Description:Â Ireland is opting for bulldozers rather than bankers as it starts to clear the legacy of the housing boom whose collapse brought the economy to its knees. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: July 19, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-19/ireland-bulldozes-ghost-estate-in-life-after-real-estate-bubble.html Questions for Discussions: How did over-supply undermine the real estate market? Who is to blame for this fiasco? How… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Growth & Valuation
JPMorgan cleans up ‘London whale’ mess
Description: Despite a $5.8 billion year-to-date trading loss, JPMorgan still earned $5 billion in the second quarter. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/07/13/n-felicia-jp-morgan.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the highlights of management’s effort to fix the damage done. Do you believe it is convincing and will be successful? How can this… Read more »
Mobile TV app could upend the cable-broadcast business
Description: Barry Diller, the consummate Hollywood deal maker who revamped the TV business in the 1980s, is back in the media spotlight after a federal judge threw out an injunction against Aereo, the online TV service he backs. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/business-technology/mobile-tv-app-could-upend-the-cable-broadcast-business/article4414783/ Questions for Discussions: What are the issues facing the… Read more »
Is J.P. Morgan too big to manage?
Description: In a two-hour session with analysts Friday morning, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.’s top executives fielded numerous questions about the massive trading loss suffered by its chief investment office, but one of them was particularly challenging. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: July 13, 2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-jp-morgan-too-big-to-manage-2012-07-13?dist=tcountdown Questions for Discussions: Has J.P. Morgan reached ““a tipping point  Read more »
Apple: Still the best bet in tech
Description: As Apple tops $600 a share for the first time since April, it serves as a reminder: In tech, they are king. Don’t bet against the king. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 06, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/07/06/investing-bz-apple.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the arguments supporting a continued run up of Apple share values?… Read more »
Should Commodities Investors Take Cover?
Description:  If the U.S economy begins moving into a downward spiral, as many believe it might, should commodities investors take cover? WSJ’s Simon Constable visits Mean Street to break down the numbers. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: July 06, 2012 Link: http://live.wsj.com/video/should-commodities-investors-take-cover/0643512D-78CC-4962-8D54-C977BD6BFD12.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments presented about the movement in commodities…. Read more »
How to crack Wall Street’s earnings code
Description: 7 terms to listen for when CEOs and CFOs talk business Source: Marketwatch.com Date: July 06, 2012 Link:Â http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-crack-wall-streets-earnings-code-2012-07-06 Questions for Discussions: Summarize the code-speak. Do you think anyone misses what is really happening? Why would managers choose to avoid speaking clearly to shareholders and analysts?
France slaps seven billion euros in taxes on rich and big firms
Description:Â France’s new Socialist government announced tax rises worth 7.2 billion euros on Wednesday, including heavy one-off levies on wealthy households and big corporations, to plug a revenue shortfall this year caused by flagging economic growth. Source: Reuters.com Date: July 04, 2012 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/05/us-france-budget-idUSBRE86307X20120705 Questions for Discussions: What are the implications for Euro-based debt, the… Read more »
Encana probes collusion accusation
Description:Â Encana Corp. has launched an internal investigation after the State of Michigan said it is examining allegations that the company worked with rival Chesapeake Energy Corp. to avoid competing in state land auctions for shale gas. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: June 26, 2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/encana-probes-collusion-accusation/article4368056/ Questions for Discussions: What are the financial implications for both… Read more »
There’s more to fear: Americans eating in
Description: Slow sales for Darden Restaurant chains Olive Garden and Red Lobster have investors asking for the check as Americans opt to dine at home. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 22, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/22/investing-bz-darden.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Why is there concern over financial details related to these firms? Do you agree with the… Read more »
