Description: The CEO of a New York investment firm explains his decision to lease new space for its headquarters in Manhattan after dozens of employees were killed and its business almost wiped out on September 11, 2001. Source: Fortune.com Date: 09/09/2011 Link:  http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/09/alger-dan-chung-september-1/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: What does this report have to say about the… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
Is your Gibson guitar contraband?
Description: Federal agents raid Gibson Guitar factories looking for rare, protected wood, such as ebony and rosewood from India, costing the guitar manufacturer $1 million in losses. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/02/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/09/02/n_gibson_raid.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the ethical issues in this case? Is Gibson management behaving in a socially responsible… Read more »
H-P: We’re Bringing TouchPad Back
Description: The H-P TouchPad is dead; long live the TouchPad. Due to unexpected, almost cult-like demand for cheap TouchPads after H-P decided to kill its iPad rival, the company has decided to revive the tablet for a limited time. Ian Sherr and Ina Fried discuss on digits. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 08/31/2011 Link: … Read more »
Skolkovo, Russia’s Would-Be Silicon Valley
Description: A project near Moscow aims to rival the U.S. tech industry, with an “innovation city,” billions in government investment, and a university modeled after Stanford Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/01/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/skolkovo-russias-wouldbe-silicon-valley-09012011.html Questions for discussion: Do you think this project can be successful? What do you make of the statement by Wilfried Vanhonacker, the business… Read more »
Is the FDA killing innovation?
Description: Investors say the FDA’s approval process of medical devices is inefficient and opaque. The maker of a non-invasive device that’s proven to identify melanomas risks it all to tell the tale. Source: Fortune.com Date: 09/02/2011 Link:  http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/02/melafind-fda-innovation/?iid=SF_F_Lead Questions for discussion: What does this report have to say about the affect the FDA approval process… Read more »
Daniel Gross’s Greplin Is One Smart Search Engine
Description: The precocious Israeli coder is co-founder of a startup building the one search box to rule them allâ€â€and to organize your entire online life Source: Businessweek.com Date: 09/01/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/daniel-grosss-greplin-is-one-smart-search-engine-09012011.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about entrepreneurship? Would you invest in this app? What are the difficulties, from a marketing point… Read more »
How Steve Jobs saved Apple
Description: A look back at why Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple and how his return reinvented the computer giant. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/25/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/08/24/t_steve_jobs_apple_fall_rise.fortune/ Questions for discussion: How would you describe the business career of Steve Jobs? What do you think Jobs’ legacy will be? Would you consider Jobs an… Read more »
No housing slump for Toll Bros.
Description: A 54% jump in quarterly profits buoyed shares of the luxury home builder despite a beleaguered housing market. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 08/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/08/24/mkts_midday_toll.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons why some analysts might suggest that the financial improvements in this firm are “good news†for the economy as a whole…. Read more »
The Great Casual-Dining Upheaval
Description: Midpriced chains are getting facelifts and tweaking menus to lure younger diners Source: Businessweek.com Date: 08/25/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-great-casualdining-upheaval-08252011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize how restaurants are changing their existing strategies. How do you think this target market of customers will respond to the effort?
5 triggers that will ignite the next bull market
Description: Watching debt, gold, banks and other catalysts that move stocks Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 08/26/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-triggers-that-will-ignite-the-next-bull-market-2011-08-26 Questions for discussion: Summarize the main points in this report. Do you agree with the analysis? What other indicators do you think investors are waiting for before jumping into the market?
