Description: New rules and a shift toward passively managed funds could see revenues chopped in half. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Apr 07, 2016 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-07/the-financial-industry-is-having-its-napster-moment Questions for Discussions: What does the article suggest is happening in the industry and the reasons? Do you agree with this assessment? How should the industry respond to this development?
Posts Categorized: Industry Analysis
‘Fragile five’: These OPEC producers are on the verge of collapse if oil prices don’t stabilize soon
Description: The global oil price rout has left many oil producers reeling across the world. From Canada to Norway, Saudi Arabia to Russia, none of the world’s largest oil exporters have been spared from oil prices that declined 45 per cent last year alone. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Mar 30, 2016 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/news/energy/fragile-five-these-opec-producers-are-on-the-verge-of-collapse-if-oil-prices-dont-stabilize-soon?__lsa=679e-e7b7 Questions for discussion:… Read more »
What You Need to Know About Spotify’s $1 Billion Debt Deal
Description: The company is facing more direct competition. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Mar 31, 2016 Link: http://for.tn/1UuRp6q Questions for Discussions: What is the significance of the debt load? Why do you think the firm has agreed to these terms? How should investors deal with this information?
China’s slowdown hits shipping
Description: The global shipping industry is taking a hit as concerns increase over China’s economic slowdown. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 14, 2016 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/economy/2016/03/14/china-slowdown-hits-shipping.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why is the shipping industry a good barometer of economic activity? How is this industry changing? What other transportation businesses would be good indicators of… Read more »
U.S. Textile Industry Turns to Tech as Gateway to Revival
Description: Warwick Mills shows the kind of innovative know-how common among American textile companies that have survived the fierce global competition of recent years. Source: NYTimes.com Date: April 01, 2016 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/technology/us-textile-industry-turns-to-tech-as-gateway-to-revival.html?ref=business&_r=0 Questions for discussion: How is innovation helping this company and industry? Why do you think manufacturers might be slow to follow a similar… Read more »
$50 Oil as Soon as May?
Description: After staging a 50 percent rally between February and March, oil prices have bounced around, moving up or down on a given day depending on the news cycle. Source: HuffingtonPost.com Date: Mar 31, 2016 Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oilpricecom/50-oil-as-soon-as-may_b_9586830.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business Questions for discussion: What are the arguments presented for $50 oil? Do you agree with this prediction and… Read more »
Do Big Businesses Make Sense Anymore?
Description: Just look at Airbnb, Uber, and Facebook. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Mar 18, 2016 Link: http://for.tn/1Rn5rqf Questions for Discussions: What do think about the commentary presented in this report? What are the economic and financial implications for this vision of corporations? How would investment, investors and the financial services industry be affected?
Would You Pay 25 Cents to Read an Article? Blendle Certainly Thinks So
Description: BLENDLE IS A Dutch media startup that lets you pay a few cents for individual news articles online—the much chattered-about micropayments model that’s one of many on a long list of strategies destined to save the business of journalism (or not). And now it’s available in the US. Source: Wired.com Date: Mar 23, 2016… Read more »
‘Fickle’ millennials blamed for Chipotle’s downward spiral
Description: Chipotle downgrade to rare underperform rating at Jefferies, which cited weak February trends and rising marketing costs Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Mar 18, 2016 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chipotle-stock-drops-after-rare-bearish-call-at-jefferies-2016-03-17 Questions for Discussions: Why has Chipotle stock been down-graded by this analyst? Do you agree with the assessment and predictions for recovery?
Time for Hedge Funds to Comeback?
Description: Credit Suisee Global Head: Capital Services Bob Leonard discusses his outlook for hedge funds. He speaks on “Bloomberg Markets.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Mar 03, 2016 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-03-03/time-for-hedge-funds-to-comeback Questions for Discussions: What does the report say about the hedge fund industry today and the direction it is heading? How should… Read more »
