Barnes & Noble may put itself up for sale; stock jumps

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis.

Description:  Barnes & Noble said late Tuesday that it will consider selling itself, pushing shares of the world’s largest bookseller up more than 25% in after-hours action

Source:  Marketwatch.com
 
Date: 08/03/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/barnes-noble-may-put-itself-up-for-sale-2010-08-03?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion: 

  • Do you think B&N is a good investment today?
  • Would you short the stock?
  • As an acquisition, how would value the assets of the firm?
  • What value would place on total acquisition of all shares?
  • Why did the stock price jump?

Stock Picks: Dow Chemical, Priceline.com, Research In Motion

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis.

Description: Wall Street analysts offer buy, sell, or hold opinions on stocks in the news on Aug. 4.

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: 08/04/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/aug2010/pi2010084_006866.htm
 
Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the reasons given for special interest in these stocks?
  • Do you agree with the assessments and recommendations made?

Afraid of Deflation? Try Some Medicine

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

Description:  AS chatter has grown about the possibility of a double-dip recession, so, too, have fears about another “D” word: deflation.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 08/07/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/economy/08fund.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments presented in this article?
  • Do you believe we are going to experience unusual levels of inflation or deflation?
  • Which investing strategies would you recommend to investors?
  • What would you recommend to financial managers?

Investor Be Nimble

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  The market’s got a lot of investors scared, but the fundamentals are good, says Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. The environment has been volatile, but smart, long-term investors can take advantage of that.

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 07/27/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/investor-be-nimble/C3D27E09-4DFB-4B6C-849D-B10BDA98B94F

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments made by Liz Ann Sonders?
  • Do you agree with her assessment?
  • Which economic indicators do you think are more significant influences on business decision makers, before choosing to increase their activity?
  • What is your advice to financial managers in this environment?
  • What is your advice to investors?

Don’t Buy Gold

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  Forget gold, says Wealth Adviser columnist James Altucher. He tells Dow Jones Newswires’ Veronica Dagher why and where investors should put their money instead.

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 07/30/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/dont-buy-gold/2034712A-1FB7-4924-96F7-80751D9346F1

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the advice presented?
  • Why do you think gold remains a popular investment today?

FedEx raises its profit view as global economy strengthens

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis.

Description:  There was more evidence of an improving economic environment Monday when bellwether FedEx Corp. raised its profit outlook and said it would again match employee payments into retirement funds.

Source:  Marketwatch.com
 
Date: 07/26/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fedex-ups-profit-view-restores-401k-payments-2010-07-26?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why is FedEx considered a leading economic indicator?
  • How would you expect investors to react to the improved financial conditions at the firm?
  • How would you expect other business decision-makers to react?
  • Do you think this news is sufficient to boost equities over the next quarter?

Takeover Spree May Point to Second-Half Pickup in M&A

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis.

Description: spate of mergers and acquisitions during the past two weeks may signal the start of a comeback for global deal making in the second half of 2010.

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: 07/30/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-30/takeover-spree-may-point-to-second-half-pickup-in-m-a.html
 
Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think economic conditions favor further M&A activity for the rest of the year?
  • What do you think is the most important influence now?

Economic Indicator: Even Cheaper Knockoffs

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators.

Description:  In this economy, even counterfeiters are trading down.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 07/31/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/business/economy/01knockoff.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the reasons presented for the move towards cheaper knockoffs?
  • What can firms do about this problem? 
  • How does this problem affect cash flow?
  • Explain how this activity can be an economic indicator?

News Hub: Stocks End Week in Rally Mode

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  Paul Vigna wraps the day in the financial markets, including why the Dow posted a triple-digit gain.

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 07/23/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/news-hub-stocks-end-week-in-rally-mode/51163F51-36EF-4B93-98C1-7E14C782FCEB

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why are the bank stress-test results considered so important at this time in the business cycle?
  • How should the results be interpreted by investors and financial managers of firms looking to finance future operations?
  • Why did stocks react favourably to the news?

News Hub: Looking to Boost Yield? Think Ketchup

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description:  Brett Arends says a surprising number of blue-chip stocks now offer better yields than Treasurys.

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 07/23/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/news-hub-looking-to-boost-yield-think-ketchup/6BD3FDE8-FF13-4C72-8025-822B9BEFD4F4

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments for and against the purchase of blue-chip dividend paying stocks over bonds, and treasury bonds in particular.
  • What is your view of this strategy?