Description:   From IV bags to chest tubes, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why even basic medical equipment adds thousands to your medical bill. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 28, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/06/27/n-medical-equipment-cost.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the way hospitals allocate costs in order to cover all operating expenses. Is this a form of insurance?… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Industry Analysis
Airlines Lift U.S.-To-Europe Fares By Paring Seats
Description: U.S. carriers led by United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) are shielding their lucrative trans- Atlantic business from the worst of Europe’s economic slump, after shrinking the supply of seats to support higher fares. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 28, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-28/airlines-lift-u-s-to-europe-fares-by-paring-seats.html Questions for Discussions: How have airlines planned and adjusted to market conditions? How… Read more »
U.S. Automakers Cut Retirees Loose
Description: General Motors (GM) is offering retiree Rick Knoth a check for more than a half-million dollars and he’s still unhappy. Yes, Knoth plans to take GM’s huge buyout of his retirement benefits, but says he may never buy another car from the company where he worked for 37 years. “During my career I was… 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 »
Bank Investors Dismiss Moody’s Cuts As Years Too Late
Description: Moody’s Investors Service suffered a downgrade of its own as markets responded to the company’s rating cuts yesterday of 15 of the world’s largest banks by bidding up the value of their stocks and bonds. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 22, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-21/credit-suisse-cut-3-levels-as-moody-s-downgrades-biggest-banks.html Questions for Discussions: What does this report have to say about… Read more »
Reasons to fear Wall Street’s high-tech traders
Description: A review of Dark Pools: High-Speed Traders, A.I. Bandits, and the Threat to the Global Financial System, by Scott Patterson. Source: Fortune.com Date: Jun 22, 2012 Link:Â http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/22/dark-pools-scott-patterson/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: Summarize the sentiments in this report? What are the concerns and are they well founded, in your opinion?
Nokia: Are the Finnish finished?
Description: Ignore the takeover rumors, ailing cell phone maker Nokia won’t be acquired anytime soon. In fact, now is probably the time to bail. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 14, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/06/14/investing-bz-nokia.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: Summarize the analysis and recommendations presented by the reporter. Do you agree? What would you advise Nokia… Read more »
Rajat Gupta Convicted Of Insider Trading By U.S. Jury
Description: Rajat Gupta, who reached the pinnacle of corporate America as managing partner of McKinsey & Co. and as a director at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), was convicted by a federal jury of leaking inside information to hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jun 15, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/rajat-gupta-convicted-of-insider-trading-by-u-s-jury.html… Read more »
Oil Prices Keep Falling, But a Strange Gap Persists
Description: Oil prices are down more than 20 percent since mid-March. Yet that hasn’t erased a strange anomaly in the market: the gap between two essentially identical types of oil. North American light, sweet crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate, trades just below $84 while its international equivalent, known as Brent, is priced at… Read more »
