Some big U.S. retailers are stepping up efforts to use personal identification numbers, or PINs, with new credit cards embedded with computer chips in a bid to prevent counterfeit card fraud. Questions: 1. Why is this being resisted by banks? 2. Which retailers are leading the movement? 3. Discuss the costs and benefits of the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Video Updates
Bad Legal Advice or Bad Insurance Companies or Bad Laws?
One of my favorite quotes is that from author Wendy Mass: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” And so it seems that this story may illustrate it well. The article and video discuss the case of Jennifer Connell who sued her nephew, Sean Tarala, for $127,000 over… Read more »
All Day Breakfast
In an email to franchisees, McDonald’s US President Mike Andres called the all-day breakfast launch a success. However, this article points to a survey of U.S. franchisees that disagree. Questions: 1. Why are McDonald’s franchisees saying that the all-day breakfast launch has been a nightmare? List the reasons and rank them according to your opinion… Read more »
Vintage Frauds
The issue of fake wines started to become headline news a few years ago when the so-called Thomas Jefferson bottles, several old bottles of Bordeaux, claimed to have belonged to Thomas Jefferson were offered by a German wine collector named Hardy Rodenstock. Bill Koch, the brother of the notorious Charles and David Koch, bought four… Read more »
What’s going on with Walmart stock?
The four members of the Walton family controlling more than half the shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had $11 billion of their combined net worth evaporate Wednesday as shares of the retailer plunged on a lower earnings outlook for the coming fiscal year. Questions: 1. Who are the four Waltons that the article is talking… Read more »
Huge Merger
To keep up with the changing technology environment, computer maker Dell will buy the storage provider EMC in a deal worth about $67 billion, the companies announced today, Oct. 12. Questions: 1. What are some of the benefits of the new combined company? 2. How much is Dell going to pay per share of EMC?… Read more »
American Apparel Bankruptcy
American Apparel has been in the middle of a turnaround effort that includes store closings and some layoffs. The company also faces several lawsuits from ousted CEO Dov Charney. Now they face the bankruptcy court. Questions: 1. What were the allegations against previous CEO Charney and what types of financial strains has this put on… Read more »
Kaleil Tuzman: The Rest of the Story
Kit Digital Inc.’s former chairman and chief executive officer and its former chief financial officer were arrested and charged with accounting fraud at the software company. Questions: 1. What was the type of accounting fraud that Tuzman and Smythe are charged with committing? 2. According to the article, how much money was involved and who… Read more »
It’s Too Late for I’m Sorry!
Volkswagen shares plunged more than 20 percent on Monday, their biggest one-day fall, after the German carmaker admitted it had rigged emissions tests in the United States, and U.S. authorities said they would widen their probe to other manufacturers. Questions: 1. Briefly explain the emissions data scandal. 2. What was the recent challenge to Volkswagen… Read more »
Tax Accounting Fraud – A Chinese Way of Life
This article describes how businesses in China have to give out invoices called fapiao in order to ensure that taxes are being paid. However, as you will learn from Mr. Ding’s experience, the fapiao or the very mechanism intended to keep businesses honest, is the key to cheating on taxes. Questions: 1. What was the… Read more »