Making the case for negative interest rates

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description:  Former Fed official Alan Blinder talks about how to fix the economy, where the next crisis will come from, and how scared investors should be. Source:  Fortune.com Date: Jan 25, 2013 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/01/25/alan-blinder-interest-rates/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: What are the major concerns and recommendations made by Alan Binder? Do you agree with his positions? What… Read more »

Are Investors Ready to Forgive and Forget?

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

Description:  Waiting for: Guffman … Godot … a girl like you. Such anticipations pale in comparison with waiting for the individual investor to return to a stock market that’s broken their heart one too many times over 13 years.But what’s this? There are tentative signs that the era of “equity abandonment,” as the Street quasi-clinically… Read more »

Second terms’ impact on stock market

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description:  Does the stock market perform any differently during second presidential terms? Source:  Marketwatch.com Date: Jan 11, 2013 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/second-terms-impact-on-stock-market-2013-01-11?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: How does the article answer the question posed? What is your opinion of the assessment? How should investors weigh the information in this report?  

Shutterfly makes 120% of profit in 20 days

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues, Market Analysis.

Description: Shutterfly CEO Jeffrey Housenbold says the holiday season accounts for all of the company’s profits and about 40% of its revenue. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Dec 05, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/12/05/t-shutterfly-holidays.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Describe the cash flow management issues for the firm. Is there a way to smooth the imbalance of cash… Read more »

Velshi: Are we in a recession?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Despite people feeling better about the economy, one prominent economist says we’ve already dipped into a recession. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 29, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/11/29/n-velshi-recession-your-money-daily.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the arguments for suggesting the US is already in recession? What does each of the four indicators presented represent? Do you believe… Read more »

What Awaits Mark Carney at the Bank of England

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues, Market Analysis.

Description: He has been touted as the best man for the job, but what exactly can Mark Carney expect when he takes on the role of governor at the Bank of England next year? DeAnne Julius, former MPC member, and Chris Giles, economics editor, lay out some of the challenges to the FT’s Seb Morton-Clark…. Read more »

Why Some M&A Deals Are Best Done In-House

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Market Analysis.

Description: When PPR, the French owner of Gucci, sold a stake in its African distributor CFAO in August, it didn’t use an investment bank to handle the transaction. Instead, the company turned to an in-house mergers-and-acquisitions team led by a former France Telecom (FTE) M&A executive. “When we can, we do it on our own,”… Read more »

Fed Looks to Send Clear Rate-Hike Signals

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: The Federal Reserve is inching closer to revamping its communications strategy by stating more explicitly than ever before what would get officials to raise short-terms interest rates. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Nov 13, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/QEUT6E Questions for Discussions: What are the implications for providing clearly defined triggers for interest rate changes?… Read more »

Stop calling it a ‘fiscal cliff’

Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Market Analysis.

Description: Commentary: Austerity would hurt but it wouldn’t be sudden Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 14, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stop-calling-it-a-fiscal-cliff-2012-11-14?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Summarize the key changes that will take place if no changes are made to current law. Do you agree with the assessment presented by the commentator in this report? How do you think markets… Read more »

Joy: There’s Not Much Value in Treasuries

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Market Analysis.

Description: Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) — David Joy, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, talks with Bloomberg’s Stephanie Ruhle about his strategy for investing in the bond market. They speak on Bloomberg Television’s “Lunch Money.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 02, 2012 Link: http://bloom.bg/YeXiFQ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the bond strategies made… Read more »