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From the page: "This expression is used when one buys a stock where the price is spiralling down. The expression implies that if you try to do that, you will get hurt.

I have seen this expression used indiscriminately. If the price of a stock is dropping, it does not mean that it is a falling knife scenario. There are a few conditions one must look for to avoid such a situation

- The core business is hurting and the company is losing money. However at the same time the business model is also broken and the company may not return to profitability in the future
- There is a crisis of confidence in the company. This in turn impacts the companyâ€s ability to raise capital. This is true in case of banks and other leveraged instutions.
- There is a likelyhood of fraud or other manipulation and as a result one does not know the underlying situation and cannot arrive at the business value

There have been a few such situations in the US (Global trust bank is one example I can remember in india), especially with financial firms. Banks and other leveraged companies operate on trust. A bank is technically insolvent and is able to operate based on the trust that the depositor will get his money back when he or she requires it. If the stock price or credibility starts dropping, it can become a self-fullfilling prophecy. If depositors panic, the bank can be driven to bankruptcy. Case in point: Lehman brothers, Indymac, Wachovia etc in the US."

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From the page: "A few months before XL Leisure Group, Britain's third-largest tour operator, filed for bankruptcy in September, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded, it issued a set of accounts, signed off by its auditors, that gave no hint it was about to go bust. Such experiences haunt auditors as they grapple with year-end accounts in the cruellest economic climate most have ever experienced. "Companies and their auditors have got to get used to the idea that nothing is as it used to be," comments Will Rainey, a partner at Ernst & Young, one of the big-four accounting firms.

The problem is that year-end accounts are prepared on the basis that a business is a "going concern", ie, that it will operate for the foreseeable future, or at least 12 months after the reporting period. That judgment is made by the board of directors, and auditors have to agree with it."

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From the page: "More than a third of small businesses did not seek external financial advice in the 12 months to October this year, despite the economic downturn, according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB).
Independant Financial Advisor

The FPB survey highlighted that 36% of small firms have not sought advice from banks and accountancy firms. 10% of those firms had not done so because they received poor advice in the past, while 14% cited a lack of faith in the adviserâ€s knowledge. FPB spokesman Phil McCabe said:

â€oeWhoever they go to for advice, whether thatâ€s a dedicated bank manager or an accountant, it is important to have a regular professional opinion on the best way to use their money,†.

â€oeThe risk is that businesses will fold if they donâ€t get regular advice on how to control cashflow and how to access finance, but this is particularly important at this difficult time,†he added."

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From the page: "Google introduced SearchWiki, a search results customization feature, to the public this week. Naturally, there are comparisons being made with Wikia Search, one of the original roll-your-own search machines.

So we ask: Which is best?

Googleâ€s broad implementation of editing options is of course going to grab more eyes, and thus more interest, than Wikia Search. But letâ€s do a quick shootout among technical competitors, shall we? A little mano-a-mano for fans and opponents alike to consider, eh?"

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From the page: "Rajendra Patil is conducting sessions on Activity Based Costing/Management concepts and a product demo tour. This session takes around two hours.


The highlight would be

* What is ABM?
* Benefits and Uses of ABM
* Terminology
* Building an ABC Model
* The Power of ABM
* Reporting ABC Information
* Implementing an ABM Initiative
* Requirements for Success
* Addressing pain areas specific to your industry."

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From the page: "Ever have one of those days when it seems thereâ€s not a minute to catch your breath, let alone meditate or relax? A day when you feel like the proverbial busy bee, with no time to admire the fragrant flowers youâ€re landing on?

Leo has given us some wise ways to relax, simplify, and take life more slowly, but you might still find it tricky to always put these suggestions to use. Or, perhaps for you, some days flow smoothly, but there are still some - or many - during which taking a break feels impossible.

On those days, instead of an evening, an hour, or even 15 minutes to relax, could you spare 6 seconds?

Yes, thatâ€s right… 6 seconds. "

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From the page: "The plunging price of oil, dropping to its lowest level in more than three years, is likely to reshape the world significantly. It's great for motorists and businesses, but there are some disturbing signs when you look at how it will affect business and other countries.

Big companies are now scaling back multi-billion projects, which means potential job losses and low growth. Here's a list.

Cheap oil might also have an impact on a geo-political scale. Iran's dependence on oil revenues is a worry, particularly amidst concerns that it might have a crude nuclear warhead in three to four years time. Iran's economic woes might push that regime over the edge. For a fuller analysis of the situation, read here.

The Guardian warns that the tumbling oil price
would push Russia into a new economic crisis and total collapse. "The oil slump, however, exacerbates Russia's already severe economic problems. Since May Russian markets have lost 70% of their value. Russia's central bank, meanwhile, has been spent $57.5bn in two months trying to prop up the country's ailing currency."

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From the page: "Thatâ€s right. Facebook says it now has 120 million members. By my reckoning, thatâ€s 2% of the worldâ€s 6 billion people.

If you think thatâ€s astonishing, consider that thereâ€s still plenty of low hanging fruit for Facebook to pluck. I know plenty of tech savvy people, many of them under 30, who have yet to sign up. Inevitably, these people will give in."

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