Vancouver’s Real Estate Bubble Trouble

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

Description:  Brokers are rock stars, cabbies flip condos, and shacks are going for $1 million Source: Businessweek.com   Date: 06/24/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_27/b4185064551500.htm  Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented that explain real estate price movements in Vancouver. Do you think a bubble is forming? What might trigger prices to fall? Do you think that any of… Read more »

Home Depot is still a fixer upper

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

Description: When Home Depot reported its first comparable store sales growth in almost four years on Tuesday, plenty of investors wanted to see it as evidence that housing is back. “Our sales are an indication that the economy is recovering and the consumer is back,” Carol Tomé, Home Depot’s chief financial officer, hopefully told The… Read more »

Adobe New Ads Take Aim at Apple

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business.

Description:  Adobe launched an advertising campaign Thursday that takes an unexpected tack in its ongoing feud with Apple: proclaiming, in huge letters, Adobe’s love for the computer giant. Alan Murray and Walt Mossberg discuss this latest development. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 05/13/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-adobe-new-ads-take-aim-at-apple/F79B3650-3A47-46EF-91EE-5779C256CEE6 Questions for discussion: Summarize the competitive conflict going… Read more »

Fishing Industry Hammered by Gulf Oil Spill

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Description:  The petroleum and fishing industries have a long and uneasy intertwined history in the Gulf of Mexico. WSJ’s Andy Jordan looks at how the growing gulf oil spill is hurting Louisiana fishermen who supply around one-third of the U.S.’s seafood. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report   Date: 05/05/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/fishing-industry-hammered-by-gulf-oil-spill/41612D0E-B338-464D-A15E-5885B1D227D6 Questions for discussion: Can… Read more »

Consumers Help Drive U.S. Economy to 3.2% Growth Rate

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Description: The United States economy has expanded for three quarters in a row, the Commerce Department said on Friday, helped along by consumer spending. Now the question is, Will the jobs follow? Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/30/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/business/economy/01econ.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: What does this report have to say about the important role played by the… Read more »

Oil traders eye $100 a barrel

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Description: NYMEX traders discuss high crude oil prices and the potential consequences for the economy. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/08/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/04/08/mkts_oil_traders_nymex.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the arguments presented that favor rising oil prices and arguments for prices heading lower? Which direction do you see oil heading over the next six months? Which… Read more »

Consumers in U.S. Face the End of an Era of Cheap Credit

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

Description: Even as prospects for the American economy brighten, consumers are about to face a new financial burden: a sustained period of rising interest rates. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/10/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/business/economy/11rates.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the predictions made in this report. What affect they are expected to have on consumer spending. Do you agree with… Read more »

Increase in March Employment Shows U.S. Recovery Is Broadening

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Description: Employment in March grew by the most in three years, representing a turning point for the labor market that will help broaden the U.S. economy as it recovers from the deepest recession in seven decades. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 04/03/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDCWdea8_JO0 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons given for economic and stock market optimism?… Read more »

Chrysler buys 60-second Super Bowl ad

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Description:  Chrysler will be the only U.S. automaker to advertise in this year’s Super Bowl, forking over millions of dollars to restore its image following its bankruptcy and the federal bailout that followed. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 01/14/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/14/news/companies/chrysler_super_bowl_ad/index.htm Questions for discussion: Do you think Chrysler is making a wise decision? Explain your answer. How… Read more »

Job growth returns — then fades

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Description:  Employers once again slashed a substantial number of jobs off their payrolls in December, according to a disappointing report from the government Friday. But there was a small glimmer of hope as well. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 01/08/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/08/news/economy/jobs_december/index.htm Questions for discussion: Why is the loss of so many jobs so significant? What does… Read more »