Description: Microsoft executives faced an unusual challenge in April when a $12 billion hedge fund, ValueAct, announced that it had bought a nearly $2 billion stake in the company with the intention of shaking things up. Source: NYTimes.com – video report Date: August 30, 2013 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/with-huge-war-chests-activist-investors-tackle-big-companies/?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Summarize the strategic thinking of… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Economic Analysis
A Surprising Reversal for Emerging Stock Markets
Description: FOR more than a decade, investors loved emerging markets. Now many seem to fear them. Source: NYTimes.com Date: August 23, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/business/economy/a-surprising-reversal-for-emerging-stock-markets.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Summarize the analysis presented in the report. How should investors be expected to behave over the next year?
High speed trading showdown
Description: Citadel’s Jamil Nazarali and former high speed trader David Lauer weigh the pros and cons of computerized stock trading for investors and society. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: August 14, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/08/14/investing-high-speed-trading-good-or-bad.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What does this report say about high speed trading? What do you think regulators’ roles should be… Read more »
Quit worrying about a 1987-style crash
Description: More and more I am hearing and reading about the coming of a 1987-style crash. There are interviews in which the subject chats about how we have to prepare for it. Articles are being published telling us that this year’s percentage gains rival those of 1987 with the clear implication being that another crash… Read more »
The charts that point to an imminent Fed taper
Description: Week in charts: Inflation nudges higher to Fed target rate Source: Marketwatch.com Date: August 16, 2013 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-charts-that-point-to-an-imminent-fed-taper-2013-08-16?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: What does this report suggest is happening? What do the charts mean to you?
Investors’ Worst Instincts, Revealed (Again)
Description: The U.S. stock market is killing it. In the two-and-a-half year period from Jan. 1, 2011, to June 28, 2013, U.S. shares returned a cumulative 35 percent—26 percentage points ahead of international developed markets and 47 points better than emerging markets. Source: Businessweek.com Date: August 09, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-09/investors-worst-instincts-revealed-again#r=nav-fst Questions for Discussions: Why do… Read more »
Japan’s Nikkei dips into bear market territory
Description: After shooting into the stratosphere, Japanese stocks have tumbled back to Earth. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 07, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/06/investing/japan-stocks/index.html?iid=HP_River Questions for Discussions: Describe the investment climate in Japan and why markets soared. Why has the Nikkei dropped so suddenly? Would you be a buyer of Japanese stocks or the Yen?
Japan’s Stocks Tank, Threatening ‘Abenomics’
Description: Shinzo Abe and Haruhiko Kuroda had a good thing going. Shame Ben Bernanke had to go and ruin it. Source: Businessweek.com Date: June 06, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-06/japans-stocks-tank-threatening-abenomics#r=nav-f-story Questions for Discussions: How have Japanese stocks performed over the past five years? Why have investors done well in just the last year? Where do you see… Read more »
Where to put your money when bond yields rise
Description: Commentary: The best defense is a good stock-driven offense. Bond yields have been rising as the U.S. economy improves, and so has market volatility. The defensive, income-rich stock and bond strategies that have rewarded investors for years won’t lead the markets when the economy is less distressed. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: June 08, 2013 Link:… Read more »
Stocks: Bulls vs. bears
Description: Prof. Jeremy Siegel of UPenn says the bull market is being driven by low interest rates, while bearish investor Jim Rogers says the rally is being boosted artificially by the Fed. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 28, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/05/28/investing-bulls-bears.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments presented by both experts. What do… Read more »
