JP Morgan CEO: Capital investment in America drives wages

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

Description: Jamie Dimon, J.P. Morgan Chase chairman and CEO, talks about the benefits of providing companies with competitive tax rates, what he would like to hear from President Trump at Davos, immigration reform, economic growth, implementing bipartisan infrastructure projects, the future of banking and his thoughts on cryptocurrencies. JP Morgan CEO: Capital investment in America… Read more »

Tesla unveils pay plan for CEO Elon Musk

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports on how Tesla is paying CEO Elon Musk’s salary. Tesla unveils pay plan for CEO Elon Musk from CNBC. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 23, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/01/23/tesla-unveils-pay-plan-for-ceo-elon-musk.html Questions for discussion: How is Elon Musk compensated? Is this an appropriate method for senior management of a firm, in… Read more »

Netflix Touts Stock Success to Woo Debt Buyers

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: Federated Investors Equities CIO Stephen Auth and Eaton Vance Management Portfolio Manager Henry Peabody discuss Netflix’s earnings and plans to issue more debt on “Bloomberg Markets: The Open.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Jan 23, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2018-01-23/netflix-touts-stock-success-to-woo-debt-buyers-video Questions for discussion: What are the explanations presented for Netflix valuation? Why are… Read more »

The easy money has already been made in this market, says Howard Marks

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: It’s back down to earth, so to speak, with our call of the day, from Oaktree Capital’s Howard Marks. He says “the easy money has been made” in this market, so “considerable caution” is advised. Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Jan 24, 2018 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-easy-money-has-already-been-made-in-this-market-says-howard-marks-2018-01-24 Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the market at… Read more »

Qualcomm Is Fined $1.2 Billion by E.U. Antitrust Officials

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: European antitrust officials hammered Qualcomm with a $1.2 billion fine on Wednesday, saying the American chip maker, whose technology underpins much of the world’s mobile phone industry, had abused its dominant market position to squeeze out competitors. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 23, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/business/eu-qualcomm-fine-antitrust.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What is the basis for the… Read more »

Bond yields at a critical level means more than meets the eye

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Matt Maley of Miller Tabak says investors might want to consider shortening up the maturities in their bond portfolios. Bond yields at a critical level means more than meets the eye from CNBC. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 18, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/01/19/bond-yields-at-a-critical-level-means-more-than-meets-the-eye.html Questions for discussion: What does the report have to say… Read more »

Here’s What Apple Could Buy With All Its Cash

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: Apple has typically not made large acquisitions. Its largest-ever deal, buying headphone maker Beats for $3 billion in 2014, pales in comparison to Google (GOOGL, +0.67%) paying $12.5 billion for Motorola or Microsoft’s (MSFT, -0.11%) $26 billion LinkedIn purchase (though there were unconfirmed reports Apple wanted to buy Time Warner in 2016). Source: MarketWatch.com – video report Date: Jan 18, 2018 Link: http://fortune.com/2018/01/18/apple-cash-acquire-netflix-tesla/ Questions… Read more »

Apple didn’t say it was hiring 20,000 new workers, nor bringing back its overseas cash

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues, Personal Finance.

Description: At Apple, ‘creating’ jobs isn’t the same as hiring, and paying repatriation taxes doesn’t mean the money is coming home Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Jan 18, 2018 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-didnt-say-it-was-hiring-20000-new-workers-nor-bringing-back-its-overseas-cash-2018-01-17 Questions for discussion: What is the point made in the report about Apple management and intensions? Do you think the argument is fair?  

What Could Kill the Bitcoin Boom

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

Description: Digital money has a very human vulnerability: psychology. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 17, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-17/what-could-kill-the-bitcoin-boom Questions for discussion: What does the report say about what is driving Bitcoin valuations? Should Bitcoin be considered “investing”?