A futures exchange for Hollywood

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

Description:  Armchair investors may soon be able to bet real money on how films perform at the box office. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 04/02/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/04/02/n_hollywood_futures.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How is this market similar to a conventional futures market such as one for gold? What risk is at play for investors? How… Read more »

Where To Invest When Rates Rise

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis.

Description:  As the economy improves, rate hikes loom, says Michael Cuggino, manager of the Permanent Portfolio fund family. He tells Jonathan Burton how stock and bond investors can blunt the impact of rising rates and take advantage of global growth. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 03/31/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/where-to-invest-when-rates-rise/2F40294E-9670-4996-93C6-F8553FE0AFE3 Questions for discussion: Summarize the… Read more »

More anger expected to color annual meeting season

Posted by & filed under Management Issues.

Description: Emerging standard calls for directors to win backing of a majority of investors Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 04/02/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-anger-expected-to-color-annual-meeting-season-2010-04-02?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Do you think retail shareholders are more likely to exercise their voting power in the future? How can corporate financial managers be expected to react?

Increase in March Employment Shows U.S. Recovery Is Broadening

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description: Employment in March grew by the most in three years, representing a turning point for the labor market that will help broaden the U.S. economy as it recovers from the deepest recession in seven decades. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 04/03/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDCWdea8_JO0 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for economic and stock market optimism?… Read more »

Are Municipal Bonds the Next Bubble to Pop?

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators.

Description:  America’s states and cities may be going bankrupt, but investors shouldn’t worry. Dow Jones Adviser columnist James Altucher explains. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 03/23/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/are-municipal-bonds-the-next-bubble-to-pop/5D0A58DD-9E95-4B20-8A3E-8B67E3F593DA Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented in favor of buying municipal bonds. Do you agree with James Altucher’s opinion about the risk to investors?

U.S. Economy: Profit Surge May Help Broaden Expansion

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis.

Description: The fastest pace of economic growth in six years during the final three months of 2009 fueled a surge in corporate profits that may set the stage for job gains and a broadening of the U.S. recovery. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/26/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aorqXG5sfGeY Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for economic and stock… Read more »

How Not to Run an S.E.C. Investigation

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators.

Description: A recent report by Securities and Exchange Commission’s inspector general shows that the investigation of Bernard L. Madoff was not the only one to go badly awry. While the impact of the S.E.C.’s missteps were not nearly as significant as in the Madoff case, the report shows that the agency’s enforcement division allowed itself… Read more »

Value Investing for the Next Decade

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

Description:  Long-duration investing is about finding well-established companies to buy and hold for the next 10 years, according to fund manager Bill Smead, who favors pharmaceutical, housing and equity-fund plays. Matt Andrejczak reports. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 03/16/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/value-investing-for-the-next-decade/49B13123-0A86-4B78-ACD1-85EF967190FC Questions for discussion: Why do you believe investors are holding stocks for… Read more »

Avoid Negative-Net-Worth Stocks Like the Plague: John Dorfman

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis.

Description: I rarely buy a stock whose debt is greater than stockholders’ equity, or corporate net worth per share. In effect, that means I won’t give a second look to about one third of U.S. stocks. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/15/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aReZz0vi1B5U Questions for discussion: In general, do you agree with this analysis and strategy… Read more »

At Lehman, Watchdogs Saw It All

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators.

Description: Almost two years ago to the day, a team of officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York quietly moved into the headquarters of Lehman Brothers. They were provided desks, phones, computers — and access to all of Lehman’s books and records. At any given moment, there… Read more »