Good education opportunities for business journalists

Have you ever been confused by a company’s earnings release and wondered how investment analysts and portfolio managers factor it into their investment decisions? Did you know that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission doesn’t require companies to prepare an earnings release and thus, the information in it can be incomplete?

CFA Institute, the global, non-profit association that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst exam, is offering the first in a series of educational media seminars to help journalists learn how to read earnings releases and financial statements. Jay Taparia, CFA, founder and principal of Chicago–based Sanskar Investments, will lead the presentation. Jay used to do some of the Reynolds Center seminars as well.

To register and participate in this Webcast (“How to Read and Understand Earnings Releases Like an Investment Pro: Case Study — Wal-Mart�), follow these instructions:

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern

To listen by phone:

Conference call number: (866) 847-7860

Conference call ID: 817919

Conference call name: CFA Institute Media Seminar

Please call five to 10 minutes before the conference call begins. For technical support, please call 800-255-5661.

To listen on the Web:

Visit http://www.cfawebcasts.org/cpe/what.cfm?test_id=550.

Mark your calendar for these other media seminars led by Taparia:

Tuesday, January 10, 2006:

Topic: Buried Treasure in a 10-K and 10-Q

Duration: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (Eastern)

Format: Webcast

Thursday, February 2, 2006:

Topic: Financial Statement Analysis and Accounting Red Flags

Duration: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Miami

Format: Classroom

Co-sponsor: CFA Miami

Monday, February 6, 2006:

Topic: Financial Statement Analysis and Accounting Red Flags

Duration: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: New York

Format: Classroom

Co-sponsor: New York Society of Security Analysts

Wednesday, February 8, 2006:

Topic: Financial Statement Analysis and Accounting Red Flag

Duration: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Boston

Format: Classroom

Co-sponsor: Boston Society of Security Analysts

Thursday, February 9, 2006:

Topic: Financial Statement Analysis and Accounting Red Flags

Duration: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Toronto

Format: Classroom

Co-sponsor: Toronto CFA Society

Friday, February 10, 2006:

Topic: Financial Statement Analysis and Accounting Red Flags

Duration: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Chicago

Format: Classroom

Co-sponsor: CFA Society of Chicago