Description: Russian lawmakers say they plan to overhaul the law on economic crimes, resulting in the early release of as many as 100,000 imprisoned executives and entrepreneurs as the government seeks to attract investors. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 07/02/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-01/russian-revamp-of-predatory-legal-system-may-free-100-000-entrepreneurs.html Questions for discussion: What do you think of the Russian approach to “investment managementâ€?… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Investing Strategies
A Market Forecast That Says ‘Take Cover’
Description: WITH the stock market lurching again, plenty of investors are nervous, and some are downright bearish. Then there’s Robert Prechter, the market forecaster and social theorist, who is in another league entirely. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 07/02/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/your-money/04stra.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: What do think of Elliott Wave Theory as a predictive tool? Summarize… Read more »
Markets Hub: How Low Can Yields Fall?
Description:Â In the wake of the Federal Reserve offering a subdued assessment of the economy and signaling it’s set to keep interest rates low, Treasury yields are testing record levels. The downturn in yields is happening even in the absence of the kind of panic that’s pushed yields to historic lows in the past. The… Read more »
Dividends Are Rising. Will Stocks Follow?
Description: THE headlines about stock dividends have been remarkably bleak. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 06/25/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/business/27fund.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in this article. What do you think will happen to stock prices over the next 12 months? How do dividend payouts influence investor thinking?
News Hub: Do Index Funds Help Diversify?
Description: Although diversification remains a sound idea, market cap-based indexes have the perverse effect of diminishing diversification. Michael Casey explains what you can do. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 06/16/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/news-hub-do-index-funds-help-diversify/EA723B82-4976-41B5-9578-22F0ADAF8E49 Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to index investing. Do you agree with the analysis presented by the commentators? What… Read more »
Peddling Relief, Firms Put Debtors in a Deeper Hole
Description: For the companies that promise relief to Americans confronting swelling credit card balances, these are days of lucrative opportunity. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 06/18/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/economy/19debt.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues raised in this article for firms, government regulators, and the customer. Do you believe more regulation by government or the financial services… Read more »
This Week In Mutual Funds: Bonds May Come Unglued
Description: More than a few experts are convinced that massive U.S. government spending will ultimately wreak havoc with the bond market, as both the country and companies are forced to pay higher borrowing costs to satisfy creditors. Money & Investing editor Jonathan Burton reports. Source: Marketwatch.com ╨ video report Date: 06/11/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/this-week-in-mutual-funds-bonds-may-come-unglued/FB20089B-0046-4818-BE91-BD13A0C21BD6 Questions for… Read more »
BP Considers Cut to Dividend
Description: BP is considering reducing its dividends to help quell political uproar against the company. Meanwhile, the U.S. raised estimates of the oil gushing from the crippled Gulf of Mexico well. Monica Langley, Dennis Berman, Evan Newmark and Bruce Orwall discuss. Also, a discussion of Saturday’s World Cup soccer match between England and the U.S…. Read more »
Why the worst isn’t over yet
Description: Economists, as you have likely heard, are enjoying a bit of a renaissance these days. With a startling new piece of economic news emerging on a near daily basis — Greece is going under! No, it’s Spain! China is in the midst of a housing bubble! China is our savior! — there’s been a… Read more »
Production Probably Rose, Prices Fell: U.S. Economy Preview
Description: Factories kept churning out more goods last month, while prices and home construction fell, pointing to a manufacturing-led U.S. recovery that is not generating inflation, economists said before reports this week. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 06/13/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=afVs1JzRgfSE Questions for discussion: Summarize the key items in the report and explain their significance to a financial… Read more »