Cigna to buy Express Scripts for $67 billion

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Description: Health insurance company Cigna Corp. CI, +0.06% said Thursday it will purchase Express Scripts Holding Co. ESRX, +17.13% in a cash-and-stock deal worth $67 billion. Source: CNBC.com Date: Mar 08, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/07/health-insurer-cigna-is-close-to-buying-express-scripts.html Questions for discussion: How does the financial structure of this merger/acqusition compare to other deals on this scale? Do you think it is a good deal for… Read more »

Stock Markets Are Scary. Suddenly, It’s a Good Time to be a Trader.

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Description: Inflation scares. Trade wars. Rising interest rates. Suddenly, it is a scary time to be an investor — but a great time to be a trader. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 08, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/business/stock-market-traders.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What does the article say about conditions and investor behavior at this time? Do you agree with this assessment?

BlackRock says it’s time to take action on guns, may use voting power to influence

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Description: The world’s largest money manager is breaking its silence on the nation’s current gun debate. Source: CNBC.com Date: Mar 02, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/blackrock-says-its-time-to-take-action-on-guns-may-use-voting-power-to-influence.html Questions for discussion: What is the significance of this decision by BlackRock? How do you think it will impact investor’s decisions?

25 Surprising Facts About Warren Buffett

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Description: From buying his first stock at age 11 to having his face on Cherry Coke cans in China, these Warren Buffett facts might surprise you. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Mar 05, 2018 Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/290381?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email Questions for discussion: Summarize what the report has to say about Warren Buffett that relates to investment thinking? Are you surprised… Read more »

Billionaires Warren Buffett and Ray Dalio agree on what to do in a volatile market

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

Description: Following the resignation of Gary Cohn, the chief economic advisor to President Trump, on Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 189 points after opening more than 300 points down. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq declined as well, though the Nasdaq rebounded. Experts continue to fret that a trade war might be imminent. Source:… Read more »

Dow suddenly drops nearly 400 points

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Description: The “Fast Money” traders discuss the sudden drop in the Dow and what’s contributing to the post-close loss. Dow suddenly drops nearly 400 points from CNBC. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Mar 01, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/02/28/dow-suddenly-drops-nearly-400-points.html Questions for discussion: Why did the Dow drop? Why is there so much volatility? What do you… Read more »

Is Bitcoin a Waste of Electricity, or Something Worse?

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

Description: WASHINGTON — A manufacturing start-up recently announced plans to move into a shuttered aluminum factory in upstate New York, taking advantage of abundant cheap electricity from the St. Lawrence River. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 28, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/business/economy/bitcoin-electricity-productivity.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: Summarize the discussion points in this report. What is your view on the… Read more »

Technology now makes up a quarter of the stock market, its biggest weighting since dot-com bubble

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

Description: Technology, this year’s best-performing sector, hasn’t been this big in more than 17 years. Source: CNBC.com Date: Feb 28, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/28/technology-now-makes-up-a-quarter-of-the-stock-market.html Questions for discussion: What does the growth of technology stock value mean for investors? Why is there concern over its size and growth at this time?

All the times Ackman’s $1 billion bet against Herbalife should have been unwound

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Description: Bill Ackman had vowed to take his short bet against Herbalife to the ‘end of the Earth’ Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Feb 28, 2018 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/all-the-times-ackmans-1-billion-bet-against-herbalife-should-have-been-unwound-2018-02-28 Questions for discussion: What are the lessons short sellers should take away from this report? What is your opinion of Bill Ackman’s stratregic thinking?

Does Wells Fargo Have a Plan?

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Description: Wells Fargo & Co. Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan has said it to customers, shareholders, and employees. The bank ran television commercials to make sure nobody missed it. In October he flew to Washington to say it to Congress: He’s sorry for how the bank abused consumers. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Mar 01, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-01/does-wells-fargo-have-a-plan Questions… Read more »