Description: Oracle Corp. (ORCL) dropped the most in more than nine years, dragging down other software makers, after it reported quarterly sales and profit that missed analysts’estimates in a sign companies are spending less on programs that help them manage operations. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 12/21/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-20/oracle-misses-estimates-as-clients-throttle-tech-spending-shares-decline.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Stocks
What would make Caterpillar add jobs
Description: Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman explains what the company needs to hire in the near and long-term. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/13/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/12/13/n_cat_ceo_adding_jobs.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the challenges facing the firm? How do these issues relate to your understanding of the state of the economy? What should companies, governments and… Read more »
Whole Foods shareholder’s big payday
Description:Â When things looked bleak for Whole Foods in 2008, private-equity retail specialist Leonard Green & Partners gave the natural foods retailer a $425 million cash injection, gobbling up preferred stock that was later converted to nearly 30 million shares. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 12/13/2011 Link:Â http://www.marketwatch.com/story/whole-foods-shareholders-big-payday-2011-12-13?dist=afterbell Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial analysis presented in… Read more »
Investing after the Arab Spring: Unfinished business
Description:Â The ongoing revolutions across the Middle East would seem to be good news for markets. But so far they’ve scared most foreign investors away. Source: Fortune.com Date: 12/13/2011 Link:Â http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/13/investing-middle-east-north-africa/?iid=SF_F_Lead Questions for discussion: Summarize the opinions expressed in this report? What would your advice be to investors at this time?
Put a put income strategy to work for you
Description:Â Most investors own some mix of stocks, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. In building an equity asset allocation for their portfolio, without knowing it, or simply accepting it, they are taking about 100% of the risk of the equity markets. There is however a safer option for building the equity portion of your… Read more »
All the world’s a game
Description: Video games will be the fastest-growing and most exciting form of mass media over the coming decade, says Tim Cross Source: TheEconomist.com Date: 12/10/2011 Link: http://www.economist.com/node/21541164 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. What does this report suggest about investing strategies related to the growth of the industry?
Sentiment Looks Too Rosy for Stronger Stock Rally
Description: Stocks like to climb a “wall of worry,” according to Mark Hulbert, who says the positive readings on various investor-sentiment surveys suggest it will be tough for stocks to build on recent gains. Laura Mandaro reports. (Photo: AP) Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 12/08/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/sentiment-looks-too-rosy-for-stronger-stock-rally/1BFCFC60-F0CA-4FEA-9D1A-99C1B0FD903C Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented… Read more »
Is the Global Economy Doomed?
Description: Economist and author Peter Schiff stops by Mean Street to discuss events in Europe and the global economy. (Photo: Reuters) Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 12/08/2011 Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented in this report. Do you agree with the opinions presented? What would you advise investors do today?
One small company reinvents a $30 billion market
Description:Â Â Sometimes one bright idea — and a whole lot of work to implement it — can reshape an entire industry. Source: Fortune.com Date: 12/09/2011 Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/09/smallbusiness/eagleview/index.htm?iid=SF_BN_River Questions for discussion: How has this technological innovation changed costing and budgeting in the industry?
Amazon Stocked on Toys Rivals Don’t Have
Description: The number of out-of-stock toys is increasing at the websites of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), Target Corp. (TGT) and Sears Holdings Corp.’s (SHLD) Kmart chain while Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) remains almost fully stocked, according to a Bloomberg Industries analysis. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 12/09/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-09/amazon-stocked-on-toys-that-wal-mart-target-don-t-have.html Questions for discussion: Why is out-of-stock so critical for… Read more »