How Warren Buffett Is Impacting Food Industry Deals

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Description: Sullivan & Cromwell Partner Frank Aquilla discusses mergers and acquisitions in the food industry. Bloomberg’s Craig Giammona also reports on “Bloomberg Markets.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: June 10, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-06-10/how-warren-buffett-3g-are-impacting-food-deals Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons for mergers and acquisitions taking place in the food industry? How should investors… Read more »

Is this Pandora’s Last Dance?

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Description: Wall Street seems to think that Apple Music will hurt Pandora. But it’s worth nothing that Pandora has survived threats from Apple before. Remember Ping? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 10, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/06/10/apple-music-pandora-stock.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: How is the Apple business model a threat to Pandora? What do you think will… Read more »

Why America’s $2.9 Trillion Medical Industry Still Runs on Paper Payments

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

Description: Paying medical bills is as inefficient as it was 15 years ago, and the cost is high Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 10, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-10/why-america-s-2-9-trillion-medical-industry-still-runs-on-paper-payments Questions for Discussions: Why is management of the medical industry slow to adopt electronic payment technologies? How can this problem be solved by way of incentives or penalties?

Opinion: Get ready for a 4,000-point Dow drop

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

Description: The stock market has an empirical rule: interest rates lead stocks. And the current interest rate environment is pointing to a massive decline for the U.S. market. Source: MarketWatch.com Date: June 10, 2015 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/get-ready-for-a-4000-point-dow-drop-2015-06-10 Questions for discussion: What is the basis for predicting such a steep drop in the Dow? Do you agree… Read more »

Tired of Waiting for U.S. to Act, States Pass Crowdfunding Laws and Rules

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Description: In 2012, President Obama signed a law that he called a “potential game changer” for entrepreneurs seeking financing to start or expand a business: Small companies looking for financial backers could advertise their offerings online, and average people — not just wealthy accredited investors — would be allowed to buy stakes in businesses they… Read more »

Bond Rout Wipes Out 2015 Gains as Traders Stay Glued to Screens

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

Description: The global bond market selloff has erased all of this year’s gains as historic market moves from Germany to the U.S. and Japan whipsaw traders. After being up as much as 2.3 percent as of mid-April, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Broad Market Index of bonds with a total face value of… Read more »

Apple’s stock in a funk. Will WWDC news change that?

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Description: Shares of Apple have barely budged since its last earnings report. Could news about iOS 9, updates to Mac software and an Apple Music subscription service get Apple back on track to a $1 trillion market cap? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 04, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/06/04/apple-wwdc-buzz.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why do you… Read more »

Boomers get older. Healthcare companies salivate

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Description: Expect more mergers in the healthcare sector as insurers and drug stores look to profit from demographic trends. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 02, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/06/02/healthcare-profits-from-baby-boomers.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why would healthcare companies focus on mergers as a way to grow their companies? Do you think this is a good strategy?

A Beehive That Takes the Sting Out of the Harvest

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Description: Crowdfunding platforms have become popular ways for entrepreneurs to bypass traditional channels, but the biggest success stories have typically involved tech items, video games and Hollywood movies. Flow Hive, on the other hand, isn’t a particularly high-tech product. Instead, it’s a new way of doing a laborious, age-old task. Source: NYTimes.com Date: May 30,… Read more »

You’re an idiot with money, and there’s nothing you can do about it

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Description: I am an imbecile when it comes to money, but at least I’m not alone. Source: MarketWatch.com Date: June 05, 2015 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/youre-an-idiot-with-money-and-theres-nothing-you-can-do-about-it-2015-06-05 Questions for Discussions: What doe the article say about investor behavior and the reasons for it? What do you think of the commentary?