Description:Â Congress returns next week to a flaring brawl over oil industry profits and tax breaks, with both parties hoping to capitalize on growing public ire at high gasoline prices. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/29/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/business/30gas.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for concern over rising gasoline prices? How do rising fuel costs affect businesses… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Budgets
BBC, Under Criticism, Struggles to Tighten Its Belt
Description: DAVID CAMERON, the British prime minister, was in Brussels meeting the press last October when he took a few moments to make fun of the British Broadcasting Corporation. “Good to see that costs are being controlled everywhere,†Mr. Cameron said as he directed a mocking glance at three BBC correspondents, each from a different… Read more »
Postal Service: 7,500 workers, $20,000 buyouts
Description: The Postal Service is offering a $20,000 buyout to thousands of veteran workers as part of its bid to eliminate 7,500 administrative jobs, the agency announced Thursday. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 03/25/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/24/news/economy/postal_service/index.htm Questions for discussion:Â Â Summarize the financial situation at the Postal Service. How differently might a private enterprise respond in this situation?… Read more »
JPMorgan Leads $22 Billion Increase in Payouts, Buybacks After Fed Review
Description: U.S. bank investors may be rewarded with an extra $22 billion annually after government tests showed the industry has regained enough strength to boost dividends and share buybacks. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 03/19/2011 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-18/jpmorgan-leads-22-billion-increase-in-payouts-buybacks-after-fed-review.html Questions for discussion:Â What does this report suggest about the state of affairs at JPMorgan and possibly other institutions? Does… Read more »
Bernanke Recovery Flawed as Companies Get Credit Denied to U.S. Consumers
Description: Thirteen hundred miles from Wall Street, Alex Fairchild is still waiting for a little of the U.S. government’s multitrillion-dollar bailouts and Federal Reserve largesse to trickle his way. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/11/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-11/bernanke-recovery-flawed-as-companies-get-credit-denied-to-u-s-consumers.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about the credit crunch and recovery process? How should investors and businesses… Read more »
Cheap, Ultrafast Broadband? At Least Hong Kong Has It
Description: HONG KONG residents can enjoy astoundingly fast broadband at an astoundingly low price. It became available last year, when a scrappy company called Hong Kong Broadband Network introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home service: a speed of 1,000 megabits a second — known as a “gig†— for less than $26 a month…. Read more »
Nokia and Microsoft hook up
Description: The software and phone giants have teamed together to compete in the Smartphone market against Apple and other rivals. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/11/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/02/11/n_nokia_ms_quest.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you believe this collaborative effort will prove to be successful? How can this arrangement help cash flow and budgeting concerns for Nokia?… Read more »
Why the Private Sector Still Isn’t Hiring
Description: CEOs don’t want to increase employment until they know the recovery is real—and it won’t be until they hire. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 01/13/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_04/b4212022530815.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the reluctance of businesses to hire more employees? How does this decision affect cash flow and budgets? How does this decision affect… Read more »
Blowing up the tax code
Description: So much to love. So much to hate. That’s what everyone will find in the tax reform proposals laid out this week by the co-chairmen of President Obama’s fiscal commission. Source: CNNMoney.com  Date: 11/12/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/11/news/economy/simpson_bowles_tax_reform/index.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the discussions going on about tax reform. What do you think is the… Read more »
Why a $14/hour employee costs $20
Description: You probably cost your boss a lot more than you think you do. Source:Â CNNMoney.com Date: 03/26/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/26/smallbusiness/employee_costs/index.htm Questions for discussion: In general, do you think these taxes (costs) are fair to employers and employees? Why would any exemptions for employment taxes be considered an unfair competitive subsidy by other businesses who must… Read more »
