Allergan’s attempts to elude Ackman’s bid fuel bearish bets

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

Description: Should Bill Ackman and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. fail in their bid to take over Allergan Inc., options traders will be hedged.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Aug 28, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-28/allergan-attempts-to-elude-ackman-bid-fuel-bearish-bets.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about the various strategies in play?
  • What would you advise investors to do at this time?

Bank of America in record payout

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

Description: Bank of America to pay a $16.65 billion settlement to the federal government and six states for mortgage securities fraud that lead to the financial crisis.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Aug 21, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/08/21/bank-of-america-settlement-17-billion-mortgage-securities-fraud-doj-holder.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Evaluate the settlement agreed to in this case.
  • Do you think jail time for individuals should be pursued?
  • How might that effort affect future management behavior?

Is it smooth sailing for Wall Street’s bulls?

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

Description: Stifel Nicolaus Portfolio Manger Chad Morganlander and JPMorgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli discuss markets, the economy and Fed rate policy. They speak on “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg .com – video report

Date: August 21, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/is-it-smooth-sailing-for-wall-street-s-bulls-KQPMTzQeQLCO7VQfYY0VHw.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What do the people interviewed in this report say that favors continued bull market activity?
  • Do you agree with the analysis and predictions?

Why Samsung Is Hoarding Its Cash

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

Description: Now that it’s selling Nooks to consumers, Samsung Electronics has a new way to compete with Apple and Amazon.com. The Korean company on Wednesday unveiled its new Samsung Galaxy Tab Nook, a 7-inch tablet that uses software for the Barnes & Noble electronic reader.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: August 22, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-22/why-samsung-is-hoarding-its-cash#r=hp-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this article say about financial planning needs at Samsung?
  • How should management approach the challenges facing the firm?

Too Much Corn With Nowhere to Go as U.S. Sees Record Crop

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: The ripening corn and soybean fields stretch for miles in every direction from Dennis Wentworth’s farm in Downs, Illinois. As he marveled at his best-yielding crops ever, he wondered aloud where the heck he’ll put it all.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Aug 22, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-22/too-much-corn-with-nowhere-to-go-as-u-s-sees-record-crop.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How does this article illustrate the forces of supply and demand in the marketplace?
  • How would you expect the marketplace to deal with the excess supply “problem”?
  • How should investors deal with the opportunities here?

Why Target will pull out all the stops to save face in Canada

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: It only took 15 months after Target Corp. made a wildly hyped venture into Canada before someone sounded a death knell for the mass merchant.

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Aug 22, 2014

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/08/22/why-target-will-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-save-face-in-canada/

Questions for discussion:

  • What is the financial damage to Target due to its poor performance?
  • How would you deal with the current financial problems?

Blackstone CEO: Regulation making markets safer

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

Description: Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman says regulations have eliminated risk: ‘We probably have a safer world, but a world that will grow slower.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: August 06, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/08/06/stephen-schwarzman-blackstone-financial-regulations-safer-markets.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • What does Stephen Schwarzman have to say about the current environment with respect to risk and growth?
  • Do you agree with his assessment?

Zillow CEO: Why Trulia is worth it

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

Description: Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff explains why he wants to buy Trulia and talks about future growth for the combined company.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: July 28, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/07/28/zillow-ceo-trulia-deal.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the reasons given for the deal.
  • Do you think they deal is a good one?
  • How will this deal affect the level of competition?

Arrogance Is Good: In Defense of Silicon Valley

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

Description: Sam Altman sits behind his desk with his knees pulled up to his chest, eating dried apricots. He’s 29, but even the most laissez-faire bartender would card him. His hand is forever grabbing his hair while he thinks, making it stick up in Einsteinian tufts.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: August 07, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-07/silicon-valley-tech-entrepreneurs-behind-the-stereotype#p1

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this article say about management styles and success?
  • Do you agree with the arguments presented?

Two cheers for ‘too big to fail’

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

Description: Had the government not rescued the big banks during the 2008 financial crisis, the public’s expense would surely have been far greater.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: August 07, 2014

Link: http://fortune.com/2014/08/07/two-cheers-for-too-big-to-fail/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the arguments put forward in this article.
  • Do you agree?