Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: NEW YORK — Ever wondered when the next financial crisis will be? Possibly in just a couple of years with the “coming collapse of the international monetary system.”

Source: FinancialPost.com/Reuters

Date: Oct 06, 2014

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/10/06/the-next-big-crisis-think-2008-only-worse/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is your opinion of this prediction?
  • How should investors respond if they disagree with the prediction?

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

Description: You can’t just look at stock prices to judge how investors feel. CNNMoney’s Fear & Greed Index measures seven different gauges to determine if investors are fearful or greedy.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 02, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/10/02/fear-and-greed-explainer.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the composition of the index?
  • How should it be interpreted and used by investors?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Ebay is finally following the advice off Carl Icahn and spinning of PayPal in 2015. Will the companies benefit from the breakup?

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 02, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/09/30/ebay-splits-with-paypal.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why was PayPal spun off from EBay?
  • Do you think it will be good for investors buying either firm today?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway is buying U.S. auto dealer Van Tuyl Group to pursue medium and long term growth opportunities in the sector. Chitra Nawbatt reports.

Source: BNN.ca – video report

Date: Oct 02, 2014

Link: http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=457908

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why is there consolidation taking place in the industry?
  • What makes this industry an attractive investment?

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

Description: Human traders are increasingly losing out to machines in the world’s biggest bond market.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Oct 02, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-02/humans-lose-to-machines-in-500-billion-a-day-bond-market.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How has technology affected bond trading, according to the article?
  • Is this trend a problem for the markets, in your opinion?

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: PayPal’s break from EBay (EBAY) is all about buzzwords: eliminating dis-synergies, applying strategic focus, and seizing the moment. But what does that even mean?

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct 02, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-02/ex-paypal-execs-ideas-for-its-future-war-with-apple-become-bank#r=hp-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • What strategic direction is PayPal considering, according to the article?
  • Do you agree with this line of thinking?
  • Should PayPal develop itself so that it would appear attractive as a merger or acquisition candidate for a bank?

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

Description: Bill Gross, co-founder and chief investment officer of Pimco, will join Janus Capital Group. Gross, who has presided over the world’s biggest bond fund for almost three decades, will start Sept. 29 at a new Janus office in Newport Beach, CA, and will begin managing the Janus Global Unconstrained Bond Fund on Oct. 6, according to a statement from Janus. (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Sep 26, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/bill-gross-quits-pimco-why-did-he-leave-BvekUyy6SsembE3SamoBNQ.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does the report say about Bill Gross, his management style, and why he left Pimco?
  • How have investors responded to his decision to leave Pimco?

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

Description: In today’s “Global Outlook,” Bloomberg’s David Ingles takes a look at the prospects for European markets on “On The Move Asia.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Sep 26, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/draghi-put-stocks-break-away-from-euro-lN~c7DAvSPSTRmeEEnTPZg.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why do you think there has been a divergence between stocks and the Euro recently?
  • Summarize the strategy presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with this thinking?

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

Description: The service creates an instant audience for new mobile marketing and customer loyalty apps, like those used by automotive retailer Pep Boys to steer campaigns.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Sep 26, 2014

Link: http://fortune.com/2014/09/26/digital-marketing-apple-pay/

Questions for Discussions:

  • How might Apply Pay affect cash flow at Apple?
  • Do you think it represents a significant growth opportunity for investors?

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

Description: Pacific Investment Management Co.’s main exchange-traded fund saw outflows of $10.9 million the day before the surprise departure of Bill Gross, who co-founded and served as chief investment officer of the world’s biggest manager of bond mutual funds.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Sep 27, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-27/pimco-etf-suffers-10-9-million-of-outflow-on-gross-exit.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How have investors reacted to the change in top management?
  • What changes do you think have influenced perceived risk?