Description: Although diversification remains a sound idea, market cap-based indexes have the perverse effect of diminishing diversification. Michael Casey explains what you can do. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 06/16/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/news-hub-do-index-funds-help-diversify/EA723B82-4976-41B5-9578-22F0ADAF8E49 Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to index investing. Do you agree with the analysis presented by the commentators? What… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
RIM may be feeling the heat from Android, iPhone
Description: Though analysts still expected Research In Motion Ltd. to post strong double-digit gains in both sales and earnings for its recently-ended first fiscal quarter, there is a growing sense that the company is facing more pressure from the fast-growing lineup of new smart phones on the market. Source:Â Marketwatch.com Date: 06/18/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/research-in-motion-may-see-effects-of-competition-2010-06-18 Â … Read more »
CBOE, Oasis Lead $1.15 Billion in IPOs in Biggest Week of 2010
Description: The market for U.S. initial public offerings showed signs of recovering this week as companies from CBOE Holdings Inc. to Oasis Petroleum Inc. sold $1.15 billion of shares in the biggest week for IPOs this year. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 06/19/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aiuUv_LFsZDM Questions for discussion: Summarize the tone of the report? What is… Read more »
Peddling Relief, Firms Put Debtors in a Deeper Hole
Description: For the companies that promise relief to Americans confronting swelling credit card balances, these are days of lucrative opportunity. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 06/18/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/economy/19debt.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues raised in this article for firms, government regulators, and the customer. Do you believe more regulation by government or the financial services… Read more »
This Week In Mutual Funds: Bonds May Come Unglued
Description: More than a few experts are convinced that massive U.S. government spending will ultimately wreak havoc with the bond market, as both the country and companies are forced to pay higher borrowing costs to satisfy creditors. Money & Investing editor Jonathan Burton reports. Source: Marketwatch.com ╨ video report Date: 06/11/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/this-week-in-mutual-funds-bonds-may-come-unglued/FB20089B-0046-4818-BE91-BD13A0C21BD6 Questions for… Read more »
BP Considers Cut to Dividend
Description: BP is considering reducing its dividends to help quell political uproar against the company. Meanwhile, the U.S. raised estimates of the oil gushing from the crippled Gulf of Mexico well. Monica Langley, Dennis Berman, Evan Newmark and Bruce Orwall discuss. Also, a discussion of Saturday’s World Cup soccer match between England and the U.S…. Read more »
Why the worst isn’t over yet
Description: Economists, as you have likely heard, are enjoying a bit of a renaissance these days. With a startling new piece of economic news emerging on a near daily basis — Greece is going under! No, it’s Spain! China is in the midst of a housing bubble! China is our savior! — there’s been a… Read more »
Production Probably Rose, Prices Fell: U.S. Economy Preview
Description: Factories kept churning out more goods last month, while prices and home construction fell, pointing to a manufacturing-led U.S. recovery that is not generating inflation, economists said before reports this week. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 06/13/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=afVs1JzRgfSE Questions for discussion: Summarize the key items in the report and explain their significance to a financial… Read more »
Uncertainty Restores Glitter to an Old Refuge, Gold
Description: It is the resurgent passion of the doomsday crowd, a bet that everything will go wrong. No matter what has you worried, they say, the answer is gold. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/12/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/business/13gold.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented in the article about gold as an investment at this time. What strategy… Read more »
The Balance-Sheet Recession
Description: With gold having run up to record prices of late, some have wondered whether the yellow metal is likely to be the next bubble? Brett Arends discusses. And Peter Lattman profiles C. Dean Metropoulos, an low-profile investor with a knack for rebuilding old brands like Chef Boyardee, Bumble Bee and Schlitz. His most recent… Read more »
