Description: Oil prices are down more than 20 percent since mid-March. Yet that hasn’t erased a strange anomaly in the market: the gap between two essentially identical types of oil. North American light, sweet crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate, trades just below $84 while its international equivalent, known as Brent, is priced at… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Risk Management
Why I’m betting big on Europe
Description: The vaunted international stock picker David Herro is betting big on banks in France, Spain, and Italy. But he doesn’t call himself a risk-taker. Source: Fortune.com Date: June 14, 2012 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/14/retirement-guide-herro-europe/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: Summarize the strategic analysis presented by David Herro. Do you agree with his thinking and advice?
U.S. Blue Chips Want You to Buy Their Debt
Description: “Looking for CD or Money Market Rates? You can do better.†That’s the pitch that greets visitors to General Electric’s (GE) Interest Plus website. GE, Duke Energy (DUK), Ford Motor (F), and Caterpillar (CAT), are among companies enticing a growing number of individuals to buy their debt through investments sometimes billed as higher-yield alternatives… Read more »
Instagram’s Systrom Builds $1 Billion Application in Two Years
Description:Â Â Silicon Valley is one of the few places where a 27-year-old Web entrepreneur can parlay a photo-sharing application with no known source of revenue into $1 billion — in two years. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 04/10/2012 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-10/instagram-s-systrom-builds-1-billion-application-in-two-years.html Questions for discussion: Do you think the background experience of these two entrepreneurs had anything to do… Read more »
Risk is back on Wall Street!
Description:Â Wall Street is notorious for its short memory. Four new signs that risk has returned to the financial sector may make you wonder if the crisis ever happened. Â Source:Â Fortune.com Date: 04/12/2012 Link:Â http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/12/wall-street-risk/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summary the highlights presented in this report. Do you agree with these opinions?
Annie’s IPO rakes in the cheddar
Description: Organic food company Annie’s makes its public debut and investors are salivating. But there are other organic options for the IPO averse. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/28/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/03/28/mkts-bz-annies-ipo.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think Annie’s represents too narrow a focus in this industry group? What are the risks for the group,… Read more »
The end of the bond bubble?
Description: With the yields on 10-year Treasuries — considered a risk-free asset by the market — moving sharply higher since the beginning of the year, many investors are beginning to ask: Is this the end of what has been a 30-year bull run for bonds? The improving U.S. economy and an easing debt crisis in… Read more »
Ask an Expert: ‘Shark Tank’ shows entrepreneurs how to swim
Description: Q: Lately I have been watching the TV show “Shark Tank” and really like it. What always amazes me is that the people whose products I don’t like often get money and those that I do like get nothing. Why is that? — Jaime Source: USAToday.com Date: 02/20/2012 Link: http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/story/2012-02-19/shark-tank-small-business-steve-strauss/53138174/1 Questions for discussion: Summarize… Read more »
Why oil prices keep on climbing
Description: Oil prices spike to its highest level in nine months, following Iran’s announcement to halt oil exports to Britain and France. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/20/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/02/20/n_iran_oil_gas_prices.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why have oil prices risen? What is the impact of this change on the economy?
Why Toxic Debt Looks a Lot Less Toxic
Description:Â Goldman Sachs and hedge funds are buying risky mortgages again Source: Businessweek.com Date: 02/16/2012 Link:Â http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/why-toxic-debt-looks-a-lot-less-toxic-02162012.html Questions for discussion: What has changed? Do you agree with this assessment?
