Linux News: Wall Street

Good News From Google Fuels Tech-Sector Optimism
October 16, 2009

The tech industry is getting a boost from Google's 7 percent revenue jump from the year-ago quarter, as well as from better-than-expected earnings reports from IBM and, earlier this week, Intel. Google is apparently feeling confident enough about the economy and its own near-term prospects that it's contemplating one or more acquisitions.

Tech Sector Takes Point as Markets Climb Out of Hole
October 15, 2009

Intel and other technology stocks helped lead the way as markets climbed out of the trough they fell into in March -- even as the recession kept many big corporations and consumers sitting on their wallets instead of spending on computers and other high-tech products. Wary investors could find much to like about technology companies, including solid profits.

Wall Street Cheers Intel's Q3 Results, Q4 Forecast
October 14, 2009

Intel has been asserting for months that the personal computer business is rebounding from its deepest slump in nearly a decade. Its stock surged Wednesday on signs that things are picking up faster than expected, despite a few lingering trouble spots. Intel reported after the market closed Tuesday that its profit and sales both dipped 8 percent from July through September as spending by corporations remained weak.

Visions of Bulls in AAPL's Crystal Ball
October 14, 2009

Investors are expecting a pleasant surprise when Apple issues its Q4 earnings report on Monday, Oct. 19, and analysts expect Cupertino to close 2009 with a bang as well. As a result, they're bullish on Cupertino. "We believe the stock is a must-own technology bellwether," said Brian Marshall, an analyst at Broadpoint AmTech. Apple should close out 2009 strongly, he expects.

How High - or Long - Can AAPL Fly?
October 07, 2009

Share prices of Apple were soaring on Tuesday, closing up over 2 percent at $190.01 Tuesday. The company has enjoyed some good news lately -- IBM is betting on the iPhone's penetration of the enterprise, and interest in rumors that Apple will bring out a tablet computer has continued to simmer for months despite no official comment from Cupertino. Other news hasn't been as positive.

Samsung Sees Road to Recovery Ahead
October 06, 2009

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that profit likely surged in the third quarter on higher sales, amid a brightening outlook for the world's largest manufacturer of computer memory chips and flat screen televisions. The Suwon, South Korea-based corporation expects to record a consolidated operating profit of between $ 3.34 billion and $3.67 billion for the three months ended Sept. 30, it said.

The iPhone's 2 Billion Horsepower App Engine
September 30, 2009

Apple's App store surpassed the 2 billion download mark this week, and now has more than 85,000 apps in the offering. Meanwhile, the iPhone is going into new markets overseas. Apple's books could see a boost with new accounting rules, and there appear to be strong indications that Cupertino will soon introduce new items in its line of desktops.

RIM Sags on Weak Q2 Profit, Wobbly Forecast
September 25, 2009

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion reported a drop in fiscal second-quarter profit Thursday because of charges for a patent settlement and said revenue for the current quarter will fall below Wall Street's expectations. Shares plunged more than 11 percent in extended trading Thursday. Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM earned $475.6 million for the June-August period, down 4 percent.

New Accounting Rule Could Put Shine on Apple's Fortunes
September 24, 2009

Nestled in between three items relating to revenue recognition topics and a decision on financial statement presentation, a rule change put forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board could dramatically affect the fortunes of certain tech companies. In its monthly summary for board decisions, FASB summarized changes that could benefit such firms as Apple and Palm.

Red Hat Rises on Rosy Q2 Results
September 24, 2009

Red Hat, a software distributor behind the Linux operating system, said Wednesday its fiscal second-quarter profit grew as companies opted for its products amid the economic downturn. For the quarter ended Aug. 31, the company earned $28.9 million, or 15 cents per share, up from net income of $21.1 million, or 10 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

The iPhone's Five-Year Plan
September 23, 2009

Demand in companies of all sizes will see the iPhone taking 35 percent of the business market, according to a prediction from Forrester Research. This will be fueled by increased demand for smartphones worldwide. Meanwhile, Apple will continue to innovate and stay ahead of the market, Barclays Capital Research said.

Palm Washes Hands of WinMo as Losses Mount
September 18, 2009

It's back to the future for Palm, which is dropping Microsoft's Windows Mobile in favor of its own proprietary platform, webOS, unveiled earlier this year. Palm CEO John Rubinstein reportedly told investors in a conference call on Thursday that the company wants to dedicate all of its future development resources to WebOS evolution.

Oracle Shares Cool Off on Disappointing Q1 Sales
September 17, 2009

Shares of Oracle slipped in premarket activity Thursday after the information technology company reported sales fell below analyst expectations in the latest quarter, showing that businesses are still reluctant to buy new software. The stock slid 68 cents, or 3 percent, to $21.45 ahead of the opening bell, edging back from their 52-week high of $22.95 hit last week.

Analysts Set High Bar for AAPL
September 16, 2009

It's a good time to be holding Apple stock -- analysts are more bullish than ever on the company. The most eye-catching statement came on Tuesday from Needham's Charlie Wolf, who predicted that Apple will trade at $235 in the next year. Meanwhile, iSuppli says Apple will remain partners with wireless carrier AT&T, which is frantically upgrading its networks.

Swedish Exchange Keelhauls Would-Be Pirate Bay Buyer
September 10, 2009

The would-be buyer of Swedish file-sharing Web site The Pirate Bay has been kicked out of the smallcap stock exchange Aktietorget for misleading the market, the Swedish trading platform said Wednesday. Aktietorget said Global Gaming Factory X breached its transparency principles by saying the financing of The Pirate Bay acquisition was secured.

Wall Street Has High Hopes for TI's Mid-Quarter Update
September 09, 2009

Analysts expect good news from chip maker Texas Instruments Wednesday, when the company is scheduled to give a mid-quarter financial update. An upbeat report from TI, which makes chips for everything from cellphones to automobiles, would be another good sign for an industry that was hard hit by the recession earlier this year.