Description: Commentary: Austerity would hurt but it wouldn’t be sudden Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 14, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stop-calling-it-a-fiscal-cliff-2012-11-14?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Summarize the key changes that will take place if no changes are made to current law. Do you agree with the assessment presented by the commentator in this report? How do you think markets… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Governments & Regulators
Thousands of banks may disappear
Description:Â Wall Streeters say Obama’s second term will be the death knell for small banks. Source: Fortune.com Date: Nov 09, 2012 Link:Â http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/09/banks-disappear-obama/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: What is the basis for this prediction? Do you agree with the sentiment? Would the consequences be good or bad? How should investors react?
More Reasons Not to Fudge Business Expenses
Description: It’s easy for entrepreneurs hatching startups to fudge the line between personal and business expenses. Is that laptop really used for your company, or for your kids? Are you discussing business at lunch, or gossiping with a friend? Beyond the typical admonitions about tax audits, running personal expenses through your business can backfire with… Read more »
It’s Global Warming, Stupid
Description: Yes, yes, it’s unsophisticated to blame any given storm on climate change. Men and women in white lab coats tell us—and they’re right—that many factors contribute to each severe weather episode. Climate deniers exploit scientific complexity to avoid any discussion at all. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Nov 01, 2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-01/its-global-warming-stupid#r=hp-ls Questions for Discussions: What… Read more »
Sparks Fly With Greg Smith Over Goldman Sachs Book
Description: Bloomberg Television recaps the discussion between former Goldman Sachs employee Greg Smith and Bloomberg’s Stephanie Ruhle on his career at Goldman Sachs and the reasons why he wrote his book, “Why I Left Goldman Sachs.” He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “Market Makers.” Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 25, 2012 Link: http://bloom.bg/SiOE6B#ooid=JhYTZjNjpkF3-sNmTXx_b4-fCePOVqwF Questions… Read more »
Billions in Hidden Riches for Family of Chinese Leader
Description: The mother of China’s prime minister was a schoolteacher in northern China. His father was ordered to tend pigs in one of Mao’s political campaigns. And during childhood, “my family was extremely poor,†the prime minister, Wen Jiabao, said in a speech last year. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 25, 2012 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/business/global/family-of-wen-jiabao-holds-a-hidden-fortune-in-china.html?ref=business Questions for… Read more »
Wealthy Advised to Sell for Gains Before Unfriendly 2013
Description: Sell. That’s the message from some financial advisers, who are telling wealthy clients that the remainder of 2012 amounts to a last-chance sale on federal tax rates. Taxes are set to rise in January in the U.S., pushing the top rate on dividends to 43.4 percent from 15 percent and the top rate on… Read more »
Lagarde: Fiscal cliff a big risk
Description: IMF Director Christine Lagarde says global markets don’t want just a short-term fix to America’s fiscal cliff. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 11, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/10/11/n-imf-christine-lagarde-america-fiscal-clif.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are Christine Lagarde’s concerns over the US “fiscal cliffâ€? Do you believe markets have factored in a real possibility of another crisis?… Read more »
El-Erian: Five global risks to grasp
Description: Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian talks fiscal cliff, European crisis, China slowdown and more. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 04, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/10/04/f-el-erian-pimco-ceo-global-risks.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the risks presented by El-Erian in this report. How great is each risk in terms of affecting economic activity in general and some specific industries, in… Read more »
Bair: Why Citi should have been broken up
Description: Reflecting on the 2008 financial crisis, former FDIC chairperson Sheila Bair discusses her regrets over the bailout of the big banks. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 27, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/09/27/n-sheila-bair-citi-bailout.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the regrets expressed in hindsight by Sheila Blair. Why do you suppose Citi bondholders were “protected†by the… Read more »
