BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Oracle Completes Sun Merger]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/01/oracle-completes-sun-merger/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/01/oracle-completes-sun-merger/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/01/oracle-completes-sun-merger/#commentsFiled under:

Software giant Oracle (ORCL) finally completed its $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun Microsystems on January 26, for $9.50 per share in cash and debt deal, setting up an opportunity for the company to dominate its competition in the database software and enterprise computing systems markets.

Sun has been delisted from the Nasdaq and all Sun stock holders were to have cash payouts mailed to them within a week.

Continue reading Oracle Completes Sun Merger

Oracle Completes Sun Merger originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cisco SystemsCiscoSystemshewlett-packardibmjavamergeroraclesoftwareSolarisSun MicrosystemsSunMicrosystemsMon, 01 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Oracle earnings preview: Holding its own as Sun deal closes]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/16/oracle-earnings-preview-holding-its-own-as-sun-deal-closes/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/16/oracle-earnings-preview-holding-its-own-as-sun-deal-closes/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/16/oracle-earnings-preview-holding-its-own-as-sun-deal-closes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Enterprise software giant Oracle Corporation (ORCL), which finally completed the deal to acquire Sun Microsystems, Inc. (JAVA), is scheduled to discuss its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 in a conference call Thursday, December 17, at 5:00 PM (ET). You can catch the live webcast of the call on the company's website.

The three months that ended in November saw Oracle deny that its proposed acquisition of Sun Micro would reduce competition and detailed its plans for Sun. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for Oracle to report that earnings for the quarter rose two cents per share from a year ago to $0.36. Revenue is expected to the same as a year ago, or $5.7 billion.

Continue reading Oracle earnings preview: Holding its own as Sun deal closes

Oracle earnings preview: Holding its own as Sun deal closes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JAVAMicrosoftMSFTOracleORCLSAPSun MicrosystemsWed, 16 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: What sell-off? (AIG, ABK, EPR, MBI, JAVA, ORCL, ERTS)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/10/closing-bell-what-sell-off-aig-abk-epr-mbi-java-orcl-er/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/10/closing-bell-what-sell-off-aig-abk-epr-mbi-java-orcl-er/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/10/closing-bell-what-sell-off-aig-abk-epr-mbi-java-orcl-er/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We had another bit of data showing strong home sales in Q3, but as prices fell. Yet the only real thing to note was that the sell-off that was starting out this morning just didn't hold when you look at the broad indexes today. Some dollar directional changes may be part of the issue that kept the stocks from getting cheaper. There were still many losers on the day.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,247.88 +20.94 (0.20%)
S&P 500 1,093.04 -0.04 (0.00%)
Nasdaq 2,151.08 -2.98 (-0.14%)

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Continue reading Closing Bell: What sell-off? (AIG, ABK, EPR, MBI, JAVA, ORCL, ERTS)

Closing Bell: What sell-off? (AIG, ABK, EPR, MBI, JAVA, ORCL, ERTS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ABKAIGEPRERTSfeaturedJAVAMBIORCLTue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: Jobs & Productivity Hat Trick Rally (SIRI, BRK-A, ORCL, JAVA, BAC)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/05/closing-bell-jobs-and-productivity-hat-trick-rally-siri-brk-a/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/05/closing-bell-jobs-and-productivity-hat-trick-rally-siri-brk-a/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/05/closing-bell-jobs-and-productivity-hat-trick-rally-siri-brk-a/#commentsHigh 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%)

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Continue reading Closing Bell: Jobs & Productivity Hat Trick Rally (SIRI, BRK-A, ORCL, JAVA, BAC)

Closing Bell: Jobs & Productivity Hat Trick Rally (SIRI, BRK-A, ORCL, JAVA, BAC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BACBRK-AJAVAORCLSIRIThu, 05 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: FOMC help & no help ( CMSCA, GRMN, PHM, JAVA, TWX)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/04/closing-bell-fomc-help-and-no-help-cmsca-grmn-phm-java-twx/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/04/closing-bell-fomc-help-and-no-help-cmsca-grmn-phm-java-twx/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/04/closing-bell-fomc-help-and-no-help-cmsca-grmn-phm-java-twx/#commentsToday was an odd trading day considering that the FOMC meeting seemed to command far less media time than in the past, but that was because no real changes in its stance were expected. And the FOMC made the pledge to keep rates low for extended periods.

There was also a mixed picture on ADP and Challenger jobs data ahead of tomorrow's weekly jobless claims and ahead of Friday's key unemployment data. Gold continued its run along with higher oil on weekly inventory data.

Here were the unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,862.44 +90.53 (0.93%)
S&P 500 1,046.50 +1.09 (0.10%)
Nasdaq 2,055.52 -1.80 (-0.09%)

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Continue reading Closing Bell: FOMC help & no help ( CMSCA, GRMN, PHM, JAVA, TWX)

Closing Bell: FOMC help & no help ( CMSCA, GRMN, PHM, JAVA, TWX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CMSCAGRMNJAVAPHMTWXWed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: The good off day (BA, JAVA, SLM, WFC)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/21/closing-bell-the-good-off-day-ba-java-slm-wfc/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/21/closing-bell-the-good-off-day-ba-java-slm-wfc/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/21/closing-bell-the-good-off-day-ba-java-slm-wfc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today was one of those days where it felt like it would be an up-day and most traders were feeling good, but the last hour's trading came down so far so fast that traders had little feel whether we'd have an up or down session until right before the closing bell.

Oil inventories were not a huge surprise like the week before, but the data sent oil much higher and then a weak US dollar only added to oil price gains. Some may use the Beige Book as the reason for the sell-off, but it might be how little the government expects Wall Street executives to work for if they are a TARP bank.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,956.91 -84.57 (-0.84%)
S&P 500 1,081.36 -9.70 (-0.89%)
Nasdaq 2,150.73 -12.74 (-0.59%)

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Continue reading Closing Bell: The good off day (BA, JAVA, SLM, WFC)

Closing Bell: The good off day (BA, JAVA, SLM, WFC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BAcredit metricsCreditMetricsdreamlinerfeaturedJAVASLMslm corporationSlmCorporationstudent loansStudentLoansWFCWed, 21 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oracle (ORCL) foresees bright future with Sun]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/20/oracle-orcl-foresees-bright-future-with-sun/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/20/oracle-orcl-foresees-bright-future-with-sun/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/20/oracle-orcl-foresees-bright-future-with-sun/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"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.

Continue reading Oracle (ORCL) foresees bright future with Sun

Oracle (ORCL) foresees bright future with Sun originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ciscocscodow theory forecastsjavalarry ellisonnetworking stocksrichard moroneyrouter stockssoftware stockssteven halpernsun microsystemstech stockstechnology stocksthestockadvisors.comTue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: A mockery of the game ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/20/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-a-mockery-of-the-game/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/20/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-a-mockery-of-the-game/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/20/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-a-mockery-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Street.com's Jim Cramer says that it's awful knowing that Galleon had every single nuance of the next Intel call.

The call. The edge. The inside scoop. At one point, you could have it. At one point, before Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD), persistence, hard work, going to meetings, doing everything you could to learn a company entitled you to a callback from the company. The rules were clear: If you got something that was material and non-public, you couldn't trade on it, you were frozen. But there were some blurred lines and the intensive research shops with great industry contacts could get an ever-so-slight heads up that could make a difference. Or you could go to a one-on-one where management might let slip something no one had, and you could have that momentary head start.

But Regulation FD ended all that. All the insider calls, the disclosure at one-on-ones, anything that smacked even of proprietary information. The rules were no longer voluntary. It wasn't a question of freezing. It was a question of talking. You couldn't talk to "them." Hedge funds could not talk one-on-one to anyone of authority at a company. The insider would face prosecution, do you weren't even supposed to try.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: A mockery of the game

Cramer on BloggingStocks: A mockery of the game originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akamfeaturedgalleongoogintcjavajim cramerJimCramerTue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The week in preview: Is FedEx still a bellwether?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/13/the-week-in-preview-is-fedex-still-a-bellwether/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/13/the-week-in-preview-is-fedex-still-a-bellwether/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/13/the-week-in-preview-is-fedex-still-a-bellwether/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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.

Continue reading The week in preview: Is FedEx still a bellwether?

The week in preview: Is FedEx still a bellwether? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ADBEAdobeBBYBeige BookBest BuyCBRLCracker BarrelDBRNDFSDiscoverDress BarnearningsFDXfeaturedFedFedExJAVAJCPJCPenneyKRKrogerMicrosoftMSFTOracleORCLPALMPier 1PIRSafewaySAPSun MicrosystemsSupervaluSVUSWYUPSSun, 13 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[With the recession taking its toll, Oracle moves into the cloud?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/oracle-moves-into-the-cloud/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/oracle-moves-into-the-cloud/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/oracle-moves-into-the-cloud/#commentsFiled under: ,

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.

Continue reading With the recession taking its toll, Oracle moves into the cloud?

With the recession taking its toll, Oracle moves into the cloud? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsJAVALarry EllisonLarryEllisonorclWed, 24 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: It's go with the flow on tech stocks ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/23/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-its-go-with-the-flow-on-tech-stocks/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/23/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-its-go-with-the-flow-on-tech-stocks/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/23/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-its-go-with-the-flow-on-tech-stocks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says Nasdaq is so strong it's downright eerie.

Tech can't be fought here. Because people are partying like it is 1999, when firms used $400 price targets for Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) (Cramer's Take) and Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) (Cramer's Take) had all the wireless network answers and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) (Cramer's Take) had the audacity to think that it could control the music business.

We've seen it going on since the market bottom, the endless driving of tech higher and higher. We get the wireless bottom, thanks Nokia (NYSE: NOK) (Cramer's Take); the personal computer bottom, thanks Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) (Cramer's Take); the gadget bottom, thanks Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM) (Cramer's Take); the TV bottom, thanks Corning (NYSE: GLW) (Cramer's Take) and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) (Cramer's Take); the software bottom, thanks to Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) (Cramer's Take) buying Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) (Cramer's Take) for its software and IBM (NYSE: IBM) (Cramer's Take) celebrating its software on its quarter; and the dot-com bottom represented by great earnings from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) (Cramer's Take) and decent numbers from rejuvenated management teams at Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) (Cramer's Take) and eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) (Cramer's Take).

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: It's go with the flow on tech stocks

Cramer on BloggingStocks: It's go with the flow on tech stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaplbbybrcmcbcscoebayelxfeaturedglwgooghighpqibmintcjavajim cramerJimCramernokorclqcomtrvtsmvmwyhooThu, 23 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't miss this moment in tech ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-miss-this-moment-in-tech/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-miss-this-moment-in-tech/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-miss-this-moment-in-tech/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the good developments in the space got lost yesterday amid all the hubbub over banks.

We are so focused on the endless one-time gains at Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) (Cramer's Take) that made the quarter look better than it should that we forgot about some other obvious positives that were occurring right before our eyes. I am talking about tech, and tech mergers and tech earnings.

No, I am not minimizing the problems of the banks -- did anyone think that Ken Lewis would choose to show a loss if he had a chance, as the bears seemed to urge? I am saying that when you have both Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) (Cramer's Take) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) (Cramer's Take) interested in something that we thought was worth very little just a few weeks ago -- Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) (Cramer's Take) -- when you have Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) (Cramer's Take) interested in buying Emulex (NYSE: ELX) (Cramer's Take) -- another left-for-dead tech company -- and when you have Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) (Cramer's Take) saying inventories are lean, mostly because of Asian demand, you are not getting a picture of despair.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't miss this moment in tech

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't miss this moment in tech originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacbrcmelxfeaturedibmjavajim cramerJimCramerorcltxnwfcTue, 21 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[KKR gets some juice from the Oracle/Sun deal]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/kkr-gets-some-juice-from-the-oracle-sun-deal/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/kkr-gets-some-juice-from-the-oracle-sun-deal/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/kkr-gets-some-juice-from-the-oracle-sun-deal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in early 2007, KKR Private Equity Investors -- along with Citigroup (NYSE: C) -- invested $700 million in Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA). The investment structure was a convertible senior note (both firms split the investment).

And, just like many other private equity deals, KKR wrote down the investment -- by about $167 million. This was as of last year.

Well, in light of Oracle's (NASDAQ: ORCL) announced $7.4 billion buyout of Sun yesterday, there is a nice surprise for KKR. You see, according to the note agreement, KKR is entitled to get its investment repaid. In fact, this also includes payment of accrued interest, according to Reuters.

Continue reading KKR gets some juice from the Oracle/Sun deal

KKR gets some juice from the Oracle/Sun deal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsjavaKKRorclprivate equityPrivateEquityTue, 21 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Oracle pays $7.4 billion in cash for Sun Microsystems -- really?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/20/oracle-pays-7-4-billion-in-cash-for-sun-microsystems-really/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/20/oracle-pays-7-4-billion-in-cash-for-sun-microsystems-really/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/20/oracle-pays-7-4-billion-in-cash-for-sun-microsystems-really/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

Continue reading Oracle pays $7.4 billion in cash for Sun Microsystems -- really?

Oracle pays $7.4 billion in cash for Sun Microsystems -- really? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ibminthenewsjavaorclMon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Options Update: Sun Microsystems May volatility up into Oracle purchase]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/20/options-update-sun-microsystems-may-volatility-up-into-oracle-p/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/20/options-update-sun-microsystems-may-volatility-up-into-oracle-p/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/20/options-update-sun-microsystems-may-volatility-up-into-oracle-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

Options Update: Sun Microsystems May volatility up into Oracle purchase originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsjavaoption implied volatilityOptionImpliedVolatilityorclSun MicrosystemsSunMicrosystemsMon, 20 Apr 2009 08:08:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM takes the nuclear option on the Sun deal]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/ibm-takes-the-nuclear-option-on-the-sun-deal/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/ibm-takes-the-nuclear-option-on-the-sun-deal/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/ibm-takes-the-nuclear-option-on-the-sun-deal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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.

Continue reading IBM takes the nuclear option on the Sun deal

IBM takes the nuclear option on the Sun deal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CSCOIBMinthenewsJAVAServersSoftwareSun MicrosystemsSunMicrosystemsMon, 06 Apr 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the Bell: When will the party end?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/before-the-bell-when-will-the-party-end/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/before-the-bell-when-will-the-party-end/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/before-the-bell-when-will-the-party-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For the past few weeks, investors have "partied like its 1999" as in the heady days of the tech bubble and not the song by Prince.

They have taken a "What me worry?" attitude that would make Alfred E. Neuman, the fictional mascot of "Mad" magazine proud, sending the major indexes soaring after data showed some small signs of improvement, even though the economy lost 663,000 jobs in March.

Continue reading Before the Bell: When will the party end?

Before the Bell: When will the party end? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>before the bellBeforeTheBellIBMJAVANASDAQNYSEstock marketStockMarketMon, 06 Apr 2009 07:42:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM deal off: Sun's shares head back down to $5]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/deal-with-ibm-off-suns-shares-head-back-down-to-5/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/deal-with-ibm-off-suns-shares-head-back-down-to-5/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/06/deal-with-ibm-off-suns-shares-head-back-down-to-5/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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.

IBM deal off: Sun's shares head back down to $5 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DELLfeaturedIBMJAVAMon, 06 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will IBM cut buyout price for Sun again?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/03/will-ibm-cut-buy-out-price-for-sun-again/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/03/will-ibm-cut-buy-out-price-for-sun-again/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/03/will-ibm-cut-buy-out-price-for-sun-again/#commentsFiled under: , ,

IBM (NYSE: IBM) cut its offer for Sun (NASDAQ: JAVA) from about $11 a share to just above $9. As a concession, IBM said that it would do everything it could to get regulatory approval. The situation may not be that simple. IBM may want to wait for Sun's earnings and, if they are weak, drop the price of the offer again.

The way that the deal is likely to play out is a fine example of what happens when a very strong company is in the process of taking over a very weak one.

Continue reading Will IBM cut buyout price for Sun again?

Will IBM cut buyout price for Sun again? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>IBMinthenewsJAVAFri, 03 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: Government puts stocks on sale, redux (AMZN, AIG, DRYS, INTC, GM, JAVA UBS)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/30/closing-bell-govt-puts-stocks-on-sale-redux-amzn-aig-drys/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/30/closing-bell-govt-puts-stocks-on-sale-redux-amzn-aig-drys/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/30/closing-bell-govt-puts-stocks-on-sale-redux-amzn-aig-drys/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today saw more bank losses. Forced closure more likely at auto-makers. Political seizure over free market enterprise. And a market eager to find an excuse to sell off. That sums it up. The good news is that everything went on sale, all over again and even more. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 7,522.02 -254.16 (-3.27%)
S&P 500 787.53 -28.41 (-3.48%)
Nasdaq 1,501.80 -43.40 (-2.81%)

Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades

Continue reading Closing Bell: Government puts stocks on sale, redux (AMZN, AIG, DRYS, INTC, GM, JAVA UBS)

Closing Bell: Government puts stocks on sale, redux (AMZN, AIG, DRYS, INTC, GM, JAVA UBS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aigamznDRYSgmintcjavaUBSMon, 30 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST