Description: DAVID CAMERON, the British prime minister, was in Brussels meeting the press last October when he took a few moments to make fun of the British Broadcasting Corporation. “Good to see that costs are being controlled everywhere,†Mr. Cameron said as he directed a mocking glance at three BBC correspondents, each from a different… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Governments & Regulators
China data spark chorus of upgrades
Description: China stocks could be bright spots in coming weeks and months, according to analysts, who say strong earnings momentum and a potential peaking of inflationary pressures bode well for the outlook. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 04/07/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-data-spark-chorus-of-upgrades-2011-04-07?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented about China? Do you agree with the projections?
Stiglitz: Tax the rich
Description:  The economist says the upper 1% has to be taxed more; they have ‘close to a quarter of all the income and 40% of all the wealth. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/31/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/03/31/n_ss_tax_rich.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What does this report have to say about the current tax system? Do you agree… Read more »
‘Lehman Shock’ Is Kid Stuff Next to Fukushima: William Pesek
Description: Of all the tremors being felt in Tokyo, Masaaki Shirakawa is experiencing some of the biggest. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 03/31/2011 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-31/-lehman-shock-is-kid-stuff-next-to-fukushima-commentary-by-william-pesek.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented about Japan? What are the best and worst case financial scenarios, in your opinion?
Postal Service: 7,500 workers, $20,000 buyouts
Description: The Postal Service is offering a $20,000 buyout to thousands of veteran workers as part of its bid to eliminate 7,500 administrative jobs, the agency announced Thursday. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 03/25/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/24/news/economy/postal_service/index.htm Questions for discussion:Â Â Summarize the financial situation at the Postal Service. How differently might a private enterprise respond in this situation?… Read more »
Many Banks Are Clinging to Billions in Bailout Money
Description: Even as the nation’s biggest banks stepped further out of the government’s shadow on Friday, hundreds of financial institutions were still clutching to billions of taxpayers’ dollars. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 03/18/2011 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/many-banks-are-clinging-to-billions-in-bailout-money/?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the current situation with respect to the results of the bail-out and the status of the banks… Read more »
JPMorgan Leads $22 Billion Increase in Payouts, Buybacks After Fed Review
Description: U.S. bank investors may be rewarded with an extra $22 billion annually after government tests showed the industry has regained enough strength to boost dividends and share buybacks. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 03/19/2011 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-18/jpmorgan-leads-22-billion-increase-in-payouts-buybacks-after-fed-review.html Questions for discussion:Â What does this report suggest about the state of affairs at JPMorgan and possibly other institutions? Does… Read more »
Bernanke Recovery Flawed as Companies Get Credit Denied to U.S. Consumers
Description: Thirteen hundred miles from Wall Street, Alex Fairchild is still waiting for a little of the U.S. government’s multitrillion-dollar bailouts and Federal Reserve largesse to trickle his way. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/11/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-11/bernanke-recovery-flawed-as-companies-get-credit-denied-to-u-s-consumers.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about the credit crunch and recovery process? How should investors and businesses… Read more »
Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash
Description: Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 03/01/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/why-2011-may-be-the-end-of-the-housing-crash/9A7D3C38-BBDD-4DCF-8C8D-41A080E3969B Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis and metrics used to argue that housing might be turning around this year. Do you agree with the analysis presented? Why did prices collapse so abruptly and why might that not happen now? Instead of actually buying a house,… Read more »
Cheap, Ultrafast Broadband? At Least Hong Kong Has It
Description: HONG KONG residents can enjoy astoundingly fast broadband at an astoundingly low price. It became available last year, when a scrappy company called Hong Kong Broadband Network introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home service: a speed of 1,000 megabits a second — known as a “gig†— for less than $26 a month…. Read more »
