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Cuomo guns for Intel on antitrust

The latest litigation has Intel Inside.

The State of New York is going after Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) over antitrust allegations. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is accusing the largest chip manufacturer in the world that it is trying to secure a global monopoly for microprocessors.

For several years, Cuomo said that Intel has pushed the likes of Dell (NYSE: DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to agree to the exclusive use of Intel's gear in exchange for billions of dollars in payments. The hefty cash outlays have given what Cuomo called a "stranglehold" on the market.

Continue reading Cuomo guns for Intel on antitrust

Watch out HP: Acer wants the top spot in notebook PC sales

Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) recently fell as the world's second-largest PC maker, and if Taiwan's Acer has any fire left, it will be directed at the numero uno in global PC sales, Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ). Is it really out of the realm of possibilities to have Acer unseat a $100 billion global technology giant?

Continue reading Watch out HP: Acer wants the top spot in notebook PC sales

Cisco and EMC link up in the clouds

Neither company is saying a thing yet, but word is Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) and EMC (NYSE: EMC) are joining up to sell a new collection of products designed to deliver cloud computing capabilities, Reuters reports. Called vBlock, the cloud solution is intended to help the companies compete more effectively with IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ).

The partnership, which no one is admitting to, involves a joint venture between Cisco and EMC that will sell vBlock. The former will supply the networking equipment and servers, with the latter kicking in the storage gear and virtualization technology through its VMWare (NYSE: VMW) subsidiary. The joint venture will put the systems together, integrate the components for clients, and make the whole pile of cables and silicon work. A formal announcement is expected next week.

Continue reading Cisco and EMC link up in the clouds

Stars aligned for increase in IT spending

Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is expected to help jumpstart some IT spending. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) also sees this happening. A new operating system often means a chance to upgrade from dated equipment that isn't worth upgrading, especially with favorable pricing for technology right now. Everything's coming together for a strong 2010 for the high-tech sector, so it's also worth watching Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) and EMC (NYSE: EMC).

Continue reading Stars aligned for increase in IT spending

IBM's incredible third quarter -- would you sell on these numbers?

International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) reported Q3 results after the bell on Thursday. Net sales decreased 7% when compared to the year-ago period. Okay, that doesn't sound like a great start. Wait, though, because things are about to get better from here.

Sales actually increased 1% on a sequential basis. Net profit on a dollar basis went up 14%. Net margin improved. And on a per-share basis, net income jumped 18% to $2.40. According to our earnings preview, this was two pennies ahead of analyst projections.

Continue reading IBM's incredible third quarter -- would you sell on these numbers?

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Scramble for tech

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says call-sellers will be frantically trying to bring in their annuity calls after Intel's report.

Oh no, a second time. A second time that all of that juicy premium attracted call sellers who are now going to be frantically trying to bring in their annuity calls -- the Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) (Cramer's Take) October 20s, 21s and 22s, or the Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) (Cramer's Take) October 25s and 26s, or the Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) (Cramer's Take) 45s and 46s and 47s and so many other calls that have been great sells forever that are now going to cause you to lose your stock Friday.

I never liked selling calls against common stock because I never liked cutting off my upside, like the upside that you will get today in Intel.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Scramble for tech

Inventories add pressure to Windows 7 release

Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) new operating system, Windows 7, is set to be released on October 22, 2009, but it's unlikely to have an impact on PC prices. So, if you're feeling the urge to rush out and buy a new box, try to hold out until the end of the month. You'll get a bit more life out of it.

Fortunately, PC prices aren't expected to get much lower, so the entire supply chain -- from chips to software -- has nowhere to go but up. The effect, though, has been to put some serious pressure on manufacturers and retailers to keep from screwing up the release.

Continue reading Inventories add pressure to Windows 7 release

Cramer on BloggingStocks: It's a mistake to fade 'em now

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says you take your life into your own hands if you fade the opening in today's market.

A year ago with the futures up, all you could think of is how much you wanted to "fade" that opening, how great it would be just to lay out any shorts into strength. You could choose pretty much anything going into earnings season.

The techs? Last good quarter. The banks? A travesty. You didn't even know if the banks you are short would survive. The oils? Free fall. The metals? Amazing downward pressure coming from hedge fund redemptions. The insurers? Will they make it? Retail? The balance sheets looked terrible going into what would be a terrible holiday selling season. The autos and auto-related? Disaster.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: It's a mistake to fade 'em now

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): 'Pragmatic' strategy

"At 12 times trailing earnings, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) trades at a 21% discount to its three-year average valuation and looks cheaper than other U.S. computer giants," says blue chip advisor Richard Moroney.

In Dow Theory Forecast -- a newsletter that has been published for over 5 decades -- he looks at the firm's diversified position and the reasons behind his "long-term buy" rating on the shares.

"For a company that chose its name via a coin toss, Hewlett-Packard takes a deliberate approach to dealing with trouble; its founders designed their first factory so it could be turned into a grocery store if the technology business failed to grow.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): 'Pragmatic' strategy

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, HPQ, KO, MA, SCHW, USB ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • FBR Capital upgraded U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) and New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYB) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect a new valuation framework. The firm raised its target on U.S. Bancorp to $21 from $14 and on New York Community Bancorp to $10 from $9.
  • Stephens upgraded Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) to Overweight from Equal Weight to reflect the company's top-line growth prospects and reasonable expectations. The firm raised its target on shares to $14 from $8.
  • Baird upgraded Athenahealth (NASDAQ: ATHN) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $46 from $37 based on expectations for revenue and gross margin expansion, and relative valuation.
  • Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
  • Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE: PVH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
  • Reliant Energy (NYSE: RRI) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, HPQ, KO, MA, SCHW, USB ...

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The need to be long is lifting us all

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says managers are being judged on their exposure to this rally.

Did Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) (Cramer's Take) scare the shorts? Or was it so easy to get people to buy winners and sell losers at the end of the quarter that the market had to go higher? What makes a thin market levitate rather than decline?

I got to thinking about this and the incredibly bullish comments by one of my favorite strategists, Byron Wien -- comments that are even more bullish than usual for him -- and concluded that the single best thing that the bulls have going for them is that the market is up big and you look like a real knucklehead if you aren't invested or haven't made any money on the long side going into the fourth quarter.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The need to be long is lifting us all

Closing bell: M&A gives market a boost; Coffee also provides stimulus (C, BAC, ACS, DDRX & GMCR)

Traders had on their rally caps today, and the DJIA moved as high as 9,823 as it renewed its ascent toward 10,000. The index moved back down a bit at the end of the day as traders got lazy during a session in which most of the news came before the bell.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) and Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) both announced deals today that pumped some air into the M&A business. Financial shares are mostly moving higher because increased M&A activity generally means more fees for financial services companies. Trading volume was light, mostly due to the Yom Kippur holiday today.

Today's numbers:

Dow 9,789.44 +124.25 (1.29%)
S&P 500 1,062.88 +18.50 (1.77%)
Nasdaq 2,130.74 +39.82 (1.90%)

Continue reading Closing bell: M&A gives market a boost; Coffee also provides stimulus (C, BAC, ACS, DDRX & GMCR)

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Weak dollar powering profits

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the weak dollar is benefiting U.S. corporations and no longer going against them.

Why have the industrials been so red-hot? Why do they seem to levitate? One reason, of course, is that people think the economy's getting better. A second reason is that even if the economy stands still vs. last year the comparisons will be amazing and nothing gets the juices going more rapidly than easy comparisons.

Why will they be so glaring? First, the layoffs have been brutal, the cost-cutting immense and it hasn't hurt at all ... yet. It is totally and unequivocally positive.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Weak dollar powering profits

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADP, DELL, DISH, HPQ, M, PER, VMC ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Credit Suisse upgraded Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $55 from $44 based on earnings momentum and a bottom in the Imaging and Printing segment. Note that Dell was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform.
  • Jefferies upgraded Covance (NYSE: CVD) to Buy from Hold as it believes investor expectations are more reasonable following the company's conference presentation and that its Late Stage segment should continue to post strong results. The firm raised its target on shares to $65 from $5.
  • Stephens upgraded Home Bancshares (NASDAQ: HOMB) to Overweight from Equal Weight to reflect improved capital levels and a better-than-expected near-term outlook. The firm raised its target on shares to $27 from $24.
  • Citigroup upgraded Macy's (NYSE: M) to Buy from Hold after meeting with management as it believes the My Macy's localization is gaining traction. The firm raised its target on shares to $30 from $15.
  • Gymboree (NASDAQ: GYMB) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
  • DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo.
  • Baytex Energy (NYSE: BTE) was upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADP, DELL, DISH, HPQ, M, PER, VMC ...

Some Intel (INTC) sales tactics exposed

Intel Anti TrustChip maker Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) had some embarrassing emails published today by the European Union that show the company may have been strong arming its customers into buying its products over competing chip makers.

The emails were part of the evidence that led to a record EU fine set against the company last May of $1.45 billion, when it was determined that the company had used strong-arm sales tactics in its competition with Advanced Micro Designs (NYSE: AMD).

Continue reading Some Intel (INTC) sales tactics exposed

Next Page »

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+17.4610,023.42
NASDAQ+7.122,112.44
S&P 500+2.671,069.30

Last updated: November 07, 2009: 08:33 AM

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