Steven Cohen’s Long Fall From Grace

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Management Issues, Personal Finance.

Description: And his long climb back to Wall Street

Source: Fortune.com – video report

Date: Oct 20, 2016

Link: http://for.tn/2etMX5o

Questions for Discussions:

  • Who is Steven Cohen?
  • Do you think he will be able to attract outside investment dollars?
  • What does the report have to say about financial regulatory controls?

AT&T Mulls Reinvention for Web With $86 Billion Time Warner Deal

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

Description: Time Warner Inc. and AT&T Inc. have survived the evolution of color TV and cable over the decades. Now, they’re contemplating a merger to adapt to the latest technological shifts: smartphones and streaming.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Oct 22, 2016

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-22/at-t-mulls-reinvention-for-web-with-86-billion-time-warner-deal

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the rational behind the merger?
  • Do you think it makes sense for both firms?

The Tech Bubble Didn’t Burst This Year. Just Wait

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: The industry has splintered into a few sure bets and everything else. That isn’t helping guide us out of the iPhone era into whatever’s next.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Oct 20, 2016

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-20/the-tech-bubble-didn-t-burst-this-year-just-wait

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the concerns raised in this article?
  • Do you agree with the analysis?
  • What would you advise investors do at time?

Think Your Retirement Plan?Is Bad? Talk to a Teacher

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: Schoolteachers and others who pursue careers of service in exchange for modest?paychecks get lightly regulated retirement plans that often charge excessive fees.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Oct 21, 2016

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/23/your-money/403-b-retirement-plans-fees-teachers.html?ref=business

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does the article say about the administration of these plans?
  • Are there legitimate reasons for concern?
  • What would you advise regulators and investors do at this time?

The stock market is turning into a sloppy, ugly mess—and it could get worse

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: Dow industrials on pace for longest streak of monthly losses in 5 years. Here are some of the reasons behind the slide

Source: MarketWatch.com

Date: Oct 14, 2016

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-stock-market-is-turning-into-a-sloppy-ugly-mess-and-it-could-get-worse-2016-10-13

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does the article say about trends and reasons for concern?
  • What would you advise investors do at this time?

Amazon short interest hits historical high of $5.3 billion after its recent record rally

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

Description: Amazon.com shares have been on an unstoppable run since the beginning of 2015, surging by 170 percent and adding almost $250 billion to the company’s stock market value.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Oct 14, 2016

Link: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/14/amazon-short-interest-hits-historical-high-of-5-billion-after-its-recent-record-rally.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the history of short selling interest in Amazon.
  • Why is there such high expectation for a pull-back in the stock?
  • What would you advise investors?

Opinion: Wall Street rediscovers shame as Wells Fargo CEO Stumpf resigns

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

Description: Other people in jobs like his should think twice about cheating

Source: MarketWatch.com

Date: Oct 14, 2016

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wall-street-rediscovers-shame-as-wells-fargo-ceo-stumpf-resigns-2016-10-14

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think Wall Street has learned anything by this event and the retirement of CEO Stumpf?
  • If so, what has been learned?

Analyst Dick Bove: Tim Sloan isn’t ‘the right guy’ to lead Wells Fargo

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

Description: Tim Sloan is the wrong man to fix the broken corporate culture at Wells Fargo, according to banking analyst Dick Bove.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Oct 14, 2016

Link: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/14/analyst-dick-bove-tim-sloan-is-not-the-right-guy-to-lead-wells-fargo.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why has Dick Sloan called for a different CEO of the bank?
  • Do you think the culture at the bank has changed, regardless of any changes at the top?