JPMorgan cleans up ‘London whale’ mess

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Description: Despite a $5.8 billion year-to-date trading loss, JPMorgan still earned $5 billion in the second quarter. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/07/13/n-felicia-jp-morgan.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the highlights of management’s effort to fix the damage done. Do you believe it is convincing and will be successful? How can this… Read more »

How Jamie Dimon hid the $6 billion loss

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Description: A mixture of accounting moves and rosy assumptions appear to have masked JPMorgan’s London Whale. Source: Fortune.com Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/13/jpmorgan-hid-london-whale/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: How was the $6 billion loss kept hidden? Do you believe management and the firm have been adequately dealt with by the marketplace, investors, and  regulators?

Mobile TV app could upend the cable-broadcast business

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Description: Barry Diller, the consummate Hollywood deal maker who revamped the TV business in the 1980s, is back in the media spotlight after a federal judge threw out an injunction against Aereo, the online TV service he backs. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/business-technology/mobile-tv-app-could-upend-the-cable-broadcast-business/article4414783/ Questions for Discussions: What are the issues facing the… Read more »

Is J.P. Morgan too big to manage?

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Description:  In a two-hour session with analysts Friday morning, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.’s top executives fielded numerous questions about the massive trading loss suffered by its chief investment office, but one of them was particularly challenging. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-jp-morgan-too-big-to-manage-2012-07-13?dist=tcountdown Questions for Discussions: Has J.P. Morgan reached ““a tipping point”… Read more »

Apple: Still the best bet in tech

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Description: As Apple tops $600 a share for the first time since April, it serves as a reminder: In tech, they are king. Don’t bet against the king. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 06, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/07/06/investing-bz-apple.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the arguments supporting a continued run up of Apple share values?… Read more »

‘Period of remorse’ catches up to Diamond

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Description: Robert Diamond’s resignation, effective immediately, as chief executive officer of Barclays PLC UK:BARC -2.05%  BCS -1.72%  Tuesday morning in the wake of the Libor-manipulation scandal comes a day after he reportedly sent a letter to employees saying he was “sorry” and pledged to impose tougher internal controls. Full story: Bob Diamond resigns as Barclays… Read more »

How to crack Wall Street’s earnings code

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Description: 7 terms to listen for when CEOs and CFOs talk business Source: Marketwatch.com Date: July 06, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-crack-wall-streets-earnings-code-2012-07-06 Questions for Discussions: Summarize the code-speak. Do you think anyone misses what is really happening? Why would managers choose to avoid speaking clearly to shareholders and analysts?

Airlines Lift U.S.-To-Europe Fares By Paring Seats

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Description: U.S. carriers led by United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) are shielding their lucrative trans- Atlantic business from the worst of Europe’s economic slump, after shrinking the supply of seats to support higher fares. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 28, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-28/airlines-lift-u-s-to-europe-fares-by-paring-seats.html Questions for Discussions: How have airlines planned and adjusted to market conditions? How… Read more »

U.S. Automakers Cut Retirees Loose

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Description: General Motors (GM) is offering retiree Rick Knoth a check for more than a half-million dollars and he’s still unhappy. Yes, Knoth plans to take GM’s huge buyout of his retirement benefits, but says he may never buy another car from the company where he worked for 37 years. “During my career I was… Read more »

Encana probes collusion accusation

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Description:  Encana Corp. has launched an internal investigation after the State of Michigan said it is examining allegations that the company worked with rival Chesapeake Energy Corp. to avoid competing in state land auctions for shale gas. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: June 26, 2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/encana-probes-collusion-accusation/article4368056/ Questions for Discussions: What are the financial implications for both… Read more »