Accounting & Investing Info for San Antonio A & M
Monday April 3 2017
No one is a monopoly any more.
ESPN has had a big drop in subscribers as other ways to watch sports have emerged. A black swan is an unexpected event. There are more than you think consider
Amazon versus brick and mortar
the Re Making of television
Electric Cars
and I personally think Higher Ed could be hit by a series of Black Swan evenbts
Weekend April 2, 2017
Here is one student's experience arriving at the screening of The Dark Knight
I remember that day perfectly. That night I went to go see the movie, almost everyone was wearing something related to batman (batman shirts, capes, a mask, etc) There were over achievers that dressed like the joker, alfred the butler, robin etc..
Yes and the fact that so many did not just come to watch but to BE the Batman characters showed just how much social mood towards the super hero had engulfed them.
The Theory is not about YOUR individual mood, it is about the much broader Social Mood across society. That is why the movie grossed over $500 million.
Mood is reflected in fractals described by the Elliott Wave Theory, a three steps one way, two steps the other system.
The movie about a Dark Knight was successful because it resonated with the mood of the time, the tag line, The City Has No Hope, as the Joker viciously attacks innocents had its echo in the Financial Crash of 2008 that followed.
Weekend April 2 2017
Tensions Rise in Venezuela
Resistance to Pipelines Broadens
Wider War Waged in Gorsuch Fight
Ouster of Finance Chief Spurs South Africa Revolt
Few Wins for Trump So Far
India, Pakistan Escalate Nuclear Arms Race
China Digs in on Trade
This is a sample of headlines from Friday's WSJ. Mood is trending negative world wide as stock markets have climbed.
Stock Market
John Murphy at Stockcharts.com cites this stat as supportive of the continued bull market.Yes it is necessary for over 50% of stocks to be over the 200 day MA. That is the definition of bull market. On the other hand, this indicator has reached the levels where it has previously exhausted and retreated.
Transports versus Utilities
Transports are trending lower than utilities so investors are getting more defensive.
Discretionary vs Staples XLY to XLP
Discretionary items are out of favor to staple items, another defensive item. And notice the last two charts topped on
the same week in early December.
Five Year Yield
The moving averages are catching up with the big move in yields to the upside. Once they come together, expect higher rates.
The FED is following not leading this market.
Enbridge Energy Partners
EEP dropped on merger news and the expectation of a dividend cut. Still at 13% now, even a cut will leave a nice payment. EEP is attracting analyst recommendations. MAs are turning up.
Crude Oil
Oil bounced right at its uptrend line. This is carrying energy issues as well as energy service higher.
XES Energy Service
XES is bouncing and re bounding at its uptrend line as well.
Thursday March 30 2017
Robert Prechter explains socionomics at the 2012 Mood Conference.
Thursday March 30, 2017
It sure would have been interesting to have been the 'fly on the wall' observing the negotiations between PwC and the Academy Award Committee.
PwC Partners Cullinan nd Ruiz are of course out of the Oscar business, but remain partners. I am unable to confirm my prediction that they would be counting inventory for clients in Siberia or North Dakota at this time.
Three rather than two partners will participatein the future.
The third will be in the control trailer with the show director. Both partners were seen using their phones for photos and such before the snafu. No phones in the future. And there will be partner rehearsals before the actual ceremony.
Or perhaps we can say
PwC goes to internal control school.
Thursday March 30, 2017
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Two former aides to Gov. Chris Christie were sentenced to prison Wednesday for their role in a political revenge plot involving traffic jams at the country's busiest bridge, a scandal that sank the Republican's presidential aspirations.
Bridget Kelly, 44, was sentenced to 18 months and Bill Baroni, 45, was sentenced to two years after they were convicted for their roles in the 2013 George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal. Both must also serve 500 hours of community service.
Ms. Kelly is a single mother of four children and now faces 18 months in jail. I find this amazing in that Richard Fuld bankrupted Lehman Brothers, paid himself $300 million in his last year there, and is a free man today.
Yes these two intentionally blocked the upper level of bridge in retaliation for a Mayor not supporting Governor Christie. But it was not the act itself that got them into trouble.
The cover up is often the real crime. What do you think, does Bridget Kelly deserve 18 months in jail?
Wednesday March 28 2017
Last Friday 25of the 50 students from UTSA, TAMUSA, Trinity, and St Mary's gathered for a day long externship.
Students were assigned into groups and each was given a case study to solve. This allowed the Harland employees to examine the students in a simulated real
world problem solving situation Harland employees observed the students as they worked on their cases. At the end of the day each group presented its solution.
I was the only professor present, thanks to Clarissa of our Career Development Dept here, I knew about the event.
And the new hires from last year's externship (UTSA only) spoke about how much they enjoyed the culture of the company. Students observed the monthly 'Town Hall Meeting' which emphasized employee improvement. And we were introduced to the Harland business model.
Harland has been and is in the check printing business. But that is fading fast in the digital world. So they have invented themselves, check out Marketing solutions that get results.
Harland has 8,900 employees in the USA in 65 locations. Their headquarters is here in San Antonio.
This was also a chance for our students to network with students from the other schools.
At right TAMUSA graduate student Jeret Bustos is making friends with a student from Trinity. 
And Harland provided a nice continental breakfast and tasty lunch. Thanks for hosting our students, I look forward to your next
Externship!
Monday March 27, 2017
The heavily revised Gleim CPA introduction guide is here.
Click on the PDF button to access the guide. The exam is going back to more original answers being required as it was when I took it.
The hard copies will ship in a few weeks.
Posted Wednesday March 22, 2017
Claude Nchanji, CPA, is a TAMUSA graduate. He recently passed the CPA exam. I invited him to speak to the ACCT 5308 Ethics class
When Saturday March 25, 2017 at 10 45 AM
Where Central Academic Building Room 223
Claude will reflect on his study procedure and exam experience.
This should be a worthwhile lecture for all accounting students, So we have a large room and I am inviting everyone who might be interested to attend this portion of the class.
Class begins at 410 30 but I am giving an extra 15 minutes for late comers to show up.
Wed March 22, 2017
Accounting reports assume a company will remain in business. If it appears the company is not generating enough cash to meet expenses, a going concern
statement is issued with the report. We have followed the downward spiral of Sears Holdings SHLD for some time now.
Yesterday SHLD issued a going concern statement, so the end will probably come for what was once the world's largest retailer in the next 12 months.
So much for Eddie Lampert's boy genius status.
Professor Elam 