Description: Puerto Rico is expected to sell roughly $3 billion in bonds on Tuesday at interest rates that are considerably lower than many investors in the municipal market had expected, providing a rare bright spot for the cash-squeezed island. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 10, 2014 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/puerto-rico-gets-a-break-with-rates-on-its-bonds/?ref=economy Questions for discussion: What are the concerns to… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Budgets
Can’t Get a Bank Loan? The Alternatives Are Expanding
Description: Ivan Rincon’s products may have been skimpy, but he was convinced his growth prospects were not. Orchid Boutique, the online swimwear shop he founded six years ago in Miami with his wife, Mayra, was approaching $3 million in annual sales. It had been profitable since 2010, he said, with margins that ran between 10… Read more »
The European Debt Crisis Visualized
Description: At the heart of the European debt crisis is the euro, the currency that ties together 17 countries in an intimate manner. So when one country teeters on the brink of financial collapse, the entire continent is at risk. How did such a flawed system come to be? Bloomberg Television and Jonathan Jarvis present… Read more »
Why Did Apple Buy Back $14B of Stock?
Description: Bloomberg’s Paul Sweeney reports on Apple’s stock buyback on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg Surveillance.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Feb 07, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2014-02-07/why-did-apple-buy-14b-of-its-own-stock#r=nav-f-video Questions for Discussions: Summarize the interpretations of Apple’s decisions to buy back shares. What do growth investors prefer to see at tech companies? Why do you think Apple… Read more »
Debt ceiling circus is back in town
Description: Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has given Congress until the end of February to raise the debt ceiling. He’s juggling the nation’s finances using ‘extraordinary measures’ but those will only last so long. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 07, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/02/07/n-debt-ceiling-jack-lew-treasury-end-of-february-deadline.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the debt ceiling issue? Why is it… Read more »
Boeing stock gets grounded
Description: The airplane maker’s guidance spooked investors. But the turbulence could be brief. Boeing should cool off after soaring in 2013. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 29, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/01/29/i-b-boeing-stock-grounded.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the possible reasons for Boeing stock spooking investors? What do you think is the reason? What do you think… Read more »
Obama’s Keystone Options Shrink as State Downplays Impact
Description: President Barack Obama is in no hurry to decide whether construction of TransCanada Corp.’s $5.4 billion Keystone XL pipeline serves U.S. national interests, the next step in measuring its worthiness. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 31, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-31/obama-s-keystone-options-shrink-as-state-downplays-impact.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the state of affairs surrounding the Keystone project to date. Why is… Read more »
Big Oil Has Big Problems
Description: Some of the world’s largest oil companies are reporting pretty ugly earnings. Profits at Exxon Mobil (XOM), the biggest U.S. oil company, are down 27 percent off its worst fourth-quarter earnings in four years. Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.B), Europe’s biggest oil major, saw its profits tumble 48 percent. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Jan 31, 2014… Read more »
Stocks down? It’s about time!
Description: Investors shouldn’t stress about the ugly week for stocks. The market is coming off of huge gains in 2013 and there’s still decent growth in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 24, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/01/24/investing-the-buzz-stocks-nyse-markets-china-turkey-argentina.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why would a correction be a good thing? Do you… Read more »
Big game, big deductions for businesses
Description: New York City will get a $550 million economic boost from next weekend’s Super Bowl and corporations will get big deductions for their lavish spending. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 24, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/01/24/big-game-big-spending-big-tax-breaks.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What are the benefits to corporations that send employees or clients to the Super Bowl?… Read more »
