Description: Kevin Carmichael: Concerns the Canadian economy is in trouble are based on a set of data blind to much of the wealth being generated in the digital realm Source: FinancialPost.com – video report Date: Jan 10, 2020 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/oil-remains-a-pillar-of-canadas-economy-but-its-the-digital-economy-thats-driving-growth?video_autoplay=true Questions for discussion: Why is there difficulty measuring GDP and business activity? Which indicators should… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
A revival is under way in the chip business
Description: The high-tech industry is as cyclical as any commodity Source: Economist.com Date: Jan 11, 2020 Link: https://www.economist.com/business/2020/01/11/a-revival-is-under-way-in-the-chip-business?cid1=cust/ednew/n/bl/n/2020/01/9n/owned/n/n/nwl/n/n/NA/375381/n Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made about the industry in the report. What does the report suggest about the near future for the industry?
Why Canada’s cannabis bubble burst
Description: More than a year ago, Canada made recreational cannabis legal. So why are people still buying it on the black market? Source: BBC.com Date: Dec 29, 2019 Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50664578 Questions for discussion: What happened to the cannabis industry in Canada, according to the report? How do you think it will develop over the next… Read more »
SPOS #703 – Brett Hurt On Entrepreneurship And Starting Up
Description: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #703 – Host: Mitch Joel. He’s an old friend and someone who has experienced a tremendous amount of success in the technology and startup world. While many know his name… most do not. Let’s change that. Brett Hurt is the CEO and co-founder of data.world (of which I am an advisor),… Read more »
What the Streaming Wars Mean for the Future of TV
Description: If all goes as planned, by mid-2020 four of the most valuable companies on the S&P 500 will have introduced streaming services in less than a year. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 30, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-30/what-the-streaming-wars-mean-for-the-future-of-tv-quicktake?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: What does the article say is happening to the current business model for TV? What does… Read more »
Opinion: Why stock markets are better than banks at fixing climate change
Description: To fight climate change, governments the world over would be well inspired to develop the breadth and depth of their stock markets. Stock markets seem more efficient than banks at financing the massive investments that will be needed to meet international climate goals. This surprising finding from two European Central Bank economists could have profound policy… Read more »
TV Ad Spending Will Never Be the Same
Description: eMarketer forecasting analyst Eric Haggstrom, vice president of content studio Paul Verna and vice president of forecasting Monica Peart talk about the peaking of US TV ad spending. Why has it stopped growing, how does cord-cutting contribute, and what makes video streaming services attractive? They then discuss the performance of Disney+ in its first… Read more »
Tackling America’s giant hospital bill
Description: Transparency is not enough Source: TheEconomist.com Date: Nov 23, 2019 Link: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/11/23/tackling-americas-giant-hospital-bill Questions for discussion: Summarize the key issues causing rising health care expenses and the solutions recommended by the report. How else could the health care industry be better managed, with the goal to reduce costs to levels found internationally?
Bumble Bee Files Bankruptcy Amid Antitrust Fines, Lawsuits
Description: Bumble Bee Foods LLC, the largest North American brand of packaged seafood, filed for bankruptcy amid criminal fines and civil lawsuits stemming from a federal price-fixing case with plans for its assets to be acquired by FCF Co. for about $925 million. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 21, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-21/bumble-bee-files-bankruptcy-after-price-fixing-fines-lawsuits Questions for discussion: What are the business and… Read more »
Pot stocks extend gains as banker calls bottom, sees 20% rebound
Description: An eight-month rout in pot stocks that wiped out almost two-thirds of their market value may finally have reached its bottom. Source: BNNBloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 22, 2019 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/pot-stocks-extend-gains-as-banker-calls-bottom-sees-20-rebound-1.1351688 Questions for discussion: What explains the positive assessment in this report? Do you think the stocks will begin to recover their losses… Read more »
