Occupy Wall Street Loves Capitalism’s Pearls: William D. Cohan

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description: It was probably inevitable that the Occupy Wall Street movement would be rife with contradictions. Back on Sept. 15, two days before the first protest began in lower Manhattan, an organizing principle of sorts appeared on the Adbusters website. “Hey President Obama, get ready for our one demand!” the post announced.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/16/2011

Link:   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-17/occupy-wall-street-loves-capitalism-s-pearls-commentary-by-william-cohan.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the analysis and conclusions?

Wedding bands from aerospace metal

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis.

Description:   The recession led jewelry designer Scott Kay to use cobalt, an affordable metal popular with the space industry.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/10/12/smb_sbt_scott_kay.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report suggest about consumer perceptions of traditional metals used for jewelry such as gold, silver, and platinum?
  • How might this change be reflected in these commodity prices?

Google’s domination paying off

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

Description:  Shares of the search giant are soaring after Google reports a big jump in earnings, ad revenue and number of users.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/10/14/mkts_am_goog_earnings.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the financial highlights presented in the report.
  • Do you believe that Google’s revenues will continue to grow at this rate?
  • Would you advise investors to buy Google today?

Army of unemployed is now entrenched in U.S.

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  Commentary: Structural woes in economy creating ‘permanent underclass’

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/army-of-unemployed-is-now-entrenched-in-us-2011-10-14

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the analysis and conclusions?
  •  If correct, how will the economy be affected?
  • How should financial managers and investors be expected to react?

U.S. Stocks Slump as Germany Damps Optimism on Crisis Solution

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description:  U.S. stocks advanced, giving the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index its biggest weekly gain since July 2009, as retail sales beat economists’ estimates and the Group of 20 nations began discussions on Europe’s debt crisis.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-14/u-s-stock-futures-gain-before-economic-data-google-climbs.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the key points in this report?
  • What do you expect to happen over the next three months?

Hope for American Manufacturing—and Maybe Jobs

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Some factory work is returning to the U.S., thanks to a narrowing wage gap with low-cost countries and to the rising risks posed by long supply lines

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/finance/hope-for-american-manufacturingmdashand-maybe-jobs-10142011.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the analysis and conclusions?
  • How should financial managers and investors be expected to react?

Firing Steve Jobs was “a terrible mistake”

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Management Issues.

Description:   Former Apple CEO John Sculley reflects on how Steve Jobs recruited him to run the tech company and why its board ultimately fired Jobs in 1985.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/06/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/06/t_gc_sculley_jobs.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • According to John Sculley, what sort of businessman and entrepreneur was Steve Jobs?
  • Do you think Steve Jobs was unfairly treated by the board of directors?
  • What does this report tell you about the influences of financial considerations in the running of a company?

Apple stock under the Jobs’ reign

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Management Issues.

Description:  You’d be rich if you bought 100 shares of Apple back in 1997, when they were going for $4 apiece.  CNN’s Carter Evans discusses how Steve Jobs transformed Apple.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/06/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/10/06/mkts_am_apple_jobs.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the financial highlights presented in the report.
  • Do you believe that Apple can sustain the current financial situation in the future?
  • Would you advise investors to buy Apple today?

Canadian dollar’s drop may outpace Aussie, krone

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  Commodity currencies under pressure along with global growth

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 10/07/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/canadian-dollars-drop-may-outpace-aussie-krone-2011-10-05?link=mw_home_kiosk

Questions for discussion:

  • Why have so-called commodity currencies fallen?
  • Do you agree with the forecasts presented in this report?
  • How can company financial managers and investors mitigate their risk in these times?

Toyota Said to Tell Partsmakers to Cut Prices

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description:  Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), Asia’s biggest carmaker, is telling parts suppliers in Japan to slash prices or face being replaced by overseas rivals as the yen’s value appreciates, four people involved with the discussions said..

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/07/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-07/toyota-said-to-tell-partsmakers-in-japan-to-slash-prices-as-yen-advances.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain the connection between the value of the Japanese currency and the business decisions made by Toyota?
  • How does this article illustrate the global nature of business?
  • How else could Toyota and Japanese suppliers deal with this problem?