Tobacco stocks have burnt a hole in investors’ portfolios over the past year, dropping 0.65% on the back of declining cigarette volumes. By comparison, the broader stock market has logged a gain of nearly 20% over the same time. To address shrinking demand from its traditional products, leading tobacco companies Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)…
What ? What am I learning? Titanic is still on TV and I’m still going to watch it because this movie is still so good after 25 years? Alright, I’m signing straight away. And while waiting for the film to begin, we will see if these 25 years have had an impact on the physique…
Consumer goods are goods that are sold directly to consumers. They can be used for personal, recreational, or corporate use, and are classified in three different ways. The first category is services, which include things like haircuts and car washes. The second is the durable goods sector, which includes products that don’t necessarily have a…
How do you become a chief executive officer? Is there a precise blueprint to follow to attain this prestigious title? What professional and personal traits are necessary for the position? Technically, anyone can fill the chief executive slot, but typically those who have distinguished themselves in some manner and have strong leadership characteristics get the…
What Is Tier 3 Capital? Tier 3 capital is tertiary capital, which many banks hold to support their market risk, commodities risk, and foreign currency risk, derived from trading activities. Tier 3 capital includes a greater variety of debt than tier 1 and tier 2 capital but is of a much lower quality than either…
What Is Subprime? Subprime is a below-average credit classification of borrowers with a tarnished or limited credit history, and which are subject to higher than average interest rates. Lenders will use a credit scoring system to determine which loans a borrower may qualify for. Subprime loans carry more credit risk, and as such, will carry…
Hi Jade, hi Léo, hi Louise, hi all the people who have the same first name as the whole world (well, the whole of France). But basically, why are so many of us with this or that first name? We wanted to investigate this vast subject by offering you possible explanations. I say “possible” because…
Over the past quarter of a century, 401(k) plans have evolved into the dominant retirement plan scheme for most U.S. workers. While many improvements have been made to the structure and features of 401(k) plans since their creation, they’re not perfect. There are issues with the current 401(k) structure that make such vehicles less than…
A credit rating can be the deciding factor on whether a borrower does or does not receive a loan. Good credit ratings allow people, companies, and governments to easily borrow from financial institutions or public debt markets. At the consumer level, banks will usually base the terms of a loan as a function of a…