Posted by & filed under Financial Planning, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: 1. We have no idea what we’re doing…

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: Jan 17, 2015

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-investors-wont-tell-you-2015-01-16

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the research presented in this report.
  • What should the industry of professional money managers do with this information?

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

Description: In an interview at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, CEO Dave Goldberg tells Fortune’s Alan Murray about SurveyMonkey’s strategy to avoid going public.

Source: Fortune.com – video report

Date: Jan 08, 2015

Link: http://for.tn/1s6zdDg

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why is the company uninterested in going public at this time?
  • What would motivate an IPO?

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

Description: Gold is glittering in 2015. But it may be a temporary spike due to Greece and Europe fears and not a sign of another bull run for the yellow metal.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Jan 07, 2015

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/01/07/gold-prices-rise-as-stocks-and-oil-prices-fall.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the reasons for gold’s rise as presented in this report?
  • Do you agree with this assessment?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Oil is hitting fresh lows again, dropping to under $55 a barrel today on worries about a global supply glut and lacklustre demand. David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Gluskin Sheff and Associates tells BNN why he sees the ongoing plunge as a ‘Black swan event.’

Source: BNN.ca

Date: Jan 05, 2015

Link: http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=524212

Questions for discussion:

  • What is a ‘Black swan event’?
  • Do you agree with the assessment presented by David Rosenberg?
  • What do you think will happen to the price of oil over the next 12 months?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation.

Description: The historic downtown commercial district of Montclair, N.J., is known for its restaurants, antique shops, and art-house movie theater.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Jan 07, 2015

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2015-01-07/amazon-vs-dot-jet-dot-com-marc-lore-aims-to-beat-bezos#r=hp-ls

Questions for discussion:

  • Using Amazon as a guide, assess the financial requirements needed to set up this sort of business.
  • What is the risk level for investors?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Your patience will be rewarded if you can wait as long as a year

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: Jan 08, 2015

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/investing-in-oil-can-cause-pain-now-but-produce-profits-later-2015-01-08

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the investment play suggested to investors.
  • Do you agree with this line of thinking?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Sony spent about $80 million to make and market the movie but will likely only make a portion of that in sales.

Source: Fortune.com – video report

Date: Dec 30, 2014

Link: http://for.tn/1wx6N0z

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the budgeting and cash flow for this film.
  • Do you think there is a “long-term” trail of revenues that the company truly expects from a film like this?
  • Would you buy Sony stock today?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: The US economy grew an incredible 5% annual rate in the third quarter. Investors cheer, sending the Dow above 18,000 barrier for first time ever. The market shot up 1,000 points in the past week.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 23, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/12/23/dow-breaks-18000-mark-puts-on-1000-points-in-1-week.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the significance of this milestone?
  • How might investors react in the near term?

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Enough with the debate over whether 2014 was a bad year (Islamic State, Ebola, Crimea) or a good year (homicide rates are falling). Time to take a look at the shiny new coin in the palms of our hands: 2015. How will it measure up? Here are 10 numbers to watch:

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Dec 30, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-30/ten-numbers-that-matter-for-the-economy-in-2015#r=nav-fst

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you agree with this list?
  • What do you think is the most significant item to watch?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description: When I was a kid, we greeted the New Year by banging pots and pans in the doorway — about as exciting as it got for a small Kansas town. It was all about the thrill of the unknown and a year of possibilities. And those are exactly the same reasons I woke up this morning with a slight sense of apprehension: not knowing what’s coming next.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: Jan 02, 2015

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-2015-check-your-greed-at-the-door-plus-apples-iwatch-is-going-to-flop-2015-01-02

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this reporter have to say about predictions and indicators?
  • Do you agree with her assessments?