Description: Michael O’Rourke, chief marketing strategist at Jonestrading, discusses how businesses are dealing with the strong U.S. dollar. He speaks on “In The Loop.” Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Jan 28, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-01-28/bullish-dollar-super-cycle-to-push-on-companies-o-rourke Questions for Discussions: Summarize the analysis presented by Michael O’Rourke. Do you agree with his assessments with respect to currency… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Growth & Valuation
How 2014’s Huge Market Moves Are Affecting the Economy in 2015
Description: Global financial markets made a series of epic moves in the second half of 2014: toward a sharply lower price of oil, much lower interest rates, and a far stronger dollar. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 28, 2015 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/upshot/how-2014s-huge-market-moves-are-affecting-the-economy-in-2015.html?ref=economy&abt=0002&abg=0 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights presented in this report. Do you agree with the… Read more »
Apple Announces Record iPhone Sales Over Holiday Quarter
Description: (Bloomberg) — Apple Inc. rose the most in nine months after posting the biggest sales increase in three years last quarter on an array of new products and a forecast of further growth. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 28, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-28/apple-ceo-keeps-growth-momentum-with-watch-set-to-roll-out-next Questions for discussion: What does the report say about Apple’s source of growth?… Read more »
Health insurers should thank Obama
Description: Shares of big health care companies have soared since the Affordable Care Act went into effect. UnitedHealth is at a record high following solid earnings. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 21, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/01/21/obamacare-healthcare-stocks.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why have health insurers done well? Do they still represent a good investment going forward?
Shake Shack looks to make as much as $80 million in its IPO
Description: It’s the burgers time to shine in the restaurant market right now as New York City’s Shake Shack announces it’s trying to net as much as $80 million in its initial public offering. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Jan 20, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1KYveip Questions for Discussions: Explain the investor appeal in these food… Read more »
Currency trading isn’t for amateurs
Description: There should be a sign hanging outside the foreign-exchange market that reads: Amateurs need not apply. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: Jan 21, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/21/investing/fxcm-swiss-currency-trading/index.html?iid=HP_River Questions for discussion: Why is currency trading so risky, according to the report? Why does it attract traders?
Druckenmiller Alums at PointState Make $1 Billion on Oil
Description: Hedge fund manager Zach Schreiber stood on stage at Avery Fisher Hall in New York eight months ago and made a bold prediction. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 21, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-20/druckenmiller-alums-at-pointstate-make-1-billion-on-oil.html Questions for discussion: What was the basis for shorting oil? How should investors view oil today?
Are low oil prices good or bad for the economy?
Description: Fortune’s Stephen Gandel explains how low oil prices are affecting market trends across the globe. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Jan 16, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1BcnAhx Questions for Discussions: Summarize the keys points made in this report. How should investors be expected to respond? How can companies “defend” against the expected investor reaction?
“Oscar Bump” pays big
Description: Oscar nominations are expected to bring in millions of extra dollars for films nominated for or winning Academy Awards. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Jan 17, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1sHlzH2 Questions for Discussions: What does the report say about the value of an Oscar influence on profits? Can investors factor this into investing strategies?… Read more »
Individual investors lose more than $400 million on bad Swiss currency bets
Description: In the wake of the 2008 market crash, a growing number of individual investors jumped into currency trading under the impression that it was a safer bet than stocks. On Thursday, investors learned just how wrong they were. Source: Fortune.com Date: Jan 16, 2015 Link: http://fortune.com/2015/01/16/swiss-franc-400-million-losses/ Questions for discussion: What are the lessons investors… Read more »
