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

Description: In a miraculous turnaround from 13 years ago, Priceline continues to impress investors with solid profits and growth.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: August 09, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/08/09/investing-buzz-priceline-stock-nears-1000-turnaround.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the basis for the current price of the stock?
  • What are the limitations of growth for this sort of firm?
  • Would you be a buyer at this time?

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

Description: Shares of Apple are up almost 20% since the tech giant hit a 52-week low in April and the company reported healthy earnings last quarter.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: August 09, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2013/08/05/investing-the-buzz-apple-earnings-innovation.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What explanations are there for Apple stock price trending upwards?
  • What event might cause the stock to dive again?
  • Would you be a buyer today?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description: The U.S. stock market is killing it. In the two-and-a-half year period from Jan. 1, 2011, to June 28, 2013, U.S. shares returned a cumulative 35 percent—26 percentage points ahead of international developed markets and 47 points better than emerging markets.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: August 09, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-09/investors-worst-instincts-revealed-again#r=nav-fst

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why do retail investors behave the way they do?
  • From a technical analysis point of view, what might explain the reason for global investing superior performance?

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

Description: Smartphone maker BlackBerry Inc. (BBRY) is “open” to going private, according to Reuters. How delightful. In related news, my toddler is “open” to getting a pony for her next birthday.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: August 09, 2013

Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/08/09/blackberry-buyout-unlikely/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the financial conditions at the firm.
  • Why is a buyout unlikely, according to the report? Do you agree?
  • How would you go about evaluating the price of the firm for an interested buyer?

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

Description: Commentary: Kraft exec won’t make zombie story any less cheesy

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: August 07, 2013

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-dawn-of-the-dead-for-jc-penney-2013-08-07?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the financial state of the firm and the reasons given for its condition?
  • How critical is “management” of the firm to any chance of recovery?
  • Would you be an investor today?

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

Description: On today’s “Insight & Action,” Adam Johnson looks at the performance of the stock market on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: June 06, 2013

Link: http://bloom.bg/15EKR8J

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the charts suggesting about price movements?
  • Do you agree with this analysis?
  • Are these companies good buys today?

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

Description: After shooting into the stratosphere, Japanese stocks have tumbled back to Earth.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: June 07, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/06/investing/japan-stocks/index.html?iid=HP_River

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the investment climate in Japan and why markets soared.
  • Why has the Nikkei dropped so suddenly?
  • Would you be a buyer of Japanese stocks or the Yen?

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

Description: Shinzo Abe and Haruhiko Kuroda had a good thing going. Shame Ben Bernanke had to go and ruin it.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: June 06, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-06/japans-stocks-tank-threatening-abenomics#r=nav-f-story

Questions for Discussions:

  • How have Japanese stocks performed over the past five years?
  • Why have investors done well in just the last year?
  • Where do you see markets heading next?

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

Description: Commentary: The best defense is a good stock-driven offense. Bond yields have been rising as the U.S. economy improves, and so has market volatility. The defensive, income-rich stock and bond strategies that have rewarded investors for years won’t lead the markets when the economy is less distressed.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: June 08, 2013

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/where-to-put-your-money-when-bond-yields-rise-2013-06-07?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does the report suggest is the strategy investors should follow in the coming months?
  • What is the basis for this advice?
  • Do you agree?

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

Description: Corporate audits don’t work, give investors false sense of security

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: June 07, 2013

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/crazy-eddie-fraudster-says-sec-cant-keep-up-2013-06-07?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does the report say about fraud and the ability of authorities to control it?
  • Are there solutions?
  • How should investors deal with the information in this report?