Just when you were getting used to the idea of unmanned aerial vehicles patrolling the skies over your city, they’re beginning to enter buildings. Source: CNET News Date: 8/14/2009 Keys: Marketing, market segmentation, new product development, technologies Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10309811-1.html?tag=mncol Questions for discussion: What are the possible market segments that could see uses for these products?… Read more »
Monthly Archives: August 2009
U.S. Stocks Fall on Concern Rally Outpaced Recovery Prospects
U.S. stocks slid, capping the first weekly drop for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index in more than a month, as lower-than-estimated consumer confidence added to concern a five-month rally outpaced prospects for the economy. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 8/14/2009 Keys: Stock market, economy, finance, investing, business cycle Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aAXWJXOKPGC4 Questions for discussion: Do you agree… Read more »
China’s $300 billion bullet train
Multinationals like IBM and Bombardier stand to profit from China’s new high-speed rail system. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 8/05/2009 Keys: International business, economy, government, management, finance, banking, strategic alliances Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/08/05/f_fr_china_bullet_train.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the current and longer term benefits to the Chinese economy associated with the building of the bullet… Read more »
Half of mortgage borrowers will be ‘underwater’
An estimated 25 million borrowers will owe more than their house is worth by 2011. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 8/06/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, consumer behavior, economy, government Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/06/real_estate/underwaterworld/index.htm?postversion=2009080615 Questions for discussion: Research suggests that the current and expected value of a home influences the homeowner’s attitude towards spending. Explain why this would be true. How… Read more »
Should Starbucks ban laptops?
In my local Starbucks, there’s a bald man who wears the same pristine white Prince tennis shoes every day. He is always perched on a stool, his PC open in front of him, typing away with the middle finger of each hand. He has one of those Bluetooth thingies in his ear and he’s often… Read more »
S&P 500 Tops 1,000 in Fourth Weekly Gain on Better Labor Market
U.S. stocks rose for a fourth week, pushing the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index above 1,000 for the first time since November, as better-than-estimated employment, manufacturing and home sales data boosted confidence that the worst slump since the Great Depression is ending. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 8/08/2009 Keys: Stock market, economy, finance, investing, business cycle Link:… Read more »
Dissecting the ‘Microhoo’ deal
Microsoft’s gains in its deal with Yahoo are clear, but not so for Yahoo, according to senior writer Jon Fortt. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 7/29/2009 Keys: Marketing, management, finance, strategic alliances, product development Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/07/29/f_microsoft_yahoo_deal_analysis.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons this strategic alliance makes sense for Microsoft and for Yahoo!. What… Read more »
House OKs $2 billion more for Clunker program
House passes bill to add $2 billion for Cash for Clunkers program. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 7/31/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, consumer behavior, economy, government Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/31/autos/cash_for_clunkers_update/index.htm?postversion=2009073114 Questions for discussion: Explain why you think this program has been overwhelmingly successful in stimulating demand for new car purchases? What does price sensitivity suggest to you about why auto… Read more »
U.S. Economy: Recession Eases, Consumer-Spending Slump Deepens
The worst U.S. economic slump since the Great Depression abated in the second quarter as government spending programs started to kick in, while the sharpest pullback by consumers since 1980 augured a muted recovery. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 8/01/2009 Keys: Economy, finance, investing, business cycle Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aRV7ZR6CGNQY Questions for discussion: Do you believe the economy will… Read more »
Google pushes for new law on orphan books
If those organizations attacking Google’s book search settlement with publishers spent as much time lobbying Congress for better laws concerning those issues, perhaps the controversy would go away, Google’s chief Book Search engineer suggested Thursday night. Source: CNET News Date: 7/31/2009 Keys: Law, marketing, consumer behavior, technologies Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10300887-93.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0 Questions for discussion: Do you think… Read more »
