If you have been paying attention to international news over the last few weeks, you are most likely aware that the Middle East is once again heating up. While the civil war in Syria continues to rage, militant Islamic fundamentalists have risen up in Iraq (a group known as ISIS), and are slowly trekking toward Baghdad.
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Elon Musk, The Game Changer
Last Thursday, Tesla Motors (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk announced the electric car company will publish its technology patents. Musk stated that he and the company will not sue anyone who utilizes the patents, so long as they are used “in good faith.” The patents reference, but are not limited to, the technology within Tesla car batteries and the company’s charging station network. Since the announcement, analysts and investors alike are focused on how Tesla’s publication of valuable patents will (negatively) affect its future.
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Minimize Risk, Maximize Return
There is a discernible thrill to picking stocks correctly. Carefully considering risks, weighing possible options, and evaluating every aspect of a company, pulling the trigger, and finally seeing all your hard work pay off is extremely satisfying—and it can be very profitable too. While one must take care to avoid being sucked into the gambler’s paradise of day-trading, there is clearly an important role for the active investor, in value and growth. But there is an obvious catch: consistently successful trading is extremely difficult (read more here).
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Apple Beats Down Critics
Last Wednesday, May 28, 2014, Apple (AAPL) announced its $3 billion acquisition of Beats Music. The deal was finalized after three weeks of intense media coverage, and after the negotiations were leaked to the press. Previously, I endorsed Apple’s decision to purchase Beats for several reasons, including its brand recognition value, headphone market share, and popular music streaming service.
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The Investor Balancing Act
This week I’ll shift away from the cognitive biases and irrational behavior that affect our decision-making, and instead shift my focus towards one of the most important aspects of investing: portfolio theory. Modern portfolio theory (MPT) focuses on building a portfolio of assets that maximizes the risk-adjusted return—that is, maximizes the expected return of an investment portfolio while minimizing its risk (learn more about how to avoid risk here).
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The Internet Of Everything
Last week, tech giant Cisco (CSCO) beat quarterly revenue estimates by $120 million and beat earnings guidance by $.03. Cisco issued its results in the late hours of May 14th, prompting an after-hours trading surge of Cisco stock. After closing at around $22.80 per share, Cisco opened on May 15th at over $24 and is now priced at $24.82. Additionally, Deutsche Bank upgraded Cisco to a “buy” rating, with a price target of $30.
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The $50 Billion Acquisition
Last week, AT&T (T), the second largest wireless provider in America, announced its intent to purchase satellite television provider DirecTV (DTV) for $50 Billion. The takeover will allow AT&T to bundle more television, mobile, and Internet plans while improving the quality of its overall services. By acquiring DirecTV, AT&T will now serve more than 26 million video users in the United States.
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