Description: Peddling credit cards isn’t so easy that a caveman can do it. That seems to be the conclusion Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA, Fortune 500) chief executive Warren Buffett reluctantly reached last year, when he shut down a money-losing credit card business he had dreamed up for Berkshire’s Geico car-insurance unit. Source: CNNMoney.com  Date: 02/27/2010… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Investing Strategies
A.I.G. Posts Loss of $11 Billion on Higher Claims
Description: The American International Group said on Friday that it lost about $11 billion last year, surprising analysts and showing the long-term risks inherent in the types of large, complex insurance coverage that the company once pioneered. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 02/26/2010 Link:Â http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/business/27insure.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: What is your view of this business model in… Read more »
Four Winning Stocks With More Nice Gains to Come: John Dorfman
Description:Â Sanderson Farms Inc., Hasbro Inc., CF Industries Holdings Inc. and Ralcorp Holdings Inc. have moved up nicely this year. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 02/22/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ayPIAFcd7_hE Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the assessments and recommended investing strategies presented in this article? What other factors should be considered?
A close look at the dollar’s power
Description: The dollar has come back against the euro recently but readers of ‘The Buzz’ still see a weak greenback in the future. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 02/17/2010  Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/02/17/n_bz_dollar_gold_oil_euro.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the assessment for the future value of the US dollar against other currencies and commodities. Do you agree… Read more »
Broker? Adviser? And What’s the Difference?
Description: THE Great Recession has intensified a long-running debate: who is better able to look out for your money, a broker or an independent adviser? Now that the shock of last year’s losses has worn off, many investors are reconsidering what their financial professionals did — or failed to do — for them. At the… Read more »
GM’s chief gets $9 million
Description: General Motors chairman and chief executive, Ed Whitacre, Jr. will receive a compensation package worth $9 million, the automaker said Friday. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 02/19/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/19/news/companies/GM_salary/index.htm Questions for discussion: Do you believe this compensation is appropriate in light of GM’s history and connection to TARP? Do you believe there can be negative reaction… Read more »
The downside to the global economy
Description: Fortune editors explain how problems in places like Dubai and Greece are affecting U.S. markets. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 02/10/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/02/10/f_sl_greece_euro.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the impact that global debt levels and deleveraging may have on domestic as well as international investing strategies? What strategy would you advise – particularly… Read more »
Junkyard treasure:High-yield bonds saved from the scrapheap
Description: High-yield corporate bonds are being priced as if few of these companies are going out of business, evidence that income-seeking investors are increasingly accepting the greater risks attached to low-rated debt. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 02/14/2010 Link:Â http://www.marketwatch.com/story/high-yield-bonds-show-investors-the-money-2010-02-12 Questions for discussion: Summarize the current market conditions for corporate bonds. How should financial managers deal with… Read more »
Volcker says must let big financial firms fail
Description: Large financial institutions that engage in speculative activities for profit should be allowed to fail if they get in trouble, White House advisor Paul Volcker said on Sunday. Source: Reuters.com Date: 02/014/2010 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1414676420100214?type=marketsNews Questions for discussion: Do you agree with Paul Volcker’s argument? Explain your answer. What would the impact be on risk… Read more »
Glass-Steagall crash course
Description: Obama and Volcker want to limit big banks. Readers of ‘The Buzz’ think it’s a good idea but are skeptical regulation will pass Congress. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 02/02/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/02/02/n_bz_glass_steagall.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Should Glass-Steagall be returned? Why or why not? How much blame for the crisis is rightly placed… Read more »
