Category: Market Watch

By: Nicholas Ivanecky The start of this New Year has been an interesting one for formally known company Research in Motion Ltd. [NASDAQ:BBRY] as the company had finally awoken from its deep sleep to compete with Apple, Google, and Windows. Their product launch for the BlackBerry Z10 on the 30th of January spurred many new opportunities to grow the company. But would that be enough to bring in new and returning customers back to the critically acclaimed Blackberry that introduced the world to smart phones? The launch in late January was a successful in the eyes of Thorsten Heins, CEO of BlackBerry, as he spent the last year overhauling the company, cutting 30 percent of its workforce to save $1 billion and restructuring the sales and marketing for this launch. His efforts were seen by investors late September that caused the stock to double. Moreover, investors reacted differently when they … Continue reading On the Homefront with BlackBerry

By: Ali Masud On 16th march, the EU and IMF agreed on a €10 billion ($13 billion) deal with Cyprus making it the fifth European country to receive money from the EU and IMF. Part of the bailout agreement demands that all bank customers pay a one-time levy that led to heavy cash withdrawals throughout Cyprus. Under the currently agreed terms, depositors with less than 100,000 euros in Cyprus accounts would have to pay a one-time tax of 6.75%. Those with sums over that threshold would pay 9.9%. Some sources have said that the president may want to lower the former rate to 3%, while raising the levy on the larger depositors to 12.5%. The president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades has insisted that without the bailout, Cyprus could face bankruptcy and a possible exit from the EU. The banks were closed on Monday for a national holiday and are being … Continue reading Cypriot Bailout Strategy

By: Blair Logan In the recent U.S. election that saw President Barack Obama return to office, attention now turns toward reconciling the “fiscal cliff” and policies to lower the United States budget deficit. Reconciling the American fiscal cliff is at the forefront of concern across global markets  erasing rallies and optimism in investor outlook. In the previous week of trading following Obama’s re-election,  the S&P 500 lost 2.4 percent, it is biggest decline in the last five months.  As risk and uncertainty spreads throughout markets,  an effective solution towards resolving the American budget deficit remains in debate. This week the president has invited top Democratic and Republican leaders to the White House, beginning  talks on a plan to settle the fiscal cliff. Without any action from Congress, over $600 billion in spending and tax increases are scheduled to commence effective this coming January as a first approach in the deficit … Continue reading Implications of American Fiscal Cliff

By: Maya Baluschak Ford Motor Co. and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) have finally reached an agreement. The four-year labor agreement has come into play quick enough to avoid the strike that would have halted production. The agreement is expected to create at least 600 new positions at Ford Canada, having the vast majority at the company’s Oakville plant. However, the CAW’s first priority is to bring back as many of the 800 laid off Ford employees throughout Ontario. The agreement mostly eliminates cost-of-living raises for workers and retirees. In doingso, each employee will receive lump sum payments of $2,000 in year two, three, and four of the contract, along with a $3,000 ratification bonus. The CAW is asking for Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Co. to accept the same terms. So far it has been indicated that they are unable to agree to those terms. “So I say … Continue reading CAW Reaches Tentative Labor Agreement with Ford

By: Jeremy Bober-Inoue Relations between Japan and China, two of Asia’s biggest economies, has never been in good spirits, their exchange has been referred to as “hot in trade and cold in politics”.  However two countries have managed to stay complacent as they are one of each other’s largest trading partners.  This changed on September 11 when the Japanese Cabinet approved Tokyo Governor, Shintaro Ishihara’s, request to use public funds to buy the islands from a private owner which has resurrected a decades old feud on the Islands true ownership.  China contests that this “constitutes a severe violation of China’s sovereignty”.  Since then Japanese personnel have landed on the islands and boats have been patroling recently. Disdain towards Japan hasn’t been this heated since 2005 when Japanese textbooks downplayed the brutality of their actions during the Second World War.  Protests have been held daily since the occurrence forcing some Japanese … Continue reading Territory Dispute Between China and Japan Over Islands Disrupts Economy

By: Anonymous The rise of technology has allowed for many dynamic innovations in the business world, one of the most recent being Bitcoin. Bitcoin, which was created by a group of hackers, is the newest way of transferring funds to an entirely digital currency. Unlike standard currency, Bitcoin has no host country and can be purchased or sold against any major global currency. With the currency being solely online, there are no physical coins or bills; instead all dollars are stored in a broad set of online exchanges. Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin has taken the form of many uses, including an avenue to store value, purchase goods online as well as invest. The use of Bitcoin has become under fire recently as many have used it in the purchase of illicit goods as tracking dealers is very difficult as the market is unregulated. Alone, the demand for Bitcoin … Continue reading The Rise of Bitcoin