The fact that there hasn't been any action in a while doesn't mean there isn't room for more. Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta Airlines (DAL), says that the airline industry could consolidate further -- not exactly a shock in an industry that is known for universal financial suffering. He notes, "If a transaction were to occur, economics should prevail."

The only concern, of course, is whether the Obama administration would sign off on any future deals. Anderson believes, "I think the case can be made ultimately, but it remains to be seen what this administration's take will be."

Continue reading Delta: Plenty of room for airline industry consolidation

Delta: Plenty of room for airline industry consolidation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When you spend $787 billion, there's a lot of pressure to show results. So, there's no surprise that success is being proclaimed across the country. States are saying that they've used the federal stimulus package money to create or save more than 388,000 jobs this year. Teachers, construction workers and other professions have realized the upside of stimulus cash according to reports from 33 states and Puerto Rico, with the remainder of the results being released on Friday.

Of course, the numbers "should be taken with a grain of salt," says Ethan Pollack of the Economic Policy Institute. The states were tasked to count the jobs created or protected, but the results have been of dubious accuracy. This doesn't mean the stats can't provide fodder to people on both sides of the aisle.

Columbia Business School's Frank Lichtenberg says the data shows a solid economic impact, and the Obama administration's Council of Economic Advisors believes the stimulus spending has taken care of between 600,000 and 1.1 million jobs.

And, there are those who disagree.

Continue reading Race to declare victory for stimulus

Race to declare victory for stimulus originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Christine A. Varney heads up antitrust at the Department of Justice, and she's going hunting. She is the point person for a group consisting of the presidential administration and some Congressional Democrats that is looking to put the breaks on large companies in several industries.

Already, airlines have run into roadblocks when requesting relief from antitrust regulations. Varney & Co. are digging into complaints by AT&T (NYSE: ATT) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) that cable competitors - e.g., Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) - have locked them out of the market for cable company-produced programming.

(Imagine that, a phone company complaining! Usually, they're the objects of derision.)

Continue reading Antitrust orgy coming: Airlines, tech and others in sights

Antitrust orgy coming: Airlines, tech and others in sights originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Fed to okay TARP repayment for some banks, appoint a Pay Czar

Fed to okay TARP repayment for some banks, appoint a Pay Czar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last fall, I suggested that General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) ought to follow a six point restructuring plan. One of those steps was to can GM's CEO Rick Wagoner. Under his tenure, which began in 2000, GM's stock has lost 95% of its value and GM has posted $30 billion in 2008 losses while presiding over a North American market share slide from 33% to 19%. What amazes me is that GM's board did not step in years ago. So Monday, President Obama will officially ask Wagoner to step aside.

Continue reading Obama to GM CEO Wagoner: You're Fired!

Obama to GM CEO Wagoner: You're Fired! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Today's technical outlook: Holding the line on a dramatic rebound

Today's technical outlook: Holding the line on a dramatic rebound originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ: MDRX) is the result of the recently completed merger of Florida-based Allscripts and the health care information technology business of London-based Misys.

The nearly ill-fated merger finally closed late in 2008, after having to be restructured following the untimely demise of Lehman Brothers, the architect of the original merger plans.

The merger with Misys places the company in the forefront of the Obama administration's emphasis on improving health care in part by improving the availability of medical information in electronic form.

Allscripts' solutions are the cutting edge of medical information systems, and the company should benefit substantially from a move in the direction suggested by Obama.

MDRX provides clinical software, connectivity and information solutions to its health care customer base throughout the United States. The company delivers its products through four divisions: Professional Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, Health Systems Group and Medication Services.

Continue reading Obama administration writes prescription for Allscripts' growth

Obama administration writes prescription for Allscripts' growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.