Shiller predicts more property bubbles

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Economist and Nobel laureate Robert Shiller thinks human beings are ‘irrational in many ways,’ and sees a number of property bubbles forming around the world right now. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 15, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/10/15/n-robert-shiller-nobel-economics-people-irrational-behavioral-finance.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for discussion: What does Robert Shiller think about human judgement? Do you agree with his… Read more »

How money managers deal with D.C. gridlock

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Money managers sound off on the shutdown that has clients pulling their money out of the markets. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 09, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/10/09/n-money-managers-shutdown-washington.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What are the different ways money managers are responding to the concerns over political gridlock? Which strategy has been the most successful thus… Read more »

New Trends in the World of Wine

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: In today’s “In The Know” segment, International Wine Critic and Author Jancis Robinson discusses the impact of climate change on wine and where she sees growth with Mark Barton and Anna Edwards on Bloomberg Television’s “Countdown.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 11, 2013 Link: http://bloom.bg/1focQkZ#ooid=t5YnFvZjqLZnyB1P-cNGikcjCxSrBFbn Questions for Discussions: Summarize the… Read more »

Default would be catastrophic for big banks

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: If you think the JPMorgan and Wells Fargo earnings reports were disappointing, just wait until the fourth quarter if the shutdown continues and a debt default occurs. Source: Fortune.com Date: Oct 11, 2013 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/10/11/shutdown-default-banks/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Explain the reason for the dire predictions if the current government shut down continues. What does… Read more »

Why Home Depot’s not building many stores

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: Home Depot CEO says that the boost in online sales has allowed his company to grow while cutting back on brick-and-mortar expansion. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 24, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/25/f-leadership-home-depot-ceo-frank-blake-stores.fortune/index.html Questions for Discussions: How has customer behavior changed strategic planning at Home Depot? How will the reduction in new store openings… Read more »

Never ending woes for Olive Garden?

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Description: Shares of Darden Restaurants, parent company of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, plunged after the company’s sales and earnings missed forecasts. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 20, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/09/20/investing-the-buzz-darden-restaurants.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What is the greater economic concern suggested by the drop in earnings at Darden? Do you think the drop… Read more »

Men’s Wearhouse is out of style

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues, Market Analysis.

Description: Investors flee the retailer after disappointing sales and earnings. Will ousted chairman George Zimmer try to take the company private? Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 12, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/09/12/investing-buzz-mens-wearhouse-sales-george-zimmer-private.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why do failing companies typically go private? Do you think the firm needs new management in order to revive sales… Read more »

Obama’s Wall Street Bank Rescue Stabilized Economy at a Political Cost

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Description: When Barack Obama took office, the economy appeared to be on the brink of catastrophe. Despite the previous administrations commitment of several trillion dollars from every available arm of government to prop up the reeling financial system, nothing seemed to have worked. Banks were still hemorrhaging cash, and it was feared some would go… Read more »

Bond yields hitting 3%? Not so fast!

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Fewer jobs were added than expected in August, which may be a sign that the economy is not strong enough yet for the Fed to start tapering its monthly asset purchases. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 06, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/09/06/investing-the-buzz-us-bonds-taper-jobs-report.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the connection between bond prices and the interest… Read more »

Syria needs liberal capitalism, not missiles

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Revolutions, wars and the emergence of totalitarian movements are rarely just about grand ideals, political philosophy or theological disputes. Source: Telegraph.co.uk Date: Sep 04, 2013 Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/10284077/Syria-needs-liberal-capitalism-not-missiles.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the political economic arguments presented in this report. Do you agree with the assessment? What role do western investors play in this situation?