Zuckerberg Plans to Integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger

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Description: SAN FRANCISCO — Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, plans to integrate the social network’s messaging services — WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger — asserting his control over the company’s sprawling divisions at a time when its business has been battered by scandal. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 26, 2019 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/technology/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-messenger.html Questions for discussion: What… Read more »

Why Airbus and Boeing are the only two companies to dominate 99% of the large plane market

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Description: Why Airbus and Boeing are the only two companies to dominate 99% of the large plane market Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 25, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/01/26/why-airbus-and-boeing-dominate-99-percent-of-the-large-plane-market.html Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the industry, and these two companies in particular, that investors should take away? Is Boeing a good… Read more »

Big Pharma’s Drug Studies Are Getting a NASA-Style Makeover

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Description: A third of development costs comes from clinical trials. Novartis wants to make them cheaper and faster. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 25, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-25/big-pharma-s-drug-studies-are-getting-a-nasa-style-makeover?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: Summarize the approach being developed to reduce and control expenses? Why do you suppose it is only now being considered by these drug companies? Should investors… Read more »

Microsoft’s Tech Chief Talks Artificial Intelligence, Mixed Reality, and Sod Farming

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Description: As Microsoft’s chief technology officer, Kevin Scott has the challenging job of keeping his company atop all of the tech trends. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Jan 25, 2019 Link: http://fortune.com/2019/01/25/microsoft-cto-artificial-intelligence-mixed-reality/ Questions for discussion: What does the article suggest to investors about the future of Microsoft product development? Do you see the firm… Read more »

The stock market hasn’t started a year this strongly since 1987 — uh-oh!

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Description: Much has been made about the performance of stocks so far in 2019. Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Jan 17, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/small-cap-stocks-are-off-to-the-best-start-to-a-year-since-1987-uh-oh-2019-01-17 Questions for discussion: What are the concerns expressed in this report? Do you agree with the sentiment?

Dow gains more than 100 points as Goldman posts best day in 10 years

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Description: Stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered strong quarterly earnings from major banks like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/stock-market-futures-higher-after-brexit-vote-bank-earnigns-in-focus.html Questions for discussion: Why are bank stock performances so important to overall market expectations? Why do you think there might be concern going… Read more »

Health care industry spends $30 billion a year on marketing

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

Description: Critics say patients are often misled by ads that advocate high-priced drugs, unapproved stem cell treatments or genetic tests. Source: NBC.com Date: Jan 08, 2019 Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/health-care-industry-spends-30-billion-year-marketing-n956251 Questions for discussion: Summarize the criticisms directed at the health care industry in this report? Do you agree with the assessments? How should the industry, governments, investors,… Read more »

Snap nosedives nearly 14% after its CFO unexpectedly resigns less than one year into his job

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Description: Snap shares plummeted 13.8 percent Wednesday afternoon following the company’s announcement Tuesday that its chief financial officer is resigning after less than a year on the job. Source: CNBC.com Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/snap-nosedives-after-cfo-resigns-less-than-one-year-on-the-job.html Questions for discussion: Explain the drop in stock price in terms of managerial conditions. Do you think the stock is… Read more »

10 Ways Roku Is Growing Its Ad Business

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Description: Roku, the David to the connected-TV-device Goliaths (Apple, Amazon and Google), is differentiating itself by expanding its advertising business. Source: emarketer.com Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/10-ways-roku-is-growing-its-ads-business?ecid=NL1001 Questions for discussion: What does the article suggest to investors about the future financial performance of the firm? Would you be a buyer at this time?