A Divide Over Valuing Greek Debt

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

Description: Dexia, BNP Paribas, and Société Générale are resisting pressure from regulators to accept more losses on their holdings of Greek government debt amid criticism they haven’t written down the bonds sufficiently.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: 10/06/2011

Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/europe/a-divide-over-valuing-greek-debt-10062011.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the accounting problems facing these banks.
  • What are the possible solutions?
  • How would default by Greece affect these banks financially?
  • What should investors do to mitigate their risk?

BullHorn: Battle of the tech heavyweights

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:   Apple or Amazon? IBM or HP? Three out of the four are knock-out stocks. Can you guess who has the glass chin?

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 09/27/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/09/27/mkts_bh_tech_heavyweights.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights reported for each firm.
  • Do you agree with the conclusions reported?
  • What advice would you suggest to management of any of the firms mentioned?
  • If you could buy shares in only one of the firms mentioned, which would it be?

Why Google has a venture capital fund

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

Description:     Bill Maris, managing partner of Google Ventures explains how the fund’s investments fit in with Google’s overall strategy.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 09/29/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/09/28/ts_google_ventures.fortune/

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the reasons presented for Google’s involvement in new ventures?
  • What are some other possible reasons that were not mentioned in the report?
  • Do you think this is a wise use of capital by management?
  • What other strategic alternatives are available to management for use of their capital and the development of new technologies?

Market undergoing huge change

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  Believe it or not, the stock and bond markets are behaving in a way that, with only one exception at the depths of the 2008-2009 credit crisis, they have not since 1958—53 years ago: The stock market’s dividend yield is now above the interest rate on the 10-year Treasury note

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 09/30/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/market-undergoing-huge-change-2011-09-30?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the key pointes presented in the report.
  • Do you agree with this analysis and projections?

Kodak Weighs Options to Clear Path for Sale

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis.

Description: Eastman Kodak Co. (EK), the unprofitable 131-year-old camera maker, is weighing options including a bankruptcy filing because of concerns raised by possible buyers of its patent portfolio, said three people with direct knowledge of the process.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/01/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-30/kodak-said-to-weigh-bankruptcy-filing.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights of this report.
  • What would you advise Kodak management and stockholders to do?

More Small Businesses Are Selling Receivables at a Loss

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: Owners who can’t get bank credit or aren’t selling much are tapping commercial financiers known as factors—despite their higher cost

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: 09/27/2011

Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/small-business/more-small-businesses-are-selling-receivables-at-a-loss-09272011.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the problems described in the article.
  • What are the possible solutions?
  • Is factoring a good choice, in your opinion?

Where bond traders hunt for yield

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

Description:     With low Treasury yields, the BlackRock CIO of Fixed Income says asset-backed securities are one place to look for higher yields

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 09/20/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/09/20/mkts_blackrock_bond_yield.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the forecasts presented in this report and how Blackrock bond traders are serving their clients.
  • Do you agree with the assessments and strategies?

Apple’s Stock Reaches Record High

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:   Apple shares finished Monday at 411.63, up 2.8%, despite a widespread selloff everywhere else, setting a new all-time closing high for Apple stock and just the third close above $400. Mark Gongloff joins Digits to discuss. Plus: a look at Netflix and ARM Holdings.

Source: Moneywatch.com – video report

Date: 09/20/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/apple-stock-reaches-record-high/68369C6B-BEC4-4B0C-9634-08F739A606E3

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with this assessment?
  • Do you think Apple is under-valued?
  • What would you advise investors and firms to do at this time?

Copper, coal: crystal balls for the global economy

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

Description:  Copper, coal and other industrial commodities can be great tools for predicting economic prospects and right now they’re offering a gloomy outlook, but a closer analysis shows a glimmer of hope as the world struggles to avoid recession.

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 09/23/2011

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/copper-coal-crystal-balls-for-the-global-economy-2011-09-23?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the predictive nature of commodities, as presented in this report?
  • What is your assessment of the relationship of current commodity prices?
  • How would you advise investors to react to the current situation?

Dow Falls Most Since October 2008

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

Description: U.S. stocks fell this week, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the biggest loss since 2008, as the Federal Reserve said risks to the economy have increased and concern grew that policy makers will fail to spur growth.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 09/24/2011

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-23/dow-average-declines-most-since-october-2008-on-economic-growth-concerns.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights of this report.
  • What is your assessment of the economic and investment environment today?
  • Where do you expect markets to move in the near future?
  • How can investors and businesses be expected to react in the next quarter?