According to the New York Times, more than 800,000 people who took out car loans from Wells Fargo were charged for auto insurance they did not need, and some of them are still paying for it, according to an internal report prepared for the bank’s executives. Questions: 1. How many customers were forced into delinquency… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Disclosure Issues in Financial Reporting
Amazon-Nike Powerhouse
According to Reuters, Nike’s pilot program to sell certain products on Amazon and Instagram is a precursor to it forging a deeper relationship with online retailers, and could hit sales at sporting goods retailers such as Foot Locker Inc. Questions: 1. What are the benefits of this deal for Nike? 2. How is Nike trying… Read more »
The Dirty Little Secret about Big Pharma
As the New York Times reports, when Big Pharma companies are under fire for skyrocketing drug prices, they would like you to believe that prices have to be so high to support research and development (R&D). But is that the truth? Questions: 1. What did the authors of the new study find that the 18… Read more »
Transparency Improved or Impeded?
A little-noticed accounting change is coming down the pike that will have a major impact on business. According to the New York Times, this one has corporate executives up in arms — and scrambling to comply. Questions: 1. What is the title of the new FASB rule? 2. Which equity investments are affected? 3. How… Read more »
Apple Market Capitalization
Apple became the first U.S. company to top the $800 billion mark in market capitalization on Tuesday, slightly more than two years after it crossed the $700 billion threshold. Questions: 1. How much have the iPhone maker’s shares have gained this year? 2. What percentage does Apple make up of the entire S&P 500 .SPX… Read more »
Private Debt Collectors used by the IRS. What could go wrong?
According to Slate, last year, Congress authorized the Internal Revenue Service to use private debt collectors to go after unpaid tax liabilities—and this month, if you are one of the unfortunate, you may have already had the pleasure first-hand. Questions: 1. What is the pleasure that this article is referring to? 2. Has this been… Read more »
So you want privacy?
The privacy protections, approved in the final days of the Obama administration, would have required ISPs to get permission from customers before collecting and sharing their data. However, President Trump signed off on a repeal of the Internet privacy protections before they were able to take effect — despite an outcry from consumer groups and… Read more »
March Madness at Uber
Uber experienced the worst month it has had during its eight-year history in March 2017. There were car crashes, the company president quit, and an entire country turned its back on the app. Questions: 1. Which country forced Uber to withdraw and why? 2. Which company is Uber accused of stealing from and what did… Read more »
Where equal work does not equate to equal pay?
According to the Associated Press and USA Today, government investigators looking into how Google pays its employees have accused the tech giant of shortchanging women doing similar work to men. Questions: 1. What are some of the claims? 2. Which branch of government filed the lawsuit? 3. Google has said it has turned over some… Read more »
Helping with the Rent?
Almost half of people in their early 20s have a secret, one they don’t usually share even with friends: Their parents help them pay the rent. Questions: 1. What is the average amount that about 40% of 22, 23, and 24 year-olds receive from their parents, to help with the rent? 2. How do career… Read more »