ticker symbol PLOW) is up on the news. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 05, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/03/11/buzz-douglas-dynamics-snow-plows.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Is it likely the firm would experience increases year over year… Read more »

Dividend Stocks Fall on Rising Rate Forecast: EcoPulse

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

Description: Shares of high-dividend-yielding companies are trading near the lowest level in almost three years relative to the market, as the prospect of higher interest rates makes these stocks less attractive to investors. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Mar 14, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-14/dividend-stocks-fall-on-rising-rate-forecast-ecopulse.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for investor rotation into and out of these… Read more »

Puerto Rico Gets a Break With Rates on Its Bonds

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

Description: Puerto Rico is expected to sell roughly $3 billion in bonds on Tuesday at interest rates that are considerably lower than many investors in the municipal market had expected, providing a rare bright spot for the cash-squeezed island. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 10, 2014 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/puerto-rico-gets-a-break-with-rates-on-its-bonds/?ref=economy Questions for discussion: What are the concerns to… Read more »

The Jeep Plant Mitt Romney Said Was Moving to China Is Hiring 1,000 Workers in Ohio

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Remember the closing days of the 2012 presidential campaign when Mitt Romney ran that explosive ad suggesting Chrysler was going to stop building Jeeps in Ohio and move production to China? Source: Businessweek.com Date: Mar 14, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-14/the-jeep-plant-mitt-romney-said-was-moving-to-china-is-hiring-1-000-workers-in-ohio Questions for Discussions: What is the message in this report for investors? Why would Chrysler… Read more »

How Ukraine crisis affects your money

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

Description: Stocks, energy prices, commodities and gold are a few of the ways the escalating tensions in Ukraine and Russia could affect your finances. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 03, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/03/03/investing-ukraine-russia-global-markets-stocks-energy-commodities-grains-gold.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How does the Ukraine crisis affect economic and business activity, according to the report? How have investors… Read more »

Should Icahn shut up about eBay?

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators, Management Issues.

Description: Shares of eBay are near an all-time high even though Carl Icahn keeps attacking the company for not spinning off PayPal. So should Icahn stay on the warpath or stop talking? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 05, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/03/05/buzz-ebay-icahn.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why is Carl Icahn unhappy with eBay? Do you… Read more »

Tesla Looks Like a Bubble, Will It Pop?

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

Description: After years of being underappreciated by Wall Street, financial analysis’s are predicting ludicrous growth rates for Elon Musk’s electric car company. Source: TheDailyBeast.com Date: Mar 01, 2014 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/01/tesla-looks-like-a-bubble-will-it-pop.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial history of the firm. Why do you think it has performed so well? Do you believe Tesla looks like… Read more »

Can’t Get a Bank Loan? The Alternatives Are Expanding

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

Description: Ivan Rincon’s products may have been skimpy, but he was convinced his growth prospects were not. Orchid Boutique, the online swimwear shop he founded six years ago in Miami with his wife, Mayra, was approaching $3 million in annual sales. It had been profitable since 2010, he said, with margins that ran between 10… Read more »

Forget Sanctions; What Could Really Hurt Putin Is Investor Backlash

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description: Western governments may not have to make good on their threat to punish Russia for invading Crimea. Investors are doing it for them. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Mar 03, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-03/forget-sanctions-dot-what-could-really-hurt-putin-is-investor-backlash#r=nav-f-story Questions for Discussions: How was the Russian economy affected by global investment behavior? Do you think these changes affected political decision-making in Russia?