Description: “In the face of “a suboptimal recovery†the Fed said it would persist until the outlook for the job market improves “substantiallyâ€, but a sceptical Mr Warsh said: “The iPhone 5 is going to do more for the real economy than QE3?. Source: Forbes.com Date: Sep 14, 2012 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/09/15/apples-iphone-5-is-worth-more-than-the-efforts-of-the-federal-reserve/ Questions for discussion: Summarize… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Economic Analysis
Bankers, Expect Your 2012 Bonus to be Down 30%
Description: As investment bank bonus pools continue to shrink, banks are expected to continue to layoff staff. The WSJ’s Deborah Kan speaks to Christian Brun from executive search firm Wellesley Partners about just how bad it’s about to get. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Sep 07, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/Qi5MdW Questions for Discussions: According to… Read more »
Too quick to a call bottom for U.S. home prices: Shiller
Description: The much-anticipated bottom of the U.S. housing market may finally be upon us, as the closely watched S&P/Case Shiller index of home prices rose 0.5 percent from last year – marking the first time since 2010 that home prices increased year-over-year. Source: BNN.ca – video report Date: Sep 07, 2012 Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2012/9/7/Too-quick-to-a-call-bottom-for-US-home-prices-Shiller.aspx Questions for… Read more »
Are the Big Banks Keeping Their Commitment to Small Businesses?
Description:  Last September in Cleveland, 13 of the nation’s largest banks stood beside Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Karen Mills, chief of the Small Business Administration, and announced a commitment to increase small-business lending by $20 billion over the following three years. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 06, 2012 Link: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/are-the-big-banks-keeping-their-commitment-to-small-businesses/?ref=smallbusiness Questions for Discussions: … Read more »
Bernanke: Fed Gears Up to Do More to Lift Economy
Description: Fed chairman Ben Bernanke expressed concern over the labor market, defended the central bank’s monetary policies and left no doubt he plans to do more to lift the economy at the next meeting in September. Sudeep Reddy reports on Markets Hub. Photo: AP. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: Aug 31, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/R2sKQl… Read more »
QE3 and the looming currency war
Description:Â Â Commentary: An unstable situation could worsen Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Aug 29, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/qe3-and-the-looming-currency-war-2012-08-29-11103146?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions:Â What are the international concerns related to the Fed action to stimulate US economic activity? How would a change in currency values affect commodity markets?
El-Erian: QE3 can’t deliver
Description: Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian discusses fears about Europe, more easing from the Fed and congressional ‘dithering.’ Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 23, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2012/08/23/investing-el-erian-qe3-fiscal-cliff.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the commentary in this report. Do you agree with the assessment by El Erian?
In the Calm of Summer, Stocks Climb Gingerly
Description: Stocks approached their highest levels of the year on Friday in the wake of some mildly encouraging economic data, closing out their sixth-straight positive week. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Aug 17, 2012 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/business/daily-stock-market-activity.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Summarize the summer activity in stock markets. Do you agree with the explanations provided for this behavior? Where… Read more »
Is the Housing Sector Finally On a Recovery Path?
Description: WSJ’s Nick Timiraos stops by Mean Street to discuss Fannie Mae’s second-quarter profit, another indication of an improving U.S. housing recovery. (Photo: AP) Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 08, 2012 Link: http://live.wsj.com/video/is-the-housing-sector-finally-on-a-recovery-path/01AC489A-3945-4D1D-A66C-9A9E6443E48E.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize commentary in this report about the housing and mortgage markets. Do the current trends suggest the… Read more »
Happy Fifth Birthday, Financial Crisis
Description: WSJ’s Matt Phillips stops by Mean Street to mark five years since the global credit crunch which sent the global economy into a tailspin. (Photo: Reuters) Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: Aug 09, 2012 Link: http://live.wsj.com/video/happy-fifth-birthday-financial-crisis/2F60CB68-CE72-4D21-B7AF-099008A6D84C.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the history of the financial crisis as reported. What do you think was… Read more »
