Description: Thomas Hoenig, head of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank says 0% interest rates lead to inflation and economic imbalances, with an unclear long-term impact. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/01/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/01/n_ss_hoenig_gps.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the economic arguments made by Mr Hoenig? What are the consequences for businesses… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Economic Analysis
U.S. stock investors to focus on Fed, Apple, OPEC
Description: U.S. stock investors, bruised by five straight weeks of losses, will watch how the Federal Reserve responds to a spate of bleak economic data — which could include its Beige Book report — for an indication of whether the market will fall further. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 06/04/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-investors-to-focus-on-fed-apple-opec-2011-06-04 Questions for… Read more »
Sino-Forest fire singes bubble king Paulson
Description: The biggest loser in the latest apparent Chinese reverse merger fraud is John Paulson. Source: Fortune.com Date: 06/03/2011 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/03/sino-forest-fire-singes-bubble-king-paulson/ Questions for discussion: Summarize reasons for the dramatic fall in share value. Do you think there might be illegal activity on somebody’s part? How might the firm mitigate this publicity?
Tyler Cowen, America’s Hottest Economist
Description:Â The George Mason University professor has written a bestseller, The Great Stagnation, keeps an influential blog, and reads way too many books. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 05/26/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_23/b4231066695798.htm Questions for discussion: Explain the meaning of the title. What is the thesis of his book? Are there items you agree or disagree with? What lessons… Read more »
BlackRock’s Rick Rieder takes a stand on bonds
Description: Rick Rieder is not the best-known man in bonds. That honor belongs to Pimco’s Bill Gross, manager of Total Return, the world’s largest bond fund. But Rieder, 49, is a titan in his own right. Source: Fortune.com Date: 05/27/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/25/pf/rick_rieder_blackrock.fortune/index.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize Rick Rieder’s strategic thinking as reported in the article…. Read more »
Gap, Aeropostale unraveled
Description: While they might not portend the End Times, signs of Friday’s route of the low-end retailers could certainly be discerned months ago in the commodities markets. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 05/20/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gap-aeropostale-unraveled-2011-05-20 Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues raised in the report about commodities and the performance of these companies. What do you think… Read more »
Health Insurers Making Record Profits as Many Postpone Care
Description: The nation’s major health insurers are barreling into a third year of record profits, enriched in recent months by a lingering recessionary mind-set among Americans who are postponing or forgoing medical care. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 05/13/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/business/14health.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial relationships between health insurers, providers, and clients? What is the… Read more »
Housing crash is getting worse: report
Description: If you thought the housing crisis was bad, think again. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 05/09/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/housing-crash-is-getting-worse-2011-05-09?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues raised in the report. What is your view about residential real estate prices and their influence on the economy? How would you approach this market, as an investor in builders?
BullHorn: Metal meltdown
Description: Silver has plunged, gold has taken a hit and the commodity bubble may be finally bursting. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/06/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/05/06/mkts_bullhorn0506.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented in this report. Do you agree that the commodities bubble is bursting? What do you believe is the reason for the recent… Read more »
Japan’s 4.5 trillion yen jump start
Description: Japan is preparing a supplemental budget of 4.5 trillion yen to help the country recover from lost production due to the tsunami. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/28/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/04/28/n_japan_economy.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the economic and business situation in Japan. Do you believe the projections are likely to be true? Which businesses… Read more »
