Description: The U.S. government is putting up millions of dollars for the construction of processing plants in North America, and Canadian companies are eligible to apply Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Jan 31, 2020 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/mining/canadian-rare-earths-metals-look-for-shot-in-the-arm-from-u-s-government-funds Questions for discussion: Why does this North American-wide economic policy make sense? How can the mining industry and investors be expected… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Personal Finance
Hemp Prices Plunge as CBD Demand Falls Short: Cannabis Weekly
Description: It may not be apparent when you’re spending $70 on CBD foot cream, but hemp prices are plunging amid a “grossly oversupplied” market, according to the head of the industry’s first price provider. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 26, 2020 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-26/hemp-prices-plunge-as-cbd-demand-falls-short-cannabis-weekly?srnd=premium-canada Questions for discussion: Explain price movements in this commodity. How can the industry deal with the… Read more »
Former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf barred from industry, to pay $17.5 million for sales scandal
Description: The U.S. government announced Thursday that former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf has been banned from ever working at a bank again and will pay $17.5 million for scandals in which millions of fake accounts were set up to meet sales quotas. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 23, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/23/former-wells-fargo-ceo-stumpf-barred-from-industry-to-pay-17point5-million-over-sales-scandal.html Questions for discussion: What are… Read more »
General Electric is the ‘ultimate show-me’ industrials stock, strategist warns
Description: A one-time beaten-down laggard of the industrials sector has renewed life. General Electric shares have raced nearly 30% higher during the past three months, topping the XLI industrials ETF over that stretch, as its turnaround efforts take root. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 23, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/24/ge-is-the-ultimate-show-me-industrials-stock-strategist-warns.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategy proposed in… Read more »
More Consumers Are Turning to Digital Payment Plans, Even for Low-Cost Items
Description: And many retailers are going after this budget-conscious group Source: eMarketer.com Date: Jan 23, 2020 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/more-consumers-are-turning-to-digital-payment-plans-even-for-low-cost-items?ecid=NL1001 Questions for discussion: What does the report say about how payments are being made and planned? What does this mean for traditional credit systems such as credit cards and bank lending?
Scotiabank sees more room to grow within the domestic banking sector as it works to protect its home base
Description: Bank looking to deepen ties with Canadian households, eyeing further growth in capital markets and investment banking business Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Jan 24, 2020 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/protect-our-home-base-scotiabank-sees-more-room-to-grow-within-domestic-banking-sector Questions for discussion: Summarize the positive and negative aspects of the bank’s current operations. Would you be a new investor at this time? Explain your decision.
How companies like Google and IBM plan to profit from quantum computing
Description: How companies like Google and IBM plan to profit from quantum computing Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 23, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/01/17/how-quantum-computing-works-google-ibm-dwave-amazon.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key ideas and issues facing the firms involved in the quantum computing environment. What are some of the applications and opportunities, according to the report?
Tesla shares jump after Oppenheimer raises price target to $612, highest on Wall Street
Description: Oppenheimer just became Wall Street’s biggest bull on Tesla. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 13, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/tesla-shares-jump-after-oppenheimer-raises-price-target-to-612-highest-on-wall-street.html Questions for discussion: What is the basis for the bullishness? Do you agree with this assessment?
Apple and Tesla may be market darlings, but hedge funds are betting big they’ll collapse
Description: Elon Musk’s electric automaker Tesla on Wednesday once again reclaimed its title as Wall Street’s most-shorted stock. That was, at least, until Apple stole it back. Source: CNBC.com Date: Jan 13, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/16/apple-tesla-in-flux-as-most-shorted-stock-in-us-stock-market.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: How do hedge funds strategize investments? What are they doing now? How should investors interpret this information?
Nobody Makes Money Like Apollo’s Ruthless Founder Leon Black
Description: The private equity CEO with a fearsome reputation skates on the edges of other people’s catastrophes and manages to walk away richer. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 16, 2020 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-01-16/nobody-makes-money-like-apollo-s-ruthless-founder-leon-black?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. What should financial managers take away form this report?
