Alibaba IPO

Most firms that undertake an IPO subject insiders (founders, initial investors, etc.) to a lockup period of, typically, 180 days. For Alibaba, this is not the case, which suggests that many additional shares could hit the market immediately after the IPO. This may mute the initial return that new shareholders could receive. See article here, WSJ.

Update: Even with insiders selling shares, the Alibaba IPO was well subscribed, generating a 38% return on the first day. Moreover, with additional shares sold (i.e., the overallotment option), the Alibaba IPO is reportedly the biggest IPO in history, raising $25 billion. See article here, Reuters.

Fund Manager Performance

Fund managers, on average, have historically trailed the broad market. However, this year has been exceptionally bad for managers, with only 23% of large-cap funds outperforming the index. See this article (WSJ) for some explanation from Goldman Sachs.

The Future of the NYSE

Watch this video to discuss the sustainability of the iconic NYSE.

Facebook Options and IPO Expiration

After a company goes public, inside investors must hold stock until after the "Lockup Expiration." Research suggests that prices fall around this event, and investors are using options to try to benefit from this phenomenon. Watch a related video here, WSJ.

Active Managers vs. Index Funds

Watch this video to facilitate discussion about active vs. passive investing, as it reviews the large amount of money being invested with Vanguard.

ETFs that "Mimic" Buffet

Watch this video to facilitate discussion about ETFs that use criteria similar to those applied by Warren Buffet.

Diversification Revisited

Asset allocation is widely considered to carry the most weight in determining a portfolio's overall return, but we often avoid/ignore many categories that could be helpful. See article here for a discussion of why diversification matters, Fidelity.

On the contrary, though, some analysts believe too much diversification is not a good thing. See article here (WSJ) to help answer the question, "How Much Diversification Is Too Much?"

All-Time Market Highs and Market Timing

With the market at all-time highs, many investors are left wondering if stocks are still attractive investments. Based on PE ratios, the market's current level of 17.5 if slightly above the historical average, but not excessively so. Thus, if corporate profits remain strong, valuations could remain stable (so says some analysts). See article and video here, Fidelity. The video also discusses the difficulty of market timing, which is a good reminder for most investors.