Description: Speculative-grade debt has topped stocks over the past four years Source: Businessweek.com Date: 12/01/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/junk-bonds-are-on-a-roll-12012011.html Questions for discussion: Why have “junk-bonds†performed so well? What does this suggest about the stock and bond markets?
Posts Tagged: Bonds
Options Dwindle for Euro Zone
Description: European Central Bank is considering a dramatic extension of its longest loans to commercial banks, to stave off a potential collapse of the bloc’s banking system, Steven Fidler reports on Markets Hub. Photo: AFP /Getty Images. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented in this report. Do you agree… Read more »
Will There Be A Santa Claus Rally?
Description: LPL Financial’s chief market strategist, Jeffrey Kleintop gives an outlook and an investing strategy for the end of the year, including whether he expects a Santa Claus rally. Photo: Reuters. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 11/18/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/will-there-be-a-santa-claus-rally/9119F9FC-8085-499B-9754-DC0AEFD95162 Questions for discussion: Do you think there will be a Santa Claus rally? Summarize the… Read more »
Why Google has a venture capital fund
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?… Read more »
Market undergoing huge change
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… Read more »
Where bond traders hunt for yield
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… Read more »
Dow Falls Most Since October 2008
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…. Read more »
Treasury 10-Year Yields Rise Most Since July on European Outlook
Description: Treasuries dropped, pushing 10-year note yields up the most in more than two months, after the European Central Bank coordinated with the Federal Reserve and other central banks to maintain liquidity for the euro area’s financial institutions. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/17/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-17/treasury-10-year-yields-rise-most-since-july-on-european-outlook.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial news reported. What is the… Read more »
Why the Debt Crisis Is Even Worse Than You Think
Description: If Washington is deadlocked now, how will it deal with the much bigger debt problems that lurk in the decades to come? Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/27/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/why-the-debt-crisis-is-even-worse-than-you-think-07272011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. What are the implications for the economy? How should government manage the current situation?… Read more »
Bonds: How to Play Interest Rate Peril
Description:Â With uncertainty high, some bond investors are looking to “unconstrained” managers who take a more active approach to selecting fixed-income securities Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/23/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jun2011/pi20110623_808293.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the various strategies employed to manage bond funds? As an investor, which strategy looks best to you today looking forward?
