Pimco Total Return ETF Suffers $10.9 Million of Outflows

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Description: Pacific Investment Management Co.’s main exchange-traded fund saw outflows of $10.9 million the day before the surprise departure of Bill Gross, who co-founded and served as chief investment officer of the world’s biggest manager of bond mutual funds. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 27, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-27/pimco-etf-suffers-10-9-million-of-outflow-on-gross-exit.html Questions for Discussions: How have investors reacted to… Read more »

The Dumb Money Is Getting Smarter Every Day 

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Description: In the parlance of Wall Street, there’s the “smart money” and the “dumb money.” The dumb money falls for investing fads, sells into market panics and pays ridiculous fees. The smart money doesn’t. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 17, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-17/the-dumb-money-is-getting-smarter-every-day-.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the changes taking place in investing, according to the… Read more »

Blackstone’s $26 Billion Hilton Deal: The Best Leveraged Buyout Ever

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Description: In the early spring of 2009, with the recession deepening, Christopher Nassetta stood alone in an empty house in Arlington, Va., surrounded by moving boxes and trying not to despair. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 12, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-11/blackstones-hilton-deal-best-leveraged-buyout-ever#r=nav-f-story Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial highlights in this story. Do you agree with assessment that… Read more »

Alibaba Seeks $21.1 Billion in Record-Breaking U.S. IPO

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Description: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the e-commerce company whose fortunes surged along with China’s economy, plans an historic U.S. initial public offering that may also claim the global record. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 06, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-05/alibaba-seeks-21-1-billion-in-record-breaking-u-s-ipo-3-.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial highlights described in this report that argue for and against the IPO… Read more »

Alibaba’s expected blockbuster IPO may mean garage sale of less attractive tech stocks

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Description: Investors are looking over portfolios to make room for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings Inc’s market debut next month – and that means some less attractive stocks that funds are holding might be shown the door. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Aug 26, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/08/26/alibabas-expected-blockbuster-ipo-may-mean-garage-sale-of-less-attractive-tech-stocks/ Questions for Discussions: How might Alibaba’s IPO affect individual… Read more »

Was it really a record-breaking summer for stocks?

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Description: Bloomberg’s Mike Regan discusses the summer’s market movements with Matt Miller on “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Aug 29, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/was-it-really-a-record-breaking-summer-for-stocks-Y0wgnB9_QzO2faMmLfjC6g.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the commentary and analysis presented in this report on the markets. Do you agree with this view? Where do you see things heading?

S&P 500 Tops 2,000. Don’t Do Anything

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Description: On Monday the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index traded above 2,000 for the first time, getting to just under 2,002 before retreating below the 2K mark in early afternoon. Should you cheer? Or panic? Source: Businessweek.com Date: Aug 25, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-25/s-and-p-500-hits-2-000-dot-should-investors-buy-sell-or-hold#r=hpf-s Questions for Discussions: What is the message to investors in this article?… Read more »

Allergan’s attempts to elude Ackman’s bid fuel bearish bets

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Description: Should Bill Ackman and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. fail in their bid to take over Allergan Inc., options traders will be hedged. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Aug 28, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-28/allergan-attempts-to-elude-ackman-bid-fuel-bearish-bets.html Questions for Discussions: What does this report say about the various strategies in play? What would you advise investors to do at this time?

Too Much Corn With Nowhere to Go as U.S. Sees Record Crop

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Industry Analysis.

Description: The ripening corn and soybean fields stretch for miles in every direction from Dennis Wentworth’s farm in Downs, Illinois. As he marveled at his best-yielding crops ever, he wondered aloud where the heck he’ll put it all. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Aug 22, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-22/too-much-corn-with-nowhere-to-go-as-u-s-sees-record-crop.html Questions for Discussions: How does this article illustrate the… Read more »

K-Cups killing it for Keurig

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Description: Looks like short sellers betting against Keurig Green Mountain may be getting squeezed again. The stock is hotter than a freshly brewed K-Cup due to better-than-expected earnings and revenue. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 08, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/08/investing-the-buzz-keurig-green-mountain-coffee-roasters-starbucks.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why do you think short sellers are drawn to this stock?… Read more »