Stock+Market+Activity

1. Apple Investors Divided on Dividends
By //James RogersStaff Reporter//  | //TheStreet.com//  – Thu, Feb 23, 2012 10:27 AM EST CUPERTINO, Calif. ( TheStreet ) -- **Apple** investors will be closely monitoring the company's annual shareholder meeting on Thursday to see whether CEO Tim Cook makes a bold dividend move. A famous dividend non-payer, chatter about a possible dividend has swirled around Apple in recent months, and Cook has already hinted that he may rethink the company's cash strategy. Speaking last week at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, the CEO acknowledged that Apple has [|more cash than] it needs. Cook, who became CEO shortly before iconic Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died last year, added that the company's dividend discussions are proceeding apace. The investor meeting will be Cook's first since assuming the CEO role. Apple investors, however, are divided on what type of dividend is best, if indeed the company heads down that path. "A lot of people are talking about a one-time dividend, which to me doesn't seem like an Apple thing to do," explained Ernie Varitimos, who runs the [|//Apple Investor// Trade Room]. "I don't see the utility of it; it would benefit a few people that are in the right place at the right time -- that's not what Apple is about, they are about creating value and lasting value." Instead, Varitimos wants Apple to institute a recurring dividend. "I would like to see a regular dividend -- that would be a good use of their cash," he told //TheStreet//. "I think that would spur a lot more institutional investment in Apple and bring it up to parity with other companies." Not everyone, however, agrees that this would be the best course of action for the gadget giant. "I, along with many Apple shareholders, would be very disappointed if they simply begin paying a regular dividend of 2 percent to 3 percent," explained Chad Brand, president of Peridot Capital Management and author of the [|//Peridot Capitalist//] blog. "Not only would that create no shareholder value, but it would not stop the cash balance from growing -- we really need a large buyback or special one-time dividend or both."


 * 1A. Do YOU feel that Apple should pay dividends to its shareholders? Explain why or why not.**

**Stock News 3/20/12**
Separately, Amazon will be selling $10 gift cards for $5 on Tuesday to people who visit AmazonLocal.com, its answer to deals sites such as **Groupon** and **LivingSocial**, //The Associated Press// reported.
 * Amazon.com** ([|AMZN] [|//_//] ) agreed to acquire privately held [|Kiva Systems], a maker of robotic package handling systems for $775 million in cash.

2. Soda Makers Change Color Recipe Even As FDA downplays cancer risk
(RTTNews) - Soda makers in the U.S. are in the process of reducing the caramel coloring in their drinks in order avoid having to label them with cancer warnings. Beverage giants Coca-Cola Co. (KO: [|News] ) and PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP: [|News] ), together reportedly holding a 90 percent market share, are changing recipes for their namesake colas without hurting the taste. The action comes as a result of a California law that makes it mandatory to have a cancer warning label on packaged drinks that contain a certain level of carcinogens. Instead of the warnings, beverage makers are going ahead to restrict the level of carcinogens within the permissible limit under the California law, and will be expanded nationwide.
 * A. What should happen to the stock prices for Coca-Cola and Pepsi based on this information from a few days ago. Check Coca-cola and Pepsi's stock for today (3/11 - 3?12) How did the stock repsond to this report?**

**Fiat is 'winning' with Charlie Sheen ad **
By Jose Pagliery [|@CNNMoney] March 2, 2012: 4:35 PM ET CNNMoney (New York) -- Hollywood actor and warlock Charlie Sheen is getting a second chance, this time from Fiat. The Italian car company's latest commercial for its tiny [|**Fiat 500**] Abarth prominently features Sheen, whose career took a nosedive last year amid several public breakdowns. The ad, released this week, acknowledges the [|**crazed-bad boy persona Sheen**] has developed -- and exploits it. In it, Sheen is under house arrest. His response? Host a wild party at his mansion with attractive models dancing and screaming as he races his tiny car around inside his home. Sheen, wearing a fitted suit and ankle bracelet, exits the car and smirks as he faces the cheering crowd on the balcony above him. "I love being under house arrest," he says confidently, clinging to a brunette model in red. "What do I get for bad behavior?" The better question is what Fiat ([|**FIATY**]), which is a major stakeholder in Chrysler, will get for hiring Sheen. He is, after all, an actor whose self-destructive and reckless actions were until recently seen as radioactive. Chrysler executives were not immediately available to comment. But in a statement released Thursday, the head of Fiat branding explained why the company chose to go with last year's largest public relations disaster. "The Fiat 500 Abarth is the bad boy of the Fiat vehicle lineup, and Charlie Sheen personifies the edgy and fun attributes of the Fiat 500 Abarth," said Olivier Francois, who also serves as Chrysler's chief marketing officer. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">The ad tries to drive that point home with the slogan, "Not all bad boys are created equal." Presumably, the 160-horsepower, five-speed transmission car with a 1.4-liter engine instantly gains Sheen's street cred. ==‍<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">3A. Why did Fiat pick Charlie Sheen to be their spokesperson? Do you think he is a good choice for this car company? == ==‍<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">3B. Do you think having big name actors or sports stars in commercials cause people to buy the product? Explain your thoughts. ==

=__2nd Entry - March 5, 2012__= =1. Which stock has been your best performer? How much was the stock up last week? OR which stock was your worst performer? How much was it down?= =2. Apple is unveiling the new ipad 3 this week. What impact do you think this will have on their stock? EXPLAIN.= =3. Read the following excerpt from a Buisness Week article and answer the question.=

<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">By Peter Valdes-Dapena <span style="color: #004276; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none;"> [|@PeterDrives] <span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">March 2, 2012: 5:54 PM ET <span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">General Motors is temporarily halting production of the Chevrolet Volt due to slack sales. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- President Barack Obama said recently he'd buy a Chevrolet Volt after he left office "in five more years." <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">It seems like General Motors could use that business much sooner. The automaker said Friday it is halting the Detroit production line for the Chevrolet Volt for five weeks as it works to sell down its existing inventory of the plug-in car. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">As part of the shut down, GM will temporarily lay off 1,300 workers at the plant. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">Sales of the gas-electric car have been flagging. GM had a set a goal of selling 10,000 Volts by the end of 2011, but [|**was only able to sell about 7,600 by then**]. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">Last month, Volt sales actually rose substantially compared to the prior months. Chevrolet dealers sold 1,023 of the cars in February compared to only 600 in January. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17px;">Still, GM ([|**GM**], [|**Fortune 500**]) has more Volts sitting on dealer lots than it has buyers. GM had, in the past, said slow sales were the result of an insufficient supply of cars, not a lack of demand. Now, the carmaker is admitting that supply is no longer the problem.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 19px;">GM stops Volt production for 5 weeks **

3. Scale of 1 to 5 (5 is the best and 1 is the least) Rank your comfort level/ understanding of stocks. EXPLAIN YOUR THOUGHTS!
This page contains all the material you will need to complete the stock market activity.

[|Stock Market Game Website] Here are the directions to start your stock group 1. Go to website 2. Click on the sign up link - the group will create a login name and password - decide who the leader of the group is and enter this information in the name area - submit information - group leader will need to respond to confirmation e-mail at home 3. Join a contest - once you are logged in there is a tool bar at the top. One of the buttons is join a contest - the class name: LUKRIDGE HONORS 2012


 * You are now a member of the class and can begin the tutorial and trading stocks***