Boone & Kurtz Contemporary Business Weekly Updates » Part 6 Managing Financial Resources

Disney bets big on Avengers and wins

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:05:47 +0000

Description: Disney CEO Bob Iger says a growing number of silver screens across the globe is helping drive the success of ‘The Avengers.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 09, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/09/n-co-avengers-iger.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

What are the reasons for the success of this film and the company as a whole?
How are global marketing strategies becoming more important to the firm’s success?

Main Street’s uneven recovery

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:04:30 +0000

Description: For some small business owners in Sayville, New York, Main Street feels like a “ghost town.”

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/10/n-making-it-on-main-street.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

What does this report have to say about economic recovery on Main Street?
How important is small business managerment to explaining why some businesses are coping better than others?

J.P. Morgan shares slump after $2 bln trading loss

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:02:44 +0000

Description: Bank’s loss is embarrassment for CEO, fodder for regulators

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jp-morgan-shares-slump-after-2b-trading-loss-2012-05-11?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for Discussions:

Summarize the reasons for the loss.
What do you believe this event will mean for the company, management, and regulators?

Why Delta is buying an oil refinery

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:05:02 +0000

Description: Delta Air Lines tries to take out the middle man by purchasing a Pennsylvania oil refinery, but it could prove to be a risky investment.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 01, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/01/n-delta-oil-refinery.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

Why did Delta do this?
What are the risks?
Do you think it was a good decision?

Rattner: General Motors is undervalued

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:04:07 +0000

Description: Steven Rattner, former ‘auto czar’ for the Treasury Dept., says the government should hold its GM stake until the stock rises further.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 02, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/05/01/mkts-rattner-gm-government.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

What is the basis for this evaluation of GM?
Do you agree with this assessment?

Groupon, the Deal That Keeps Getting Cheaper

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:03:27 +0000

Description: Is Groupon (GRPN) too good of a deal to be true?

Source: Busineweek.com

Date: May 01, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-01/groupon-the-deal-that-keeps-getting-cheaper

Questions for Discussions:

Summarize the views expressed in this report.
Why has the stock value fallen?
Do you believe the stock will move up, down or stay the same over the next year?

Shocker! Apple makes billions

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:06:06 +0000

Description: Strong global iPhone sales helped Apple beat expectations, as usual. Doubters beware – it’s hard to hate on AAPL.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 04/25/2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/04/25/mkts-bz-apple-iphone.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

Summarize the financial results and the reasons there is surprise.
Do you see an end for the current success of Apple?

Apple Profit Rises 94% on Growing Global IPhone Demand

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:03:13 +0000

Description: Apple Inc. (AAPL) profit almost doubled last quarter, reflecting robust demand for the iPhone in China as well as purchases of a new version of the iPad tablet, allaying the concerns that fueled a 12 percent two-week slump in the stock.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 04/24/2012

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-24/apple-profit-rises-94-on-growing-global-demand-for-iphones.html

Questions for discussion:

Summarize the financial results reported and the reasons for them.
How do you explain Apple’s success?
Do you believe this rate of growth is sustainable?
Would you be a buyer today?

Demand Alone Doesn’t Make a Successful Startup

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:01:13 +0000

Description: Odysseas Tsatalos’ entrepreneurship story started during his childhood in Greece. Reading about inventors in his encyclopedia, he decided early on that his dream was to one day see himself in print for one of his inventions. While his parents wanted him to become a doctor, Tsatalos travelled to the U.S. and got his Ph.D in Computer Science.

Source: Sprouter.com

Date: 04/25/2012

Link: http://sprouter.com/blog/demand-alone-doesnt-make-a-successful-startup/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=25+April+2012+%2F%2F+Hottest+StartUps%2C+Events+%26+Resources&utm_campaign=Sprouter+Weekly%3A+April+25%2C+2012&utm_term=btn-readon_png

Questions for discussion:

What sort of special managerial controls would be needed to make this system more palatable?
Which businesses would be more interested in using this sort of system?

Verizon’s Answer to iPhone: Windows

Brahm Canzer — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:05:58 +0000

Description: Verizon, fed up with the high costs of offering the iPhone, plans to push smartphones powered by Microsoft’s Windows software, as a counterweight to the popular Apple device. George Stahl reports on digits.Photo: HTC.

Questions for discussion:

How is the cost of a smart phone spread out through distributors?
What risk does Verizon face by following this strategy?