Description: Even with Barnes & Noble Inc. selling for 60 cents on the dollar, the cheapest retailer in America still isn’t cheap enough to entice private-equity buyers looking for cash. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 03/25/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-25/no-buyers-for-barnes-noble-at-60-cents-on-dollar-real-m-a.html Questions for discussion: What does this report have to say about the financial viability of this business model? What… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Understanding Accounting and Financial Statements (p498)
NOLA’s green renaissance
Description: Five years after Katrina destroyed the city, New Orleans is rebuilt and flowering into a ‘green’ hub of the South. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/17/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/03/17/sbiz_green_new_orleans.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the green energy renewal effort in New Orleans. How can this serve as a model for other communities? Do you think… Read more »
General Mills Nears $1.1 Billion Deal to Buy Half of Yoplait
Description: The owners of Yoplait, the French yogurt maker, said Friday that they were in exclusive negotiations with the company’s longtime American partner, General Mills, to sell just over a 50 percent stake for about 800 million euros ($1.1 billion). Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 03/18/2011 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/general-mills-set-to-buy-yoplait-stake-for-1-1-billion/?ref=business Questions for discussion: Do you think that General… Read more »
Apple, Google May Profit on a Tax Holiday
Description: Those companies and others say they’ll bring home billions in earningsâ€â€but only if they get a big tax break Source: Businessweek.com Date: 03/17/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_13/b4221064108107.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the basic arguments surrounding this topic. What are the factors favoring allowing tax-free repatriation and those against?
Pro Sports vs. the Web Pirates
Description: Leagues from the NFL and NBA to Ultimate Fighting are finding it nearly impossible to block pirate video sites from streaming live events. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 02/24/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_10/b4218066626285.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the problems described in this report? How has the industry responded? Besides the legal and technological solutions, what are some… Read more »
The risk of Egypt and Mideast stocks, post Mubarak
Description: Investing in a troubled region with a long-term perspective Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 02/11/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-risk-of-egypt-and-mideast-stocks-post-mubarak-2011-02-11?dist=afterbell Questions for discussion: What does this article have to say about the risks associated with investment and investment in Egypt and the Middle East in particular? Do you agree with these views? What are some good reasons to be… Read more »
Green Bay Packers owned by the fans
Description: The storied franchise is the country’s only publicly-owned, non-profit major professional sports team. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/04/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/02/04/n_green_bay_packers.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think the ownership structure has an effect on the operation of the team? What benefits and disadvantages are there to the team management because of this structure?… Read more »
MARKETS HUB: US Stocks Slide As Ford, Amazon Sink
Description: U.S. stocks are taking a turn downward on Friday as Ford and Amazon tumble. Kristina Peterson, Kathleen Madigan and Donna Kardos Yesalavich report. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 01/28/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/markets-hub-us-stocks-slide-as-ford-amazon-sink/37D6779C-DD28-4AD2-B771-D137898835D5 Questions for discussion: Summarize the opinions made about the stock market. Are you optimistic about the economy and the stock market? Would… Read more »
America, it’s time to start taking risks again
Description: After bidding farewell to 2010, many Americans are suffering from a hangover — but it isn’t from excessive partying. Quite the opposite: The unemployment rate in December fell to 9.4%, but job gains for the month disappointed. Meanwhile public confidence about the nation’s future has fallen to historic lows. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 01/07/2011 Link:… Read more »
Will Apple sour in 2011?
Description: Readers of ‘The Buzz’ are surprisingly bearish on the technology giant despite a super 2010. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/23/n_bz_apple_aapl_2011.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasoning that supports further increases ahead for Apple and those that don’t. What do you think will happen to Apple stock value?
