High productivity all helped fuel the rally today, partly in hopes that this leads to more hiring in 2010. The lowest number of new jobless claims since January helped as well as the DJIA was floating right around the 10,000 mark at the closing bell.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,005.96 +203.82 (2.08%)
S&P 500 1,066.63 +20.13 (1.92%)
Nasdaq 2,105.32 +49.80 (2.42%)

Top Analyst Calls

Top Market Rumors

"Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) has fattened itself up by swallowing more than 50 companies in the past five years," says Richard Moroney.

In Dow Theory Forecasts, he suggests, "Oracle has proved itself capable of delivering predictable earnings even during tough times by squeezing higher returns out of its assets, including those inherited via $35 billion worth of acquisitions over the past half-decade."

"While some fear the software giant is choking on its latest meal (Sun Microsystems), the deal makes sense operationally.

Memphis-based package delivery giant FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is generally seen as an indicator of the state of commerce in the U.S. Last week, not only did the Fed's Beige Book report suggest that the economy had stabilized over the summer, with signs of recovery in some districts, But FedEx also boosted its earnings guidance due to stronger-than-expected volume in its international priority-delivery service. So a question going in to FedEx's fiscal first-quarter report this week is whether the company is still a bellwether.

For the three months that ended in August, when FedEx opened distribution hubs in Chicago and Toledo and declared a quarterly dividend, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for it to report that earnings fell 60.2% from a year ago to $0.49 per share. That's also down 23.4% from the previous quarter, as well as less than the recently updated outlook. First quarter revenue is expected to be down 18.3% from a year ago to $8.2 billion.

Even the mighty Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) can't seem to withstand the global recession, as IT budgets continue to tighten. At the same time, the strong U.S. dollar has taken a toll.

In fact, Oracle's fiscal fourth quarter saw the first decline in revenues since 2002. That is, revenues fell 5.2% to $6.86 billion. Profits also decreased 7.2% to $1.89 billion.

Another problem: license revenues. These fell by about 13% for the quarter. Again, this is an indication that it's tough to get new business.

Today's announcement that Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) would acquire Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) for $7.4 billion worth of cash left me scratching my head. The rationale? Something that Oracle's president calls non-GAAP earnings. Does this mean that Oracle's first acquisition of a hardware company makes strategic sense? I don't know.

I am not sure what non-GAAP earnings are, but it sounds like it is a special kind of accounting meant to justify a deal that would not look good on a GAAP basis. Safra Catz, Oracle's president, estimates that on a non-GAAP basis, the deal will add $1.5 billion in "non-GAAP operating profit" in the first year and $2 billion to that new measure in future years.

Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) will be acquired by Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) for $9.50. JAVA May call option implied volatility of 118 was above its 26-week average of 89, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

ORCL is recently down 80 cents to $18.20 in pre-open trading. ORCL April option implied volatility of 49 is near its 26-week average of 52, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

It seemed like a done deal. But in the high-stakes M&A game, things can easily fall to pieces.

Just look at IBM (NYSE: IBM). Over the weekend, the firm withdrew its $7 billion bid for Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA). It's yet another heart-breaker for beleaguered Sun shareholders.

Actually, according to the Wall Street Journal [a paid publication], it looks like IBM was the only company interested in a deal. So, even though Sun had little negotiating leverage, it acted as though it had a lot – that is, by holding out for a higher valuation and firmer deal protections (such as "change of control" clauses that provided Sun execs with lush payouts). Well, I guess IBM didn't need Sun that badly or if anything, was certainly willing to play hardball.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) has walked out on its deal to buy Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) -- or could just be using hardball negotiations to have its way on the price it is willing to pay. Word is that Sun's board is divided over the value of IBM's offer.

In either case, the value of Sun's stock is likely to go back to where it traded before the IBM buy-out rumor hit the street. That would be under $5. The stock closed at $8.49 on Friday.

According to Reuters, "The collapse of the talks, if final, would come as a surprise to Wall Street, which had seen the deal as a means for Sun's survival, as well as a way for IBM to compete more effectively against rivals like Hewlett-Packard." It would also leave Sun, one of the worst-managed tech companies in America, to fend for itself in a recession that has cut sharply into IT spending.

Sun has survived the last three years through cost cutting. In a good quarter over that period it has lost a modest amount of money. Since there are several larger companies competing with it for market share in the global server business, Sun's losses could grow considerably if another suitor does not come along. That is not likely. The only other company which could use Sun as a way to buy market share is Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), and it has not had any appetite for large acquisitions.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.