Description:Â Â Silicon Valley is one of the few places where a 27-year-old Web entrepreneur can parlay a photo-sharing application with no known source of revenue into $1 billion — in two years. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 04/10/2012 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-10/instagram-s-systrom-builds-1-billion-application-in-two-years.html Questions for discussion: Do you think the background experience of these two entrepreneurs had anything to do… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
Risk is back on Wall Street!
Description:Â Wall Street is notorious for its short memory. Four new signs that risk has returned to the financial sector may make you wonder if the crisis ever happened. Â Source:Â Fortune.com Date: 04/12/2012 Link:Â http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/12/wall-street-risk/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summary the highlights presented in this report. Do you agree with these opinions?
Second quarter hurdles ahead
Description: Higher oil prices and an uncertain housing market are just two factors that could challenge corporate profits this quarter. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/02/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/03/29/mkts_panel_earnings.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the opinions expressed in this report. Do you agree with any of these views? What is your projection for the next quarter?
Hostess Serves New Batch of Cuts
Description: If negotiations fail, Hostess and its unions will face off in a trial over whether the company can scrap its labor contracts-an example of how wage levels across many once-vibrant industries are falling. Mike Spector reports on Markets Hub. Photo: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 04/02/2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/hostess-serves-new-batch-of-cuts/A64EE3DD-0867-4DE5-B20B-F85496993B9A Questions… Read more »
How Long Will Markets Stay Calm?
Description: Call it the calm after the storm: Markets are now more placid than they’ve been in years. Volatility across a range of assets is now at the lowest level since 2007. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index, or VIX (also known as the fear index), which tracks the expected price of buying… Read more »
Exclusive: The $1.3 billion bond deal haunting Goldman
Description:Â The Securities and Exchange Commission is likely to bring charges soon against Goldman Sachs (GS) for a 2006 mortgage investment deal. The agency hasn’t said which one yet, but Fortune has learned there’s a good chance the SEC’s case will focus on Fremont Home Loan Trust 2006-E, a bundle of more than 5,000 mortgages… Read more »
Avon rejects $10 billion Coty offer
Description:Â Â Beauty company Coty Inc. has submitted an offer to buy Avon Products, Inc. for about $10 billion on Monday, but Avon rejected the offer. Source:Â CNNMoney.com Date: 04/02/2012 Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/02/news/companies/avon-coty/index.htm?iid=HP_River Questions for discussion: What do you think of the offer? How would you evaluate the stock value?
Web surfers to pay online using Facebook, Twitter
Description:Â Â A one-click online payment system using Facebook and Twitter that could boost Internet sales for newspapers, music vendors and other low-priced goods and services is being tested by a major European media company, according to its developer. Source:Â Reuters.com Date: 04/02/2012 Link:Â http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/02/paycento-internet-idUSL6E8F22AW20120402 Questions for discussion: Do you think this sort of micro-payments system,… Read more »
Bank stocks: Hot sector or future losers?
Description: Big bank stocks rallied in early 2012. Will investors continue to support them, or will uncertain regulations kill the rally? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/30/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/03/29/mkts_panel_banks.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights of the arguments presented in this report. Why have banks rallied? Do you believe there is more to come?
Annie’s IPO rakes in the cheddar
Description: Organic food company Annie’s makes its public debut and investors are salivating. But there are other organic options for the IPO averse. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/28/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/03/28/mkts-bz-annies-ipo.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think Annie’s represents too narrow a focus in this industry group? What are the risks for the group,… Read more »
