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.
Bald Advantage
In the world of business, perception is everything. When it comes to hair, bald is big. A new study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School says that men with shaved heads are viewed as more dominant, masculine, taller and stronger. Guess there’s no need to hit the gym anymore.
Don’t grab that razor just yet. There were two downsides to the study. Those with shaved heads were viewed as less attractive and older. So before you go razor shopping, you’ll have to weigh your options. What’s more important: looking better at work or just looking better in general?
Worst Sound Ever
Sticking with the topic of studies, scientists at Newcastle University finally figured out the worst sound in the world. And no it’s not fingernails on the blackboard. That fell to number five. The study conducted tests with 74 different sounds. The volunteers were hooked up to an MRI to see the brains reaction to each sound. Continue Reading…
Earnings season is a conflicting time for long-term investors. The idea of quarterly reports just fuels a short-term view of the market. Something long-term investors can get drawn into without discipline and patience. If you know what you’re looking for, the information gained from a quarterly earnings conference call can help you make money.
Behind every investment is a company (or government in the case of bonds) that has bills to pay. A well run company keeps those expenses in check and paid on time. It even carries an acceptable amount of debt too. But what happens to your investment when that company takes on too much debt? Or it can’t pay its bills anymore? A default risk premium is built into the price of every investment to cover this risk.