Fixing Washington’s balance sheet

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

Description: Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker discusses inflationary risks, taxes and balancing the budget. Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 11/05/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/11/05/n_la_debt_taxes_fed_dollar.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the risks described by Walker? What is his fundamental recommendation to government and the Federal Reserve? What do you think will happen? Given these expectations, what… Read more »

Wall Street Soars After Election

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

Description: Business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis explains why Wall Street is doing well while unemployment is still high. Source:  BNET.com – video report Date: 11/05/2010 Link: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/investing/video/wall-street-soars-after-election/481308/?tag=col1;fd-banner-roto  Questions for discussion:  Summarize the key points presented in the report. Why did the stock market respond so favorably? What do you think will happen to markets… Read more »

Insider trading probe in Tokyo

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

Description: The Tokyo Stock Exchange launched an official examination after global complaints of widespread insider trading. Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/10/29/n_lah_japan_insidertrade.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What is the essence of the claim that there was unfair trading involved? How would investors be expected to react while the claims are being investigated? What… Read more »

Buying Into Emerging-Markets Consumers

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

Description: Strong economic growth is bringing great wealth to developing countries and giving rise to a consumer class with a lengthy shopping list. Tom Sowanick, CIO at OmniVest Group, tells MarketWatch’s Jonanthan Burton about consumer-sector opportunities across Asia and Latin America. Source: Marketwatch.com  – video report Date: 10/27/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/buying-into-emerging-markets-consumers/9975C8F8-C9B1-442B-845E-9D8725A6FC31 Questions for discussion:  What does… Read more »

U.S. dollar falls vs yen; FX options flag QE worry

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

Description:  Uncertainty over a fresh round of U.S. monetary easing weighed on the dollar on Friday, prompting investors in the options market to hedge against any volatility arising from the Federal Reserve decision. Source:  Reuters.com   Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69D46V20101029 Questions for discussion:  What are the reasons reported for recent movements in these currencies? How… Read more »

After China’s Rare Earth Embargo, a New Calculus

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis.

Description: When Japanese mineral traders learned in late September that China was blocking shipments of a vital commodity, the word came not from a government announcement but from dock workers in Shanghai. Source:  NYTimes.com Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/business/global/30rare.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for the actions by China? How do you think this… Read more »

Fed’s Bond Buying Won’t Help

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

Description: Whatever the Federal Reserve does to lower interest rates further won’t help the U.S. economy, according to First Pacific Advisors fund manager Tom Atteberry, who says that’ll just weaken the dollar and hurt savers. Deborah Levine reports. Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 10/21/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/fed-bond-buying-wont-help/1ABF00C0-B59C-492E-A0B3-E66664FBBB7E Questions for discussion: Summarize the main comments made… Read more »

Caterpillar beats but sales mix worries investors

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators.

Description:  Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) reported stronger-than-expected earnings on Thursday and raised its full-year forecast, but warned that a number of factors could weigh on its performance next year, and its shares fell as much as 2.8 percent. Source:  Reuters.com   Date: 10/21/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69K27Y20101021 Questions for discussion:  What is the significance of the financial results… Read more »

China prompts rare earth consumers to look elsewhere

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis.

Description: Japan and South Korea moved on Friday to reduce their dependence on China’s rare earth metals amid fears export reductions by Beijing could be the trigger for a broader trade conflict as nations joust over currencies. Source:  Reuters.com Date: 10/22/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69L27D20101022 Questions for discussion: Summarize the activities reported and their significance for investors… Read more »

News Hub: Markets Focus on Bernanke Speech

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

Description:  Paul Vigna discusses how Bernanke’s speech at the Boston Fed will likely play out in the markets, along with fresh data on inflation and retail sales. Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 10/15/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/news-hub-markets-focus-on-bernanke-speech/A2ACEBAE-022C-4E50-A009-00B48B736CFB Questions for discussion: Summarize the main comments made about the Ben Bernanke’s speech. What is “asset inflation” and why… Read more »