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Describe the Google Company’s strategic situation.

The strategic situation Google is currently facing is based on the previous events experienced by the company. In particular, within the past years, the company has faced several legal cases related to its performance ethics on a global scale. Moreover, the company has launched projects and products in such subsections...

Do you think Google company enjoys a Sustainable Competitive Advantage over its rivals?

The company enjoys a sustainable competitive advantage over its rivals since it has gained a large number of buyers who prioritize Google’s products over other products in the market on a long-term basis. In particular, within the segment of internet search, the statistical data presented in the case study allows...

Complete a Porter’s five forces analysis of the Google company.

Buyer bargaining power is medium due to the influence of a company’s reputation on the likelihood of buyers using its products. In Google’s case, the company has suffered a decline in brand reputation due to legal cases. The threat of new entrants is low because the industry of information technologies...

List four ‘Key Success Factors’ (KSFs) for the industry that the Google company is part of, with a justification for the choice of KSFs.

The key success factors for Google include: Expertise in developing efficient internet search tools and applications. The company has a long history of developing internet search engines. Moreover, it currently dominates the search industry. Quality control of technological products. The company strives for excellence in performance and cherishes users’ experience,...

What are the implications of price escalation?

Price escalation causes a decrease in demand for goods and services by a company. It also leads to increased profit margins due to the huge difference between the production cost and the selling price of a commodity. An increase in the cost of a commodity has a detrimental effect on...

Which sectors of the Italian economy decreased? Why do you think this is the case?

Every sector of the Italian economy decreases by 1913. However, some noticeable sectors, such as iron and steel, reduce from high annual growth of 13.8% between 1896 and 1908 to 5.0% between 1908 and 1913. Another notable drop occurred in the engineering sector, from 12.2% to 2% within the same...

Include a comment on something else you have read in the news about the economy today.

There are many articles addressing different aspects of the GFC, with the most recent focusing on the lessons learned. Oliver highlights seven key lessons learned about the economy being bound to experience cycles characterized by a boom and recession. Each cycle is unique and causes markets to be stretched to...

How has the economic crisis we went through affected you today?

In response to the economic crisis, the legislative bodies came up with different laws to streamline the financial sector. This has come a long way in saving the population against another financial meltdown. At an individual level, the crisis helped to underline the importance of being cautious in undertaking investments....

Tell me something you learned from “The Crisis of Credit Visualized” video.

The credit crisis involves financial lenders and individual investors, who are brought together by the monetary framework and market, that is, Wall Street. The financiers engage weaker assessment rules in providing financial services to the investors. However, the financiers do this with the appetite to earn higher returns fueled by...

Which group in our society has the highest incidence of poverty and the lowest? Can poverty be eliminated without using any income redistribution plan? Why or why not? Discuss the weaknesses and strengths of the U.S. approach to the problem of poverty.

Poverty affects each country on a different level, with some having an extremely high rate of unemployment and wages below the line to support one’s basic needs. The highest incidence of poverty is in ethnic minorities – Hispanic, Native American, and Black persons, while white married couples are among the...

According to the New York Times (November 18, 2006), the number of car producers in China was increasing rapidly. The newspaper reported that Chinese consumers’ incomes have risen. However, the article also stated that “China has more car brands now than the United States… But while car sales have climbed 38 percent in the first three quarters of this year, automakers have increased their output even faster, causing fierce competition and a slight decrease in prices.” Assume that cars are a normal good. Use a graphical and written explanation of supply and demand analysis to explain what happened in the Chinese car market.

As of the beginning of 2008, the Chinese automobile market was in equilibrium at point E, formed by the intersection of the demand curve (D) and supply curve (S). The equilibrium price per vehicle was OP, while the equilibrium quantity per car was OQ cars. The rise in wealth spurred...

Gas prices have risen over the past few weeks. At the Costco in Rohnert Park on February 25, 2022, a gallon of gas was priced at $4.70. On March 15, 2022, the same type of gas cost $5.45/gallon. Use supply and demand analysis to explain what happened to the gas market.

Market forces largely determine oil and gas prices. According to a study conducted by Akinrolabu and Haruna on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at 60 years, by December 2020, oil was plentiful and in high demand. Oil prices are influenced by various factors, including the fundamental economic...

Assume you are in charge of developing the strategy for an international company in the UAE that sells products in 50 different countries worldwide. One of the issues you face is whether to employ a multi-domestic, global, or transnational strategy. Suppose your company’s product is large home appliances such as washing machines, ranges, ovens, and refrigerators. Would it seem to make more sense to pursue a multi-domestic strategy, a global strategy, or a transnational strategy? Why?

The company specializing in manufacturing such appliances as ovens, washing machines, and refrigerators can use a transnational strategy that combines several features of multi-domestic and global ones. Although most devices are primarily standardized and required by customers from different countries, it is necessary to consider local preferences. For instance, clients...

Assume you are in charge of developing the strategy for an international company in the UAE that sells products in 50 different countries worldwide. One of the issues you face is whether to employ a multi-domestic, global, or transnational strategy. If your company’s product is apparel and footwear, would a multi-domestic strategy, a global strategy, or an international strategy seem to have more appeal? Why?

The company that produces apparel and footwear for customers from 50 countries should employ a multi-domestic strategy. First of all, the clothing industry has various standards in different states. Secondly, people have diverse religions, which sometimes dictate the norms of style. Moreover, customers can live in multiple climatic zones and...

What is inflation? Who is hurt, and who benefits from inflation? What are some current solutions and policies to combat inflation issues? What else can be done?

Inflation is the rate at which prices increase with time. It negatively affects people with low incomes because the cost of living rises. Inflation can benefit people with debts as money loses its value. To lower the inflation rate, governments change interest rates which influence people’s borrowing or putting money...

How do some economists define economic growth? How is it measured? Explain how economic growth can influence other critical social issues, such as unemployment and poverty. Provide examples.

Economic growth can be described as an increase in the volume of goods and services produced or their economic value. It is measured in the gross domestic product (GDP) by a country over a period of time. With economic growth, unemployment and poverty are believed to decrease. Increased output of...

What are some examples of monopolies? What are the criteria to be classified as a monopoly? How are they formed? What would happen in our economy if monopolies were legal? Should they be legal and support your position?

A monopoly on the market is achieved when one company or entity possesses absolute power over it. Currently, such businesses as Microsoft and Google can be considered monopolies. The first dominates the market for operating systems, and the second is the largest search engine and advertisement platform. To be classified...

What are the types of unemployment? Which ones are individual problems, and which ones are government problems? Give examples of each and support your stance. What are some inaccuracies of the unemployment number?

There are four main types of unemployment; the first is frictional unemployment – it is a personal problem that describes people who enter the job market after graduation, those who move to a different city and are looking for a new position. The next type is structural unemployment which arises...

Which sectors of the Italian economy are the most successful?

The nation’s electricity sector is the most successful faction in Italy’s economy, eliciting a 10.5% annual growth rate between 1908 and 1913. It also showcased higher growth between 1834-1913 and 1896-1908, with 15% and 17% annual growth, respectively. Furthermore, the iron and steel sectors also exhibited high growth until 1908....

Assume you are in charge of developing the strategy for an international company in the UAE that is selling products in 50 different countries around the world. One of the issues you face is whether to employ a multi-domestic strategy, a global strategy, or a transnational strategy. If your company’s product is mobile phones, do you think it would make better strategic sense to employ a multi-domestic strategy, a global strategy, or a transnational strategy? Why?

The UAE international company specializing in producing mobile phones can use a global strategy. This strategy signifies that the organization has a global brand and does not pay much attention to the requirements of local markets from different countries. Since mobile phones are pretty standardized gadgets that primarily do not...

Assume you are in charge of developing the strategy for an international company in the UAE that sells products in 50 different countries worldwide. One of the issues you face is whether to employ a multi-domestic, global, or transnational strategy. Would a multi-domestic plan seem more advisable than a worldwide strategy if your company’s product is dry soup mixes and canned soups? Why?

Perhaps it would be better for the company producing dry soup mixes and canned soups to employ a multi-domestic strategy that considers the local markets’ requirements and differences. Food production should often be accompanied by thoughtful exploring of customers’ culture. The soup industry is not as standardized as technology: the...

How is the statement of cash flow different than the income statement?

The cash flow statement demonstrates the liquidity and solvency of the business. Based on the position of finances and their equivalents at the beginning and end of the selected period of time, it shows the movement of the cash during this period. All activities involving the movement of money are...

What type of information is found in the Amazon statement of cash flows?

Cash flow refers to the cash and the equivalents that pass through the company, constantly entering and leaving it, in contrast to the profit remaining in the company. If it exceeds network income, we can talk about the reliability of the company and its profitability. At the end of 2019,...

What type of information is found in the Amazon statement of shareholders’ equity?

This consolidated statement is part of the balance sheet and shows annual changes in the financial balance of stockholders and shareholders. Shareholders’ equity means the amount of money that they can receive after withdrawing all assets and paying debts – the balance goes to legal entities depending on the level...

What is the amount of total assets on the balance sheet of Amazon?

This balance sheet contains data on the assets, liabilities, and equity of the company, including both specific cash and investments, and debts. The number of assets indicated in the balance sheets is 321.195 million dollars. It is made up of current assets (cash and its equivalents, marketable securities, inventories, and...

Briefly explain your interest in Amazon company and its business.

The financial activity of the Amazon company is considered. The last annual report posted on their official website is taken, which makes it possible to see the comprehensive financial growth of the company in recent years. These giants of the modern business industry were chosen due to the wide coverage...

Does the Amazon corporation have an operating income or loss?

Due to profitability and growth in influence, Amazon is seeing an increase in operating profit. The operating income in the 2020 report of the Amazon company is equal to the difference between net revenue and operating expenses. Referring to the variety of categories and services, the company emphasizes that it...

Identify key clauses of the International Sales Contract and explain their content.

The contract of international sale is concluded between parties whose commercial enterprises are located in the territory of different states. To recognize the contract of sale as international, only one condition is sufficient – the location of the commercial enterprises of the parties in different states.

Celestila Moonn, a UMB intern at SchoolStreet, Inc., made the following statement: Bond markets are markets in which bonds are issued and traded. By purchasing either the U.S. Treasury Bonds or Greek Government Bonds, I can lend money to the U.S. Treasury or Greek Government. Since bonds are amortized security, I do not have to wait until maturity to get interest payments and the principal amount back from the Greek Government. So there is no default risk. Discuss whether Moonn is correct with respect to the Greek Government bonds and amortized security.

In general, bonds may be defined as long-term debt obligations, the original issue maturities of which are greater than one year. As fixed-income securities, bonds represent loans made to government and corporate borrowers to raise their funds and support long-term capital needs, for instance, capital expenditure projects. In return, bond...

In response to a question from one of her fellow students in the Global Financial Markets class, Moon tells the following regarding Real Estate Markets: Real estate values derive from the interaction of three different sectors in the economy, and the capital market sectors serve to allocate financial resources among households and firms. Also, in general, the single largest asset category in the net worth portfolios of households is housing. However, her fellow student disagrees with Moonn’s statements. Briefly discuss if you agree with her fellow student.

First of all, I partly agree with a classmate that Moon is misreading real estate pricing displays. It should be noted that the real estate market is a very inert area of the economic system. The high inertia of the real estate market is due to many reasons. On the...

Celestila Moonn, a UMB intern at SchoolStreet, Inc, opens The Wall Street Journal and finds that in Japan, the capital markets surged recently, benefiting from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Bank of Japan’s aggressive policies designed to stimulate economic growth and lift the country out of deflation. Moon was wondering, in response to these policies, whether the Japanese yen would appreciate or depreciate relative to the U.S. dollar. In order to clear her concepts on foreign exchange markets, Moonn opens the readings on “Foreign Exchange Markets,” and after completing the readings, Moonn ponders whether the exchange rate changes between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen are necessarily good or bad for Japanese automakers. Briefly discuss if you agree with Moon.

Moonn reflects on the impact of the exchange rate changes between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen on Japanese automakers, and I agree that this issue deserves particular attention as exchange rates substantially affect multiple economic sectors. Due to the stimulating policies of the Japanese government, the Japanese yen...

After completing the Derivatives Securities Markets reading, Moonn was not sure whether she fully understood the attributes of different types of derivatives. To clear the concepts, she sought help from a tutor. In response to Moonn’s question regarding futures and forward contracts, the tutor stated the following: Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts are marked to market daily and a clearinghouse backs the buyer’s and seller’s position in a forward contract. Briefly discuss if you disagree with the tutor.

First of all, it must be said that I do not agree with the tutor because he mixed up the contracts. A forward contract is an agreement between two parties for the delivery in the future of the subject of the contract. This agreement is concluded outside the exchange. The...

Assess the financial performance of Wirecard up to the fraud revelation. How well did Wirecard do over time and compared to its peers? As an investor, how do you feel about Wirecard’s performance, and what red flags do you see?

Wirecard Company was the favorite financial technology scene across European countries, especially Germany. It helped create excellent partnerships with like-minded countries that could use their brands in online business. However, Wirecard Company is now facing a fight from all corners of the market globally to survive to carry out its...

As an investor, how serious are the allegations against Wirecard related to its M&A activity, financial reporting, and TPA business? What information in Wirecard’s financial statements could you have used to assess the merit of these allegations, and what additional information do you wish you had had? Calculate Beneish’s M-Score to inform your assessment of the financial reporting allegations against Wirecard.

Regarding M&A activity, the allegations of Wirecard are accurate and are not limited to financial reporting and TPA business. First, the claims of carrying out a fraudulent company are pretty disturbing; it hurts the industry’s growth. In M&A activity, consolidation with other entities is always prioritized, as this will help...

Assess the quality of Wirecard’s internal control mechanisms and Europe’s corporate governance institutions and their importance for investors in assessing Wirecard’s risk.

The Wirecard affair elevates inquiries concerning the marketplace and institutional bungle’s efficacy. Several methods designed to combat corporate fraud and deception have fallen short in some ways. Many fraud activities inside the Wirecard Company are difficult to control. Sensibly, the way the customers are fabricated through Wirecard communicates how the...

Why do you think the Wirecard Company fraud could continue for so long? Who do you think should have discovered the fraud?

Bad Communication Most company enterprises and government administrations tend to have poor communication systems that encourage corruption. Corruption, and when there are no actions taken to curb corruption from taking place, unethical deeds will happen. An attractive example is what happened with the Wirecard Company, in which some of the...

Why was the market so bullish about Wirecard?

Wirecard was a fraud that was publicly known, thus raising so many questions about their business practices. Regulators and important financial players treated the company as a rock star, fabricating customers, inventing earnings, and lying about the whereabouts of €1.9 billion in cash. In a business setup, high integrity must...

Your company is thinking of investing in East Asia. What cultural issues would you expect to crop up before the FDI begins and after it becomes operational? Which functions in a firm are most affected by culture? What dimensions of culture are useful to managers in analyzing cross-cultural differences? Rank and explain the top five dimensions of culture in order of importance to MNE management according to you.

As globalization takes a leading role in business development and entrepreneurship, cultural influences have become increasingly important. Investing in a new region presents companies with challenges in handling cultural changes. It has been proven that cultural awareness affects a company’s capacity to penetrate a local market, build and manage business...

International executives working in foreign subsidiaries are often confronted with conflicting demands in their jobs. Headquarters (HQ) is keen on integrating key functions and activities whereas local governments have their own national economic development and social objectives. Identify three major areas of conflict facing subsidiary managers in their jobs in trying to balance HQ demands and local government policies and explain how they might deal with them.

Since the inception of the field of international business (IB), scholars have argued how firms might address the tension between local adaptation and global interconnectedness in their strategy to compete in a global setting effectively. In today’s complex and competitive landscape, many multinational corporations (MNCs) are subjected to a multitude...

Strategic alliances and international joint ventures are becoming the norm for firms engaged in international business. At the same time, more and more industries are becoming global in nature. How can Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) execute a global strategy that, by definition, requires total control keeping in mind they have dozens of foreign partners that demand shared decision-making? Normally an MNE with a global strategy would have a worldwide product structure, but if it has many alliance partners, what is the appropriate organizational structure, and what kind of adjustments should be made?

For successful entry and domination of new global markets, companies have acknowledged the need to join strategic national and regional alliances. These joint ventures play a crucial role in facilitating market entry through minimized costs and improved research through collaboration. However, these alliances may limit a company’s autonomy through shared...

Why does an international manager need to understand regional economic integration and other forms of cross-national cooperation? If your firm has plans to expand in an EU country, what kinds of opportunities and threats do you perceive? Is the proliferation of such agreements (free trade areas, customs unions, etc.) good for world trade in general? Which type of trade agreement is better for world trade: regional agreements like NAFTA, EU, or the worldwide WTO?

Regional integration has become increasingly important with the growth of internationalization. A regional manager is charged with facilitating company growth and development in their region of operation. Due to the interconnection between key market players, n company can survive on its own. A regional economic integration entails an agreement that...

MNEs have a lot of options regarding modes of entry (MOE) into a foreign market (e.g., exporting, licensing, foreign direct investment, international joint ventures, strategic alliances, etc.). Why do MNEs struggle to figure out the right MOE? Is MOE a one-time decision, or can MNEs change their entry strategy? Which amongst all of the MOE options are easy to change, and which are not?

As the global economy thrives and competition among “global players” grows, CEOs and top managers are debating how to identify effective globalization methods on the basis of how and where to join a foreign market. Surprisingly, most businesses try to adhere to their old methods of doing things, which means...

Discuss four reasons why price discrimination is legal in some situations. Illustrate three organizations who have used legal price discrimination in their sales and marketing and how?

For consumer behavior, and more specifically, for consumer choice, it is very important to know how much the buyer is willing to pay for a particular product. At the same time, an economic phenomenon arises a consumer surplus. The consumer surplus is the difference between the potential willingness to pay...

Discuss the four main market structures and their features. Give organizational and market examples to further illustrate your points.

The four main market structures include the perfectly competitive model, monopolistic competition, monopoly, and oligopoly. The perfect competitive structure stands out due to features like many sellers and buyers, each exhibiting an excellent comprehension of the market. The sellers and buyers know the prices charged for all the items on...

Discuss four advantages and four disadvantages of each of the market structures. Use examples to further buttress your points.

Each of the four market structures has both advantages and disadvantages. The perfectly competitive model, for example, has benefits like cost-saving, freedom of choice, profit maximization, and the lack of artificial limitations. Cost-saving mainly touches on the fact that both sellers and customers do not need to incur additional expenditures...

Discuss four pros and four cons of transfer pricing within an organization. Use examples to further illustrate your point.

Transfer pricing is the system that multinationals use to control their expenditure on taxes and costs. The strategy has both benefits and demerits. Examples of such benefits include: Tax advantages – Transfer pricing helps multinationals control their expenditures on (corporate) taxes by paying taxes in only the nations where specific...

Discuss the concepts of value creation and value capture in the context of transaction costs, factors of production, and diversification. Describe how two major organizations capture value in relation to factors of production and diversification.

The theory of value created by Marshall implies that at the point of equality of two types of prices – the price of demand and the price of supply – an equilibrium price was established. It represents the actual value of the product, and that is how value creation occurs....

Using the appropriate diagrams and relevant economic theories, analyze the market for raw sugar and explain why sugar price has been increasing. Based on your diagrammatic analysis, what do you anticipate will happen to equilibrium quantity?

The price of sugar has gone up due to a fall in supply from India and increasing demand in Brazil for the production of ethanol. In economics, a market where the price of a commodity is influenced by supply and demand is regarded as perfect competition. A perfectly competitive market...

Thinking about the production and consumption of sugar, do you anticipate that supply and demand for sugar are price elastic or inelastic? Critically discuss. For any given change in demand or supply, when do you anticipate observing greater price fluctuations? Discuss using the appropriate diagrams.

The supply and demand curves conventionally characterize the association between the number of units of a product that are supplied or demanded at a given price. The ratio between the proportionate change in the quantity supplied (Qs) or quantity demanded (Qd), and the parallel percentage change in price is what...

More than 90 percent of the world’s ethanol is made by fermentation using sugar from plant material. Explain how the market for ethanol may impact the market for sugar used in confectionery. Illustrate your argument using the appropriate diagrams.

The fluctuations in the price of ethanol affect the market for sugar through the effect of related products. This would cause the demand curve for ethanol to shift either to the right or to the left, mutatis multibus. Related products can either be (1) complements; or (2) substitutes. Substitutes are...

Did Amgen do well during the years 2000 to 2006? Explain.

Amgen was very successful during the years 2000 to 2006, which was also Sharer’s first six years at the company. During that period, Amgen’s stock price grew from $60 when Sharer took over to over $70 at the end of that period. Its market capitalization grew to a level where...

Did Amgen do well during the years 2007 to 2009? Explain.

No, Amgen did not do well during the years 2007 to 2009. This period coincided with a time of hostile market conditions and concerns about the prime products of the company. Amgen saw its growth reduce significantly, and the stock price was also affected.

What arguments did Amgen use to defend its core business?

To defend its core business, Amgen argued that the biosimilars they produced for the U.S. market were different from generic drugs. The company created more awareness of its business to protect its interests and products. In Europe, Amgen took the path of a reputable and valued innovator to defend itself....

What are the arguments for Amgen’s going into the biosimilar business?

At the peak of its growth in 2006, Amgen looked to expand its business even further. The market for biosimilars was lucrative, and the company only needed to join it at the right time. It carried out research and extensive market analysis of the venture to ensure it was a...

What are the arguments against Amgen’s going into the biosimilar business?

Amgen had set its business up as an innovator that produced cutting-edge products. The biosimilar business was lucrative purely on business but would dilute its image. It was widely thought that changes in the business model would affect its reputation as an innovator. Resources would also have to be diverted...

Why is capital budgeting important?

Capital budgeting is evaluating a prospective project’s cash inflows and outflows to reveal a possible profit. Duncombe underlines that “It was first developed in the 1940s.” Based on this definition, it is evident that capital budgeting is an essential part of a company’s financial activities. Precisely through this process, it...

Comment on the pricing philosophy, “Sometimes price should be wrong by design.”

Prices should be wrong by design, and this acts as a marketing strategy serving varied purposes for the company. Increasing the price of a community beyond its required market value may decrease the sales of a commodity but also attracts customers who desire luxury goods. This is because these customers...

Discuss the advantages and drawbacks of countertrade.

Advantages of countertrade include its ability to enable companies to venture into tough markets with a shortage of foreign currency. It also empowers companies to compete better against their adversaries as its product is familiar to the consumers. It also enables companies to dispose of surplus or declining products. Drawbacks...

Suppose your company is very successful, and you cash out most of your stock and turn the company over to an elected board of directors. Neither you nor any other stockholders own a controlling interest (this is the situation at most public companies). List six potential managerial behaviors that can harm a firm’s value.

My company gets very successful hence the launching of other branches takes place. It is also able to sell out most shares and earns a lot of revenue in return for the company. When I had to leave for the Pacific for my passion for underwater photography, the company was...

Briefly describe the use of stock options in a compensation plan. What are some potential problems with stock options as a form of compensation?

Stock options are a form of compensation that is mainly used to attract potential employees and for the retainment of existing employees. Stock options are offered to potential employees as an incentive to increase the possibility of purchasing shares of the firm at a discount rather than purchasing shares at...

Explain, in detail, why you think the performance values are different between Canada and China and how long-run economic growth operates differently between these two countries.

Economic growth in a given country can be monitored through several factors and economic indicators such as GDP. However, the pure values of the parameters cannot reflect the peculiarities of the course of economic processes. Therefore, it is also necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the state in...

Do you think the CPI price changes affect all consumers in the economy to the same extent? If not, how do you determine who “wins” and who “loses” in this particular situation? Explain why these differences would exist.

The consumer price index is a means of measuring price changes in the economy over a selected period. Using this parameter, one can assess the economy’s direction and the standard of living of people in the country. However, since this value is average, it does not reflect all the intricacies...

Suppose you need additional capital to expand and you sell some stock to outside investors. If you maintain enough stock to control the company, what type of agency conflict might occur?

If I need additional capital, I will have to sell some stock to potential investors. Selling shares to the new employees raises revenue for the company and gives the new investors ownership rights. The company also increases the dividend obligation payable to the shareholders at the end of the trading...

In your own words, identify two different stock exchanges in the United States. Describe the similarities and differences between the two stock exchanges. Identify one stock from each of the two stock exchanges.

Stock exchanges are online or physical venues where such financial securities as shares, unit trusts, bonds, and derivates are traded. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) are the two premium marketplaces for stocks in the United States. They account for...

Identify two different stock exchanges in the United States. Using the two stocks you identified, determine the free cash flows from 2015 and 2016. What inference can you draw from the companies’ free cash flows?

The free cash flow (FCF) represents the surplus finances available in a company after funding all its projects with a positive net present value. According to Abughniem et al. and Yeo, FCF is the net operating income generated by a firm before accounting for such activities, which support operations and...

Define and discuss the weak-form EMH (efficient-market hypothesis). Describe the two sets of tests used to examine the weak-form EMH.

The weak-form EMH is the belief based on the assumption that actual stock prices adequately reflect security market information (price history, return rates, trading volume). The approach suggests that historical security market data is independent of the future rates of return. Statistical tests of independence, including the autocorrelation and the...

Define and discuss the semistrong-form EMH (Efficient-Market Hypothesis). Describe the two sets of tests used to examine the semistrong-form EMH.

Semistrong-form EMH is the hypothesis that security prices adjust to the publication of available data and reflect all public information. The first set of tests used to examine the semistrong-form EMH is the return prediction studies aiming to estimate the time-series values of future rates of return through the use...

What is meant by the term abnormal rate of return?

The term ‘abnormal rate of return’ refers to the deviation from the expected rate of return on a security/portfolio. It can be calculated by defining the difference between the actual rate of return for a stock and the expected rate of return. The resulting value may change over time, as...

Discuss the rationale for expecting an efficient capital market. What factor would you look for to differentiate the market efficiency for two alternative stocks?

Efficient capital markets (ECMs) are characterized by the rapid adjustment of security prices according to relevant information concerning security. Thus, the rationale for expecting an ECM is the ability of security evaluation to deliver positive investment results through the use of multiple sources of information. The analysis of historical economic...

If, in fact, stocks in the index are inflated because of indexing, what implications, if any, would it have for your investment strategy if you do not believe in indexing?

If indexing inflates the stocks in the index, I will try to replicate the performance of a market index. This does not require trading, so I will have lower expenses and fees in addition to a greater diversity of investments. Moreover, by mimicking the returns of a benchmark index, I...

Most index funds index the S&P 500. It has been argued that indexing has been responsible for stocks in this index going up more than the rest of the market. Do you agree?

Indexing is a passive investment strategy to construct a portfolio. I agree with the statement as, in recent years, stocks have increased sharply right after they are accepted by the S&P 500. Although there is a short-term effect of indexing on stocks, it influences the ease of the stock market....

What are the sources of Facebook’s market power? If a firm would like to enter the social networking market, what barriers to entry may it face?

Today, digital platforms and various software environments represent a new kind of market power. Facebook is one of the most widespread phenomena around the globe, which has consolidated leadership positions in particular niches. The sources of Facebook’s market power are immense access to user data, comprehensive coverage of influence and...

Why did Amazon initially consider international expansion?

Amazon envisioned worldwide development as a result of the vast range and ease given by online retailing. The internet strategy introduced it to a global market, increasing demand for its items in other nations. Subsidiaries in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Japan, did better than subsidiaries in...

Does Market Economy, Command Economy, or Mixed Economy affect the viability of a program like “Patrimonio Hoy,” and if so, in what ways?

The Market Economy does, in fact, affect programs such as “Patrimonio Hoy” due to the fact that it establishes competition in the economy. This competition leads to changes in pricing, as well as the structuring of the loans. Cawman and Fine-Skalnik (2021) state that “this activity requires competitive and comparative...

How will reducing the provision for uncollectible accounts affect the income statement and the balance sheet?

When costs are not properly accounted for, it results in profit being overstated, since the income is a constant regardless of expenses. Such inflation will affect the representativeness of data negatively, overestimating a firm’s profitability for potential stakeholders. Additionally, it might create additional issues with direct management of the business,...

How will reducing the provision for uncollectible accounts in the current period affect the income statement and the balance sheet in a future period?

If uncollectible accounts’ provision decreases continuously, the associated reduction will have no impact on future years’ income statements, whereas if the amounts are not increased or decreased, the overestimation will persist at the same rate. In this case, however, the CFO chooses to increase the provision for the following year....

What is your assessment of the ways in which Chipotle has responded to the food poisoning incidents in some of its restaurants?

It is clear that Chipotle has taken the food poisoning incidents in its restaurants seriously and, thus, implemented well-thought means to prevent future incidents. The fact that Chipotle’s managing lead decided to cooperate with the state and federal health officials speaks in their favor, as together, they managed to develop...

The Wheel of Successful Intelligence

Discuss the Wheel of Successful Intelligence. What does the wheel show about the balance you perceive in your three thinking skills? If it were a real wheel, would it roll? If yes – why. If not – why not. Based on the appearance of the wheel, in which skill do...

How to Develop a Performance Management System

As the new HR Director of a company in the behavioral health industry, you have the responsibility to develop a performance management system. Given several key practices for a successful performance management system, which ones should be implemented first? Identify key measurements to transition the company from the current system...

The Great Recession of 2008

Discuss the Causes and Consequences of the Great Recession of 2008. Discuss and analyze the Housing Market Crash Leading to the Great Recession of 2008. U.S. Watch on Tax Structure. Is it designed to help the poor? The research component requires that you specify a methodology to accomplish your objective.

Auditing Business Processes Discussion

What additional audit procedures do you think are most effective in detecting abuse or fraud related to executive compensation? In your opinion, what are the costs and benefits associated with compensating executives with stock or the option to purchase stock? What do you believe are the most effective audit procedures...

Broadcasting and Other Innovations in Business

Discuss broadcasting and other innovations in business. How can an idea become such an innovative product or solution? What does it take to transform an organization into one driven by innovation and capable of deploying innovative products and solutions? What does it take to create completely new innovative organizations and...

The Concept of Merchandising Businesses

Discuss merchandising businesses in your area. What are its inventory policies and accounting system? What merchandise inventory does the business sell? From whom does the business buy its inventory? Is the relationship with the supplier new or longstanding? What are the FOB terms on inventory purchases? Who pays the freight:...

How to Create Effective Business Messages

Discuss how to create effective business messages. Describe each of the three components in the AIM planning process for business messages: audience analysis, idea development, and message. Explain the general nature of excellence in business thinking and how it applies to the idea development stage of planning. Discuss basic considerations...

The Role and Concept of Down Payment

What is a down payment? Discuss the Minimum allowable down payment. What is a down payment? Discuss the Minimum allowable down payment. What conventional wisdom says a down payment should be? Explain the LTV. Explain the PMI.

The Role and Concept of Supply Chain in Business

The supply chain is a topic that blends multiple skill sets, such as collaboration, ethics, and technology. Let’s discuss this topic. What is a supply chain? What is the objective of a supply chain? Why are supply chain decisions important? Explain how the issue can be resolved, or if the...