BlackBerry maker’s struggles

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Shares of BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion are down 50% from the start of the year, largely due to disappointing smartphone and tablet sales. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/01/2011 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the demise of company’s share value. Given that the product sells well outside of North America, what… Read more »

Men’s Wearhouse is in fashion

Posted by & filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Shares of Men’s Wearhouse surge after the retailer reported profits that doubled from a year ago, helped by strong sales across the board. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/09/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/06/09/mkts_midday_menswear.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How has the company managed to succeed while other retailers have faced problems? How has the product and customer… Read more »

Toyota Expects 31% Profit Slump

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Toyota Motor said Friday that it expected its annual net profit to fall almost a third from the previous year, hurt by production disruptions after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/business/global/11toyota.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons for Toyota’s drop in profits. Do you think… Read more »

Groupon IPO: Tech boom or bubble?

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Deal site Groupon and music service Pandora could continue the tech IPO boom started by LinkedIn and Renren. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/03/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/06/03/mkts_groupon_pandora.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think there is a bubble forming in these tech stocks? Do you think these firms are raising sufficient funds for growth purposes?… Read more »

Chrysler CEO on paying back the bailout

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Chrysler Sergio Marchionne says the government bailout was a ‘great deal’ for U.S. taxpayers, and we won’t recognize the carmaker in a few years. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/03/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/03/n_fiat_ceo.cnnmoney Questions for discussion: Do you believe this was a good deal for US taxpayers? Do you believe that alternative financial restructuring… Read more »

Stocks at One-Month Lows, What Are Insiders Doing?

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: May’s correction affords an unparalleled opportunity to see what insiders really think is going to happen in the market, according to Mark Hulbert, who says it’s pretty telling if they’re selling amid declines. Laura Mandaro reports. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 05/24/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/stocks-at-one-month-lows-what-are-insiders-doing/C2A11AB8-6CB9-462E-AE89-07415B5A6157 Questions for discussion: Summarize the guidelines for understanding insider… Read more »

Cody Willard: Why Apple is going to $2,000

Posted by & filed under Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Cody Willard makes his case for Apple at $2,000 and explains why it could be the first $2 trillion company in market cap. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 05/11/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/cody-willard-why-apple-is-going-to-2000/4C6F5D5C-B4BC-4737-871C-E5DA3D667949 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given by the analyst that support his belief in Apple stock rising to such extraordinary levels…. Read more »

Can RIM win back investors after missteps?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Research In Motion Ltd. lost much of its remaining support on Wall Street Friday after the company took down its estimates for the May quarter, leaving some to wonder whether the wireless-device maker can win back support from investors who have been burned by the stock this year. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 04/29/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/can-rim-win-back-investors-after-missteps-2011-04-29… Read more »

IPO Buzz: Zipcar Is In the Driver’s Seat

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Zipcar is set to price its shares and debut under the ticker “ZIP,” garnering much of the attention in a busy week for IPOs. How will the auto-rental firm fare in this high gas-price environment? Stacey Delo talks to MarketWatch’s Dan Gallagher. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 04/11/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/ipo-buzz-zipcar-is-in-the-driver-seat/D6AFAB30-A681-4E35-802D-59614665BE2F Questions for discussion:… Read more »

The Granddaddy of All Bubbles?

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: World markets are frothing like shaken Champagne, and doomsayers argue that today’s bubbles need to be deflated now before they get dangerously large. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/14/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_17/b4225058281366.htm Question for discussion: What does this report have to say about the formation of financial bubbles? How does Didier Sornette’s model relate to recent events?