Description: Renault SA (RNO), which is losing sales faster than any other European carmaker, sold its remaining Volvo AB (VOLVB) stake for 12.8 billion kronor ($1.92 billion) to boost funding, ending an 11-year run as the Swedish truckmaker’s largest owner. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Dec 13, 2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-12/renault-to-sell-volvo-shares-worth-2-billion-to-cut-debt#r=bloomberg Questions for Discussions: What is the reasoning… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
Google Revenues Sheltered in No-Tax Bermuda Soar to $10 Billion
Description: Google Inc. (GOOG) avoided about $2 billion in worldwide income taxes in 2011 by shifting $9.8 billion in revenues into a Bermuda shell company, almost double the total from three years before, filings show. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Dec 10, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-10/google-revenues-sheltered-in-no-tax-bermuda-soar-to-10-billion.html Questions for Discussions: Explain how tax laws have influenced financial planning at… Read more »
Sirius XM rewards Howard Stern
Description: The King of All Media and other investors will get a special dividend. Sirius XM, now profitable, has thrived while online radio stock Pandora has lagged. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Dec 06, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2012/12/06/investing-buzz-sirius-xm-radio-pandora.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Explain the reasons for Sirius’ turnaround and financial success. Why is Pandora moving in… Read more »
Shutterfly makes 120% of profit in 20 days
Description: Shutterfly CEO Jeffrey Housenbold says the holiday season accounts for all of the company’s profits and about 40% of its revenue. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Dec 05, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/12/05/t-shutterfly-holidays.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Describe the cash flow management issues for the firm. Is there a way to smooth the imbalance of cash… Read more »
5 downside catalysts for Apple
Description: Apple Inc. AAPL-0.37% is in the midst of another sell-off, leaving market observers and analysts to ponder the reasons why a company that is still expected to gin up strong double-digit sales growth next year has seen its market value clipped by 7% this week alone – and more than 20% over the last… Read more »
Netflix Shows Facebook Is Not the Internet (Yet)
Description: Not so fast, kiddos. That’s what the Securities and Exchange Commission seems to be saying by warning Netflix (NFLX) that it may sue the company over a single Facebook (FB) update. The SEC’s warning centers on a July 3 Facebook post by Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings that said Netflix customers streamed more than… Read more »
Why Hewlett-Packard Should Consider Breaking Up
Description: The struggling technology company is an amalgam of businesses that could be worth more separately than they are together. Source: TheDailyBeast.com Date: Dec 07, 2012 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/07/why-hewlett-packard-should-consider-breaking-up.html Questions for Discussions: What are the arguments for breaking up and keeping H-P as it is today? Do you think H-P should be broken up? Would you… Read more »
Velshi: Are we in a recession?
Description: Despite people feeling better about the economy, one prominent economist says we’ve already dipped into a recession. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 29, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/11/29/n-velshi-recession-your-money-daily.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments for suggesting the US is already in recession? What does each of the four indicators presented represent? Do you believe… Read more »
What Awaits Mark Carney at the Bank of England
Description: He has been touted as the best man for the job, but what exactly can Mark Carney expect when he takes on the role of governor at the Bank of England next year? DeAnne Julius, former MPC member, and Chris Giles, economics editor, lay out some of the challenges to the FT’s Seb Morton-Clark…. Read more »
Why mortgage deduction may sail by fiscal cliff
Description: Commentary: Initial reports from retailers are unreliable Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 29, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-mortgage-deduction-may-sail-by-fiscal-cliff-2012-11-29?dist=afterbell Questions for Discussions: What are the implications of a move to reform mortgage deductibility? Do you think it can be phased out gradually without causing excessive stress on the housing recovery? How might investments in home building companies be… Read more »
