Welcome to the end of the week and another edition of Happy Hour! Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your end of the week roundup of all things interesting in the land of money.
VP Nominee
Mitt Romney finally made the announcement. I’m not sure if Paul Ryan was the best choice, but the media didn’t waste any time trying to find out. Whether it was bashing his budget plan or his views on the Federal Reserve, it’s just the beginning. Only 80 days until the mudslinging ends.
Toilet Revolution
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has done a lot of great work over the years. With a focus on global health, poverty, development and education, those billions are being put to good use. Now they want to tackle toilets. The Gates Foundation put together a funny video about this serious problem. The entire website is worth checking out. Who knew going number two was such an issue.
Last Call
- Why QE is not Working… – For all those hoping another QE is just around the corner. It might briefly lift the market, but eventually (as we’ve seen the last 2 years) it evens out in the end.
- Do CNBC’s Ratings Hold the Key for the Bulls? – An interesting thesis for why the market will move higher. It’s built around behavior and a complete lack of interest in CNBC and stocks.
- The Bitter Truth About Stock Buybacks – Points out the misguided views on buybacks. There is a time and place for them, but most management teams get it wrong.
- Index Funds: Know What You Are Buying – A topic I covered a few weeks ago, but this takes it a step further. Does the fund actually track what it is supposed to track.