Description: More than half of the 100 biggest takeovers made during the last mergers-and-acquisitions boom have something in common: By one measure, they never should have happened. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 08/13/2010 Link: http://bx.businessweek.com/mergers-and-acquisitions/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2F2010-08-13%2Fm-a-losers-in-10-trillion-takeover-binge-led-by-mcclatchy-sprint-nextel.html  Questions for discussion: Summarize the lessons learned from this report about the “success and failures†of M&As. What do you suppose… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
Blackstone to Pay $4.7 Billion for Dynegy
Description: The Blackstone Group, the private equity giant, agreed on Friday to buy Dynegy, the Houston power company that once sought to buy Enron, for $4.7 billion including debt, in the largest leveraged buyout so far this year. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 08/13/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/business/14dynegy.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Is this a good deal? Is the risk… Read more »
Blockbuster wins debt reprieve, warns of liquidation
Description: Source: Reuters.com  Date: 08/13/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67C2VO20100813 Questions for discussion: What financial advice would you give to Blockbuster’s management? What would you advise investors to do – buy, sell, or hold? Is there a special opportunity here for investors?
Apple sets sights on Exxon value
Description: Apple’s super streak gives it a market valuation second only to the oil behemoth Exxon Mobil. But readers of ‘The Buzz’ are skeptical. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/06/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/08/06/n_bz_apple_exxon_mobile.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for the overvaluation of Apple stock? What were the arguments that suggest Apple is not overvalued… Read more »
Wall Street resumes hiring
Description: CNN’s Maggie Lake talks to a high-powered headhunter, who says Wall Street hiring is bouncing back. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 08/06/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/08/06/n_wall_street_hiring.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How do you interpret the increase in hiring on Wall Street? Do you believe there is a correlation between Wall Street activity and the economy in… Read more »
Barnes & Noble may put itself up for sale; stock jumps
Description: Barnes & Noble said late Tuesday that it will consider selling itself, pushing shares of the world’s largest bookseller up more than 25% in after-hours action Source: Marketwatch.com  Date: 08/03/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/barnes-noble-may-put-itself-up-for-sale-2010-08-03?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Do you think B&N is a good investment today? Would you short the stock? As an acquisition, how… Read more »
Stock Picks: Dow Chemical, Priceline.com, Research In Motion
Description: Wall Street analysts offer buy, sell, or hold opinions on stocks in the news on Aug. 4. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 08/04/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/aug2010/pi2010084_006866.htm  Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for special interest in these stocks? Do you agree with the assessments and recommendations made?
Afraid of Deflation? Try Some Medicine
Description: AS chatter has grown about the possibility of a double-dip recession, so, too, have fears about another “D†word: deflation. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 08/07/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/economy/08fund.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented in this article? Do you believe we are going to experience unusual levels of inflation or deflation? Which investing strategies… Read more »
Investor Be Nimble
Description: The market’s got a lot of investors scared, but the fundamentals are good, says Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. The environment has been volatile, but smart, long-term investors can take advantage of that. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 07/27/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/investor-be-nimble/C3D27E09-4DFB-4B6C-849D-B10BDA98B94F Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments made… Read more »
Don’t Buy Gold
Description: Forget gold, says Wealth Adviser columnist James Altucher. He tells Dow Jones Newswires’ Veronica Dagher why and where investors should put their money instead. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 07/30/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/dont-buy-gold/2034712A-1FB7-4924-96F7-80751D9346F1 Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented in this report. Do you agree with the advice presented? Why do you… Read more »
