Russian Revamp of Legal System May Free 100K Entrepreneurs

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators.

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 management”?… Read more »

A Market Forecast That Says ‘Take Cover’

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

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?

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

Description:  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?

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

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?

Posted by & filed under Market Analysis.

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

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis.

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

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Market Analysis.

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

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation.

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 »

Production Probably Rose, Prices Fell: U.S. Economy Preview

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

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 »