Description: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair said using the Troubled Asset Relief Program to pump capital into banks was “not a good idea†and helped erode confidence in the regulatory system. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/14/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ajKGz8NRQipM Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the concerns expressed by Sheila Bair? What alternatives exist… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Uncategorized
Prechter`s Predictions
Description: A perspective on the markets, with Bob Prechter, Elliott Wave International Founder & CEO and CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo. Source: CNBC – video report  Date: 11/04/2009 Link: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1319011626&play=1 Questions for discussion:  How do you think a dramatic change in stock market value suggested by Prechter would affect future financial planning in businesses? Explain your… Read more »
Berkshire Hathaway for $68? Sweet!
Description: Stock splits don’t change the value of a company. But a lower share price for Warren Buffett’s firm (and other triple-digit stocks) could attract more investors. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 11/06/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/06/markets/thebuzz/index.htm?postversion=2009110616 Questions for discussion: What are the reasons offered for creating stock splits? What do you think motivated the decision to create a… Read more »
J&J to slash 7,000 to 8,000 jobs
Description: Johnson & Johnson plans to cut up to 7 percent of its workforce in order to generate cost savings needed to finance increasingly costly drug research and to weather future challenges, the diversified healthcare company said on Tuesday. Source: Reuters.com Date: 11/03/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5A229D20091103 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the cost cutting… Read more »
Stanley, Black & Decker to Combine on Fourth Try
Description: Stanley Works agreed to purchase Black & Decker Corp. yesterday for $3.5 billion in stock after on-and-off talks that spanned almost three decades. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/03/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ai7WJ.67rcVE Questions for discussion:Â Summarize the financial reasons that motivate this merger. Why do you think a merger was agreed to at this time, after so… Read more »
Stimulus money behind GDP growth
Description: Fortune’s Andy Serwer says that third-quarter economic growth was fueled mostly by government dollars. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 10/30/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/10/30/f_sl_recovery_illusion.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented for economic optimism as well as pessimism. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the current situation? How do you think financial managers view… Read more »
Microloans bring light to rural poor
Description: When night falls in remote parts of Africa and the Indian subcontinent, hundreds of millions of people without access to electricity turn to candles or flammable and polluting kerosene lamps for illumination. Slowly through small loans for solar powered devices, microfinance is bringing light to these rural regions where a lack of electricity has… Read more »
EU takes ING back to its banking roots
Description: Dutch bancassurer ING will split in two, transforming itself into a smaller European lender in the most striking example yet of the deep changes that EU policymakers want to force on banks that received state aid. Source: Reuters.com Date: 10/26/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSTRE59P0U020091026 Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial structural changes coming to ING. Do… Read more »
McDonald’s Closes in Iceland After Krona Collapse
Description: Iceland’s McDonald’s Corp. restaurants will be closed at the end of the month after the collapse of the krona eroded profits at the fast-food chain, McDonald’s franchise holder Lyst ehf said. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 10/26/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aNNKbYNHF_Og Questions for discussion: Explain why businesses that are dependent on imported materials are at greater financial risk… Read more »
Google execs top 40 under 40 list
Description: Sergei Brin and Larry Page share the No. 1 spot on Fortune’s list of top young businesspeople. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 10/21/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/10/21/f_40_under_40_overview.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Is there a common denominator that connects these business people? Do you think being young has contributed to their business insight and success? Explain… Read more »
