Description: AIG said Friday that it lost $2.4 billion in the third quarter on sales of insurance units, proceeds of which it plans to use to pay back the U.S. government. Source: CNNMoney.com  Date: 11/05/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/05/news/companies/aig/index.htm Questions for discussion: What were the reasons for AIG losses? How should investors react to this new… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Derivatives
U.S. dollar falls vs yen; FX options flag QE worry
Description: Uncertainty over a fresh round of U.S. monetary easing weighed on the dollar on Friday, prompting investors in the options market to hedge against any volatility arising from the Federal Reserve decision. Source: Reuters.com  Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69D46V20101029 Questions for discussion: What are the reasons reported for recent movements in these currencies? How… Read more »
Markets Hub: Maybe It Is a Currency War
Description: It’s not just the Bank of Japan; central banks from Brazil to South Korea are trying to tamp down their currencies, which is driving up commodities like gold and crude, as well as stocks. Anna Raff, Mike Reid and Paul Vigna discuss. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 10/04/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/markets-hub-maybe-it-is-a-currency-war/08AD6BBE-77FC-43FD-BB72-018865ECDDDE Questions for… Read more »
Why gold, stocks and bonds are all rising
Description: Gold, stocks and bonds rising together reflect the barbell approach investors are taking, Wells Capital Management’s Gary Schlossberg tells Laura Mandaro. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 09/30/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/why-gold-stocks-and-bonds-are-all-rising/87C37AA9-B47A-472E-851D-7F429D9E95CD Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented? What is your read of the current price movements in the markets? What is your economic forecast… Read more »
Gold pays off for miners, ETFs
Description: Investors run to the precious metal as jitters about the recovery and currency market volatility increase. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 09/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/09/23/mkts_gold_highs.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented about gold and gold related investments. Do you agree with this analysis? What is your prediction for gold over the next… Read more »
Druckenmiller to Shut Fund After 30 Years as Stress Takes Toll
Description: Hedge-fund icon Stanley Druckenmiller is quitting the business after three decades, telling investors he’d been worn down by the stress of trying to maintain one of the best trading records in the industry while managing an “enormous amount of capital.†Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 08/18/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-18/druckenmiller-to-shut-fund-after-30-years-as-stress-takes-toll.html Questions for discussion: What are the reasons… Read more »
Barnes & Noble may put itself up for sale; stock jumps
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… Read more »
Euro Hit By German Proposals to Ban Shorts
Description: Germany’s unilateral plan to stop short-selling doesn’t look well thought out. Dow Jones Newswires’ Mark Cranfield reports. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 05/19/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/euro-hit-by-german-proposals-to-ban-shorts/1A26355B-337A-4DF9-91DB-8E8047F8536B Questions for discussion: Summarize the positive impact that this ban is expected to have on markets? What negative impact is also possible? Given these considerations, is the… Read more »
Steve Jobs Makes The Worst Trade Ever
Description: Brett Arends tells us about one of the greatest trade blunders ever – a decision by Steve Jobs in 2003 to accept a safer but much lower returning investment in exchange for his 55 million Apple Stock options, now worth nearly $13 billion. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 05/18/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/steve-jobs-makes-the-worst-trade-ever/74CD1F05-723A-4E63-BB16-DA4AC94AFFD5 Questions… Read more »
Buffett’s stance on derivatives
Description: Fortune’s Andy Serwer talks about how the Senate’s proposed financial reforms will affect Berkshire Hathaway’s derivatives holdings. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 04/29/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/04/29/f_sl_buffett_derivatives_berkshire.fortune/  Questions for discussion: How much influence do you think Buffett can have in the current debate about derivatives? Would Buffett joining the management of Goldman be a… Read more »
