The slaying of the Celtic Tiger
November 15, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Anglo Irish Bank’s unfinished head office pokes into the sky on Dublin’s North Wall Quay, a silent testimony to the rise and fall of the Celtic Tiger.
Source: TheGlobeandMail.com
Date: 11/12/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the history of the Irish economic experience.
- What do you think will happen to Irish markets over the near future?
Wall Street Soars After Election
November 8, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis explains why Wall Street is doing well while unemployment is still high.
Source: BNET.com – video report
Date: 11/05/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the key points presented in the report.
- Why did the stock market respond so favorably?
- What do you think will happen to markets for the balance of the year?
Federal Reserve to buy $600 billion in bonds
November 8, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: The Federal Reserve pledged on Wednesday to start a controversial new $600 billion bond-buying spree to rescue the economy from its current doldrums.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 11/03/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-to-buy-600-billion-in-government-bonds-2010-11-03
Questions for discussion:
- How does this action by the Federal Reserve help stimulate the economy?
- What are the consequences associated with this action in the long run?
Monster roars. Good news for jobs?
November 1, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: The job market may not exactly be healthy. Unemployment is still relatively high around the country and those who have been out of work a long time are really struggling to find permanent, well-paying jobs.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/29/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/29/news/economy/thebuzz/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- How does Monster.com use technology to attract business away from competitors?
- What other factors have contributed to its recent stock market success?
- Why does the stock reflect economic activity?
digits: Steve Jobs Jabs at Competition
October 25, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: On yesterday’s earning call, Apple CEO Steve Jobs issued a string of criticisms about Apple’s rivals from Research in Motion and Google to unnamed companies making seven-inch tablets. Plus: what analysts have to say this morning about Apple’s growth overriding concerns. Peter Kafka and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries discuss on Digits.
Source: Marketwatch..com – video report
Date: 10/19/2010
Questions for discussion:
- What were the reasons given that might explain Steve Jobs’ criticisms of competitors?
- What is your understanding of the financial situation at Apple?
- Given financial conditions described, what would suggest to the firm?
- What is your view of a merger between Apple and Facebook?
- Why would this deal make sense for both parties?
- What does the loss of senior management at Microsoft mean for the firm?
BullHorn: GOOG, YHOO, education, gambling
October 18, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Google keeps rising while Yahoo may get bought out. For-profit education takes a hit and betting on gambling may not pay off.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 10/15/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/10/15/mkts_bh_goog_yhoo_edu_gambling.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the assessments of each stock and the reasons given?
- Do you agree with these comments?
- How important is the management of each company in the assessments given?
- What else is given prime consideration in terms of making an evaluation of each firm?
- Would you be a buyer of any of these companies?
Google reveals surprisingly huge mobile and display ad sales
October 18, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Google’s profit soared in the third quarter, defying skeptical investors and analysts who feared that the search giant would never find a a significant new revenue stream besides search advertisements.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/15/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/14/technology/google_earnings/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Why has Google stock rebounded on the stock market?
- What are the sources of revenue that explain the confidence in its future growth?
- What else can you foresee in Google’s future that suggests increasing success?
- Do you see any threats from competitors or other factors that should give investors concern?
Blockbuster Chief Says He Will Evaluate `Every Single Store’
September 27, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Blockbuster Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Keyes said he will evaluate “every single store” in the video-rental chain as it reorganizes to compete with competitors that provide movies online and by mail.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 09/24/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Why did Blockbuster fail?
- Why is closing down Blockbuster stores a quick way to help salvage the firm?
- What else could be done to reduce the loss of money?
- What would you do to revive the firm?
After the Financial Meltdown, Where’s America’s Outrage?
September 13, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times noted that 49% of people surveyed had a negative view of Goldman Sachs. Financial companies are busily trying to rebuild their reputations by, among other things, running lots of advertisements touting their lending activities, but numerous reports show that banks are cutting credit lines to both individuals and businesses.
Source: BNET.com
Date: 09/09/2010
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think about the theories presented that explain public reaction to the financial crisis and the business people involved?
- What is your view about this matter?
- Should government have reacted differently?
What went wrong at Burger King
September 6, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: It’s not yet clear what Burger King’s new owner, the Brazilian-backed private equity firm 3G Capital, has in mind for the troubled No. 2 fast-food chain. But a total strategic revamp is in order.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 09/03/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/03/news/companies/burger_king_buyout.fortune/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons given for Burger King’s failure?
- What would you do to revive the firm?
- Do you think the acquisition is a good financial decision?
