Bulgari Gold Succumbs to Ceramics With Jewelry Hostage to Bubble
December 27, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: In June, Bill Doddridge flew his single-engine Cessna 400 to Twentynine Palms Airport near California’s Mojave Desert and headed for an abandoned mine, a .45-caliber pistol on his belt. He was looking for gold. The firearm was to ward off rattlesnakes. The precious metal would be a sideline to his jewelry business. He sifted through dirt, climbed into shafts, and later bought the property, shuttered since World War II.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 12/21/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the highlights of this report.
- How have businesses and customers of gold changed their behavior since the rapid surge in prices began?
- Do you think price increases have reached a top yet?
- What would make the trend change directions?
Higher U.S. Airfares Loom as Crude Climbs Toward $100 a Barrel
December 27, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines and other large U.S. carriers may be poised to boost fares with fuel surcharges as crude oil moves closer to $100 a barrel.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 12/22/2010
Questions for discussion:
- How else can airlines deal with rising fuel costs?
- How are customers likely to respond to price increases?
A drive through ‘foreclosure row’
December 13, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: A local realtor gives a tour of the Southern California planned community whose streets are marked by foreclosures and short sales.
Source: CNNMoney.com ñ video report
Date: 12/07/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2010/12/06/pf_ladera_ranch_devon_hocker.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Explain the reasons given for the collapse of real estate prices?
- How do you think this crash in prices is going to affect companies that build homes and future buyers?
- Do you think consumer psychology toward home ownership has been permanently affected by this event?
- How would you expect buyers to look at home ownership in the future?
Tax cuts: More money in your pocket
December 13, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: With the extension of the Bush tax cuts, a payroll tax holiday will put 2% of many workers’ annual paycheck back in their pockets.
Source: CNNMoney.com ñ video report
Date: 12/07/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/07/n_tax_cuts_tax_bill.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the basic points presented in this report?
- What impact do you think these decisions will have on the economy and any businesses in particular?
- How should investors be expected to respond?
Seattle stadiums greener than grass
December 6, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Qwest Field and the ShoWare Center are two of the most energy efficient stadiums in sports. See how they do it.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 12/03/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/02/n_green_seattle_sports.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Is the effort to “go green” paying these businesses back more than the money saved in operating expenses?
- Why is this socially responsible behavior?
- Is this a good way to educate the broader society?
- What other socially responsible behaviors could be developed by these businesses?
Macy’s: They’re buying; we’re hiring
November 29, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: CEO Terry Lundgren says Macy’s has taken on extra staff to cope with holiday demand and expects to create permanent positions as well.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 11/26/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/11/26/n_co_macys.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- How well is Macy’s shopping season going so far?
- Why is the business activity at Macy indicative of economic activity in general?
- How is employment in the economy related to the success at retailers like Macy’s?
- Do you share the optimism that the results at Macy’s suggest?
Investors cheer GM debut
November 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: The automaker’s stock debuted at $35 a share, a 6% premium from the offering price, raising investor hope that GM will become a Wall Street darling.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 11/18/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/11/18/mkts_gm_ipo.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Was the government’s decision to re-finance GM a good choice financially and socially speaking?
- Do you think the government will recover all of its original $50 billion investment?
- Would you be an investor in GM today?
Israeli Biotechs Find Partners in Ohio
November 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: Government incentives and an Ohio venture capital fund focused on Israel have drawn Israeli entrepreneurs to a state with top research clinics and a flourishing health-care industry.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 11/18/2010
Questions for discussion:
- What are the reasons motivating these parties to collaborate in this effort?
- What are the basic benefits for each party?
- What other types of technologies would likely find international collaboration for the same reasons?
Retailers prep for sales frenzy
November 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: With just a week before the official kickoff of the year’s biggest shopping season, consumers are hitting the dozens of websites that track holiday sales and finding TVs, eBook readers and other items at their deepest discounts of the year.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 11/18/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/unwrapping-black-friday-deals-2010-11-18?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- How important is “Black Friday” for retailers?
- What does the report suggest about the buying and selling mood this year?
- What do you think the holiday shopping season will be like for retailers?
- Which retailers do you think will do best financially?
- Which retailers do you think will perform poorly?
Jobs Outlook Looking Better
November 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: Rebecca Jarvis and Barrons associate editor Michael Santori discuss the recent increase in private sector jobs and what we can expect in the future.
Source: BNET.com – video report
Date: 11/12/2010
Link: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/video/jobs-outlook-looking-better/481539/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons companies are starting to hire back more workers now?
- What does this say about these companies, their industries, and the economic recovery?
