Description: The Biden administration’s executive order to develop a national policy on cryptocurrency and digital assets is an important first step in setting some guardrails around a global market now worth more than $3 trillion, said Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor Kevin Werbach. Source: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu Date: Mar 28, 2022 Link: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-the-u-s-government-should-regulate-cryptocurrency/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the key… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Industry Analysis
Amazon hikes prices for Prime membership
Description: TORONTO — Amazon is raising the price of its Prime membership in Canada. The e-commerce giant’s subscription service, which offers free shipment on many items, access to its Prime Video streaming platform and an array of other benefits, will begin phasing in higher fees for new subscribers immediately. Source: Yahoo.Finance.com Date: Apr 08, 2022… Read more »
The Huge Endeavor to Produce a Tiny Microchip
Description: As the global chip shortage continues, we take an inside look at how semiconductors are fabricated. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Apr 08, 2022 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/technology/intel-chip-shortage.html? Questions for discussion: What are the direct economic benefits due to investments in these plants? What are the factors of production needed in order to set up these plants? Given… Read more »
Nord Stream 2 cost $11 billion to build. Now, the Russia-Europe gas pipeline is unused and abandoned
Description: One of the early casualties of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and its continuing geopolitical and economic fallout — has been the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a massive energy project that took several years to build and cost $11 billion. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Mar 31, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/31/the-nord-stream-2-pipeline-lies-abandoned-after-russia-invaded-ukraine.html Questions for… Read more »
Eric Nuttall: The world has plunged into a deep, enduring energy crisis that may threaten the economy for years to come
Description: Long before Russian tanks rolled towards Ukraine, the oil and gas industry had culminated into an undersupplied market Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Mar 29, 2022 Link: https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/oil-gas/eric-nuttall-the-world-has-plunged-into-a-deep-enduring-energy-crisis-that-may-threaten-the-economy-for-years-to-come Questions for discussion: What does Eric Nuttall say is the situation in the oil and gas industry and Canada’s position, specifically? How should investors respond to this analysis,… Read more »
BlackRock’s Larry Fink, who oversees $10 trillion, says Russia-Ukraine war is ending globalization
Description: Larry Fink, the CEO and chairman of the world’s biggest asset manager BlackRock, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has upended the world order that had been in place since the end of the Cold War. Source: CNBC.com Date: Mar 24, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/24/blackrocks-larry-fink-who-oversees-10-trillion-says-russia-ukraine-war-is-ending-globalization.html Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the Larry Fink’s assessment… Read more »
A Plastic Bag’s 2,000-Mile Journey Shows the Messy Truth About Recycling
Description: When the British supermarket chain Tesco Plc first started collecting plastic bags and wrappers from customers to be recycled in March 2021, Caroline Ragueneau was thrilled. She was working as a retail assistant at a Tesco store in southwest England when the first white deposit boxes appeared, promising to turn what’s typically discarded back… Read more »
Investing legend Bill Miller says there are many good values in the market even after relief rally
Description: It’s a good time to get the perspective of the recent market rally from legendary investor Bill Miller, who beat the S&P 500 SPX, for 15 years in a row and has seen a cycle or two. “No one knows how long the war in Ukraine will last nor what its outcome will be,” writes Miller in… Read more »
Evergrande Investors Left Baffled by $2.1 Billion in Seized Cash
Description: Investors in China Evergrande Group are still in the dark over just how $2.1 billion of deposits at its property-services unit came to be used as security for pledge guarantees and seized by banks. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Mar 23, 2022 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-23/evergrande-investors-left-baffled-by-2-1-billion-in-seized-cash Questions for discussion: What are the concerns raised in this report? What should investors… Read more »
Nickel falls 12% to hit limit down again on London Metal Exchange
Description: LONDON — The benchmark three-month nickel contract fell 12% on Friday morning to hit a new trading limit, as heavy selling continued on international metal markets. Source: CNBC.com Date: Mar 18, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/18/nickel-falls-12percent-to-hit-limit-down-again-on-london-metal-exchange.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: Explain what is happening to trading in the nickel market? What would you advise investors at this… Read more »
