Big Tech takes aim at the low-profit retail-banking industry

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Description: Silicon Valley giants are after your data, not your money Source: TheEconomist.com Date: Nov 21, 2019 Link: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2019/11/21/big-tech-takes-aim-at-the-low-profit-retail-banking-industry?cid1=cust/ednew/n/bl/n/2019/11/21n/owned/n/n/nwl/n/n/NA/346869/n Questions for discussion: Summarize what the report says is happening in the retail banking industry. How should investors look at this competitive landscape?

Obscure ‘marble bubble’ stock which became the best performer on the globe just crashed 98%

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Description: The best-performing stock in the world just lost nearly all its value in the blink of an eye. ArtGo Holdings, a Chinese marble miner, saw its stock crash 98% in Hong Kong trading overnight after MSCI decided not to add it to its foray of indexes. That plunge wiped out more than $5 billion… Read more »

Goldman Sees Baby Bond Bear Market, Cyclicals Rally in 2020

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Description: The global economy and earnings will stabilize in 2020, allowing riskier assets to flourish even with central banks keeping policy little changed, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 22, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-22/goldman-sees-baby-bond-bear-market-cyclical-stock-rally-in-2020 Questions for discussion: Summarize the thinking at Goldman, according to this report. What do you think of this… Read more »

The fourth industrial revolution is already disrupting our economy — that’s why it’s so hard to read

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

Description: Kevin Carmichael: BoC Governor Stephen Poloz argues history shows major technology advances need to be accommodated by neutral monetary policy Source: FinancialPost.com – video report Date: Nov 15, 2019 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-is-already-disrupting-our-economy-thats-why-its-so-hard-to-read?video_autoplay=true Questions for discussion: What is the theory related to the “fourth industrial revolution” and interest rates? What is the recommendation to central bankers… Read more »

Why White Castle isn’t a fast-food giant

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Description: If you’ve ever eaten a hamburger at a fast-food restaurant, White Castle deserves at least some of the credit. The Columbus, Ohio-based chain is famous for its cheap, small burgers. It’s also widely regarded as the first fast-food hamburger chain in the United States. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Nov 19, 2019 Link:… Read more »

Former Amazon executive on the 5-star success lesson he learned from online giant’s customer ratings

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Description: Dan Lewis, CEO of trucking logistics start-up Convoy, spent many years at Amazon before founding his own company. Among the biggest projects he worked on as Amazon’s general manager of new shopping experiences was helping to build an online ratings and reviews model. It was a big problem from the online retail giant in… Read more »

Economist Perspective: Negative Rates—An Option in the Fed’s Playbook?

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Description: Could the Federal Reserve ever adopt a negative rate policy? Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Nov 12, 2019 Link: https://sponsor.marketwatch.com/cme-group/economist-perspective-negative-rates-an-option-in-the-feds-playbook/ Questions for discussion: Summarize Blu Putnam’s opinions on future Fed actions. Do you agree? What should investors take away from these thoughts?

If you haven’t built yourself an investing fallout shelter, now is the time

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Description: Larry Sarbit: When markets fall — not if — you don’t want to suffer by giving back a large chunk of the profits you’ve made over the last decade Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 13, 2019 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/investing/investing-pro/if-you-havent-built-yourself-an-investing-fallout-shelter-now-is-the-time Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis and advice presented in this article. Do you agree? How can… Read more »

America’s yield curve is no longer inverted

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Description: So, no need to worry about recession? Hmm, maybe Source: TheEconomist.com Date: Nov 13, 2019 Link: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2019/11/13/americas-yield-curve-is-no-longer-inverted Questions for discussion: What is the inverted yield curve predicting, according to the analysis in this article? What do you think is likely? How should investors adjust to this assessment?

Canada needs to ditch its addiction to real estate and start investing in technology

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Description: Martin Pelletier: While many are singing the praises of Toronto’s tech scene, the fact of the matter is there are only 15 tech companies on the TSX to choose from Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 11, 2019 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/investing/investing-pro/canada-needs-to-ditch-its-addiction-to-real-estate-and-start-investing-in-technology Questions for discussion: What are the issues related to the limited number of technology stocks available to… Read more »