Discussion Questions IG 03.1 Thomas Weisel, chief executive of a securities firm that bears his name, believes that indi- vidual investors already have too much information. "Many lose money by trading excessively on stray data," he says. Other industry professionals oppose the SEC's fair disclosure rule (Regulation FD) for the same reason. The Securities Industry Association's general counsel expressed concern that the rule restricts rather than encourages the flow of information. Other securities professionals argue that individual investors aren't really capable of interpreting much of the information now available to them. Explain why you agree or disagree with these opinions. IG2 03.2 From its roots as an online bookseller, Amazon.com has expanded into other retail catego- ries. Gather appropriate information from relevant sources to assess the following with an eye toward investing in Amazon.com. a. Economic conditions and the key current events during the past 12 months b. Information on the status and growth (past and future) of the retail industry and specific information on Amazon.com and its major competitors c. Brokerage reports and analysts' recommendations with respect to Amazon.com d. A history of the past and recent dividends and price behavior of Amazon.com, which is traded on the Nasdaq National Market e. A recommendation with regard to the advisability of investing in Amazon.com