Technology now makes up a quarter of the stock market, its biggest weighting since dot-com bubble

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Description: Technology, this year’s best-performing sector, hasn’t been this big in more than 17 years. Source: CNBC.com Date: Feb 28, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/28/technology-now-makes-up-a-quarter-of-the-stock-market.html Questions for discussion: What does the growth of technology stock value mean for investors? Why is there concern over its size and growth at this time?

U.S. Blocks a Chinese Deal Amid Rising Tensions Over Technology

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Description: HONG KONG — United States officials have torpedoed a Chinese state-backed group’s plan to buy an American electronics company, signaling the Trump administration’s continuing skepticism toward Chinese investment deals, particularly those that involve transferring technological know-how. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 23, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/technology/china-microchips-cfius-xcerra.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftechnology&action=click&contentCollection=technology&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about the… Read more »

Twitter surges on earnings

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Description: The “Squawk on the Street” crew talks about the jump in shares of Twitter after posting better-than-expected quarterly results. Twitter surges on earnings from CNBC. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Feb 07, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/02/08/twitter-surges-on-earnings.html Questions for discussion: From a financial analysis and marketing point of view, why did Twitter surge so much?… Read more »

Eleven Weeks of Bliss Shattered for the Stock Market’s Hottest Trade

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Description: It’s tough luck for semiconductor bulls that during a stretch in which one of their favorite things, bitcoin, surged to $11,000, the industry took its worst stock market beating in 23 months. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Dec 01, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-01/eleven-weeks-of-bliss-shattered-for-stock-market-s-hottest-trade Questions for discussion: Explain what happened to the stocks in this sector? What is… Read more »

Take that, Amazon and Walmart: Kroger sales surge

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Description: So much for Amazon and Walmart killing the grocery business. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 30, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/30/investing/kroger-sales-supermarket-amazon-whole-foods-walmart/index.html Questions for discussion: Explain the financial results at Kroger. What criteria should analysts be looking at in order to evaluate food retailers?

As U.S. Debates Ending Electric Car Tax Credit, China Aims to Expand Sales

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Description: GUANGZHOU, China — In the United States, politicians were to vote on Thursday on a proposal that included repeal of a $7,500 tax credit for buyers of electric cars. In China, auto executives from around the world were gathering to talk about ambitious plans to sell more of those vehicleshere. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 16,… Read more »

Not America’s beer? Bud sales fall in U.S.

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Description: This Bud’s not for you? Anheuser-Busch InBev, the owner of Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois, said that beer sales in the U.S. fell 5.6% in the third quarter. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 26, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/26/investing/anheuser-busch-inbev-budweiser-beer-sales/index.html Questions for discussion: What might explain poor sales? What does the report suggest about… Read more »

eMarketer Releases New Worldwide Ad Spending Estimates

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Description: Spending on paid media worldwide will increase 7.0% in 2017 to $584.14 billion Source: eMarker.com Date: Oct 16, 2017 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/Article/eMarketer-Releases-New-Worldwide-Ad-Spending-Estimates/1016621?ecid=NL1009 Questions for discussion: What do these figures tell investors? Which stocks do you think will partake in this predicted spending growth?

The Lawyer Who Beat Big Tobacco Takes On the Opioid Industry

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Description: Mike Moore made cigarette companies pay for the high cost of treating smokers. Here he comes again. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Oct 05, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-10-05/the-lawyer-who-beat-big-tobacco-takes-on-the-opioid-industry Questions for discussion: What are the legal and managerial implications for the pharmacuetiucal industry that are raised in this article? How should investors regard this information, as a risk… Read more »