Description: The oil markets have plenty of reasons to be spooked. In Libya, home to Africa’s largest reserves, production has fallen more than 80 percent since militias seized control of the country’s biggest ports last summer. Most of Iran’s oil remains trapped as well. Sanctions aimed at punishing Iran for its nuclear weapons program have crippled… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
In Silicon Valley, Morgan Stanley Reigns
Description: The Wall Street analyst-turned-blogger Henry Blodget called it “a disaster.” The Wall Street Journal labeled it a “botched offering.” And after Facebook’s much-criticized initial public offering in May 2012, Morgan Stanley’s vaunted technology investment banking team, the lead underwriter on the deal, looked as if it were down for the count. Source: NYTimes.com Date:… Read more »
Wall Street disconnects from LinkedIn
Description: LinkedIn’s stock is having a dismal 2014 despite hitting a subscriber milestone of 300 million. Is the company just overvalued like we’ve seen with other tech stocks? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 02, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/02/investing-the-buzz-linkedin-social-media.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial performance of LinkedIn as described in this report. Do you… Read more »
Billionaires who control the strings
Description: Dan Loeb, David Einhorn, Bill Ackman and Eddie Lampert are a breed of billionaires coined ‘activist investors’ who use their clout to influence change in companies. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 01, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2014/04/30/romans-ackman-icahn-eddie-lampoert-einhorn-herbalife.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What are ‘activist investors’, as defined by this report? How do they participate in… Read more »
Twitter is a #trainwreck
Description: Twitter is great for journalists. But it seems to be losing momentum. Unless it adds more users, it will never be as successful a stock as Facebook. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 30, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/04/30/investing-the-buzz-twitter-facebook-social-media-mobile.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why has Twitter stock not performed well, according to the report? Do you… Read more »
Top Clinton Aides Blew a Chance to Avert the Financial Crisis
Description: The U.S. economy and the stock market were booming on April 21, 1998, when the heaviest hitters of the Clinton administration met to discuss a controversial topic: whether the government should regulate a profitable but risky corner of the financial markets. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, the former Goldman Sachs (GS) co-chairman, attended. So did… Read more »
Why Only One Top Banker Went to Jail for the Financial Crisis
Description: This article is a collaboration between The Times and ProPublica, the independent nonprofit investigative organization. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 30, 2014 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/magazine/only-one-top-banker-jail-financial-crisis.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the key commentary about the financial crisis. Do you think the authorities have done their jobs or that more needs to be done about those responsible?
Sen. Warren: Onus on you, Mr. Regulator
Description: Sen. Elizabeth Warren explains why financial regulators — including ones in her own party — need to get tougher with the U.S. banking system and says she has ‘a lot of tools in the toolbox’ to passing legislation. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 24, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/04/25/elizabeth-warren-bank-regulators-finance-reform-congress-consumer-protection-financial-bureau.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Do you… Read more »
El-Erain fears ‘global recession’
Description: Chief Economic Adviser at Allianz Mohamed El-Erian says without a political solution in Ukraine, sanctions could lead to increased energy prices and a global recession. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: April 24, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/04/25/investing-russia-ukraine-economic-sanctions-global-markets-recession-risk.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize Mohamed El-Erian’s concerns for the global economy. Do you agree with his analysis? How… Read more »
Caffeine jolt for Starbucks stock
Description: The cold weather may have hurt Starbucks rival Dunkin’ Donuts. But Starbucks had a strong quarter and is optimistic about the rest of 2014. And there’s talk it may want to buy a stake in SodaStream. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Apr 25, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/04/25/investing-the-buzz-starbucks-coffee-dunkin-donuts.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial situation… Read more »
