Riding the bull a little longer

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

Description: The momentum that boosted the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq to nearly one-year highs looks to reassert itself in the week ahead. Fed meeting, housing reports, G-20 summit on tap. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 9/20/2009 Keys: Investing, stock market Link:  http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/18/markets/sunday_lookahead/index.htm?postversion=2009092008 Questions for discussion: Based on the report, do you believe the stock markets will… Read more »

Marchionne Managing Chrysler Means 5 Mobile Devices in Backpack

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

Description: To save Chrysler Group LLC, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has to create a mid-size sedan that can compete with the world’s best. It’s a three- to five-year job, and he may have two years to do it. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 9/14/2009 Keys: Management, investing, marketing Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=awHymjXNOYdI Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategies… Read more »

Skype founders’ Joost ousts chairman Mike Volpi

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: Web TV firm Joost, owned by the founders of Skype, removed its high-profile chairman Mike Volpi by shareholder vote, it said in a statement late on Friday. Source: Reuters News Date: 9/12/2009 Keys: Management, investing, marketing Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE58B0UZ20090912 Questions for discussion: Why do you think the same people keep emerging as top managers? Explain… Read more »

U.S. Stocks Fall on Concern Rally Outpaced Recovery Prospects

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

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 »

S&P 500 Tops 1,000 in Fourth Weekly Gain on Better Labor Market

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

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 »

U.S. Economy: Recession Eases, Consumer-Spending Slump Deepens

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

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 »

Get ready for banking’s next headache

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

A weak economy and frozen financing markets could spell trouble for regional banks with big commercial loan portfolios. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 7/24/2009 Keys: Finance, economy, investing Link:  http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/banks.commercial.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2009072416 Questions for discussion: Banks reflect the local economic conditions that exist by way of the current state of their loans to businesses and consumers.  Summarize the reasons… Read more »

Sales Fail to Keep Pace With Profits as Economy Stays Sluggish

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

Sales growth lagged behind profits as companies in the Standard & Poors’ 500 Index beat analysts’ estimates this week, a signal that economic recovery may be slow. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 7/25/2009 Keys: Economy, finance, investing, business cycle Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a8SqhtHkyfL4 Questions for discussion: Explain what the article says about the relationship between sales revenues and profits…. Read more »

Buffett’s investment advice

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

The legendary investor says the last thing you should do is buy and sell stocks for quick profit. Embedded video from CNNMoney.com Video Source: CNNMoney Reports – video report Date: 5/07/2009 Keys: Finance, investing, stock markets Link: http://money.cnn.com Questions for discussion: According to Buffett, ignoring the “ups and downs” and only looking at the long… Read more »

Ford Loss Beats Estimates on 49% Slash in Cash Use

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Source: Bloomberg  News Date: 4/24/2009 Keys: Finance, cash management, investing, government Link: http://www.bloomberg.com Questions for discussion: What is the connection between discounts and incentives offered to customers and the cash requirements of the Ford? Do you think Ford will be able to outperform GM and Chrysler and remain operational without the need government funding? Explain… Read more »