Description: The short-selling hedge fund manager continues to cast doubt on the Chinese economy and its reliance on construction. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 11/12/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/11/12/n_jim_chanos_china.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the concerns expressed about the Chinese economy and the implications for global economic activity? How would you characterize the real estate industry in… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Governments & Regulators
Blowing up the tax code
Description: So much to love. So much to hate. That’s what everyone will find in the tax reform proposals laid out this week by the co-chairmen of President Obama’s fiscal commission. Source: CNNMoney.com  Date: 11/12/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/11/news/economy/simpson_bowles_tax_reform/index.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the discussions going on about tax reform. What do you think is the… Read more »
The slaying of the Celtic Tiger
Description: Anglo Irish Bank’s unfinished head office pokes into the sky on Dublin’s North Wall Quay, a silent testimony to the rise and fall of the Celtic Tiger. Source: TheGlobeandMail.com  Date: 11/12/2010 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/the-slaying-of-the-celtic-tiger/article1797583/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the history of the Irish economic experience. What do you think will happen to Irish markets… Read more »
Fixing Washington’s balance sheet
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
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
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
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
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
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:Â 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
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 »
