Description: Both merchants and banks balk at a Federal Reserve compromise on fees that businesses pay financial institutions Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/07/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/sniping-at-charges-for-swiping-debt-cards-07072011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with the decision? Who should set price for these services? What are the consequences… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Economic Analysis
Greece Sells Assets to Whittle Down Debt
Description: To help get out of its debt crisis, the Greek government has come up with a way to raise some cash: Sell off everything from planes and trains to huge parcels of land along the Greek coastline. WSJ’s Charles Forelle reports from Athens. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 06/27/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/greece-sells-assets-to-whittle-down-debt/373566C2-7323-4E8A-8797-36858953526A Questions for… Read more »
Morgan Stanley Goes Against the Shorts in China
Description: It’s investing $50 million in Yongye International, a fertilizer company that’s been under attack Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/29/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/morgan-stanley-goes-against-the-shorts-in-china-06302011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues in this report. What would you advise investors to do at this time?
Bonds: How to Play Interest Rate Peril
Description:Â With uncertainty high, some bond investors are looking to “unconstrained” managers who take a more active approach to selecting fixed-income securities Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/23/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jun2011/pi20110623_808293.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the various strategies employed to manage bond funds? As an investor, which strategy looks best to you today looking forward?
Jim Rogers: ‘I’m staying liquid’
Description: The legendary investor sees more troubling times for the global economy and says he is staying away from stocks for the foreseeable future. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/16/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/16/n_rogers_debt.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented by Jim Rogers. Do you agree with his assessments and solutions? How would you approach… Read more »
UPDATE 3-Perkins restaurant chain files for bankruptcy
Description: The owner of the Perkins and Marie Callender’s restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy on Monday with plans to close 65 of its 600 locations and cut 2,500 jobs, according to court documents. Perkins & Marie Callender Inc became the latest food company to fall victim to a sluggish recovery and soaring food prices. Last… Read more »
The Supercycle: A Longer Range View of Emerging Markets
Description: Some investment pros see the emergence of Asian and Latin American economies as a third industrial revolution—a decades-long “supercycle” Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/09/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jun2011/pi2011069_910102.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments in this report. Do you agree with the fundamental points that are made?
50,000 BitTorrent users sued for alleged illegal downloads
Description: The turn of the 21st century was rife with bitter anti-piracy lawsuits pitting studios against their potential customers, with music labels banding together to blast Napster — and its massive user base — to smithereens. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/10/technology/bittorrent_lawsuits/index.htm Questions for discussion: How can this legal intervention affect BitTorrent? Is the business… Read more »
Man vs. Machine
Description: In the epic battle of man versus machine, machines have a growing price advantage. Source: NYTimes.com – video report Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/man-vs-machine/?ref=economy Questions for discussion: Summarized the essence of the report. What does this report suggest to investors about a return to fuller employment and recovery? What other factors affect managerial decision making?
Toyota Expects 31% Profit Slump
Description: Toyota Motor said Friday that it expected its annual net profit to fall almost a third from the previous year, hurt by production disruptions after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/business/global/11toyota.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons for Toyota’s drop in profits. Do you think… Read more »
