MAJOR PAPERS:

• Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" wrote that NYC tax medallion financier and owner Medallion Financial Corp (NASDAQ: TAXI) is a play on the rising value of the New York City's taxi medallions, currently worth $600K each.
• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that General Electric Company's (NYSE: GE) NBC next week will use a 1950s standard, live advertisements, to keep viewers watching commercials in the age of digital video recorders.

• Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) will cut over 700 jobs at two Tennessee plants, reported the Associated Press.
• The U.K. Times has learned that food service company Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY) will bid for British food company Brake Bros, which has also drawn interest from Archie Norman and Blackstone.
• From BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" section:
  
• Without belittling the challenge Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) faces from its bribery scandal, investors will now start paying attention to the company's earnings, according to Michael Hagmann of UBS.
  
• MCF Corporation (NYSE: MEM) is a small financial services operation with a cheap price, given its 50% annual growth rate, said Scott Potter of San Francisco Equity Partners.
  
• John Maloney, president of M&R Capital Management, sees National Bank of Greece (NYSE: NBG) benefiting from the booming economies of Southeastern Europe.

Newspaper wrap-up 6-08-07: NBC to play live ads originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) said it won't raise its $27.62B bid for Alcan Inc (NYSE: AL), possibly opening the door for rivals such as BHP Billiton Limited (NYSE: BHP) and Rio Tinto plc (NYSE: RTP).
• The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column reported that analysts and investors think there's more room for growth at Tiffany & Co (NYSE: TIF).
• The Financial Times reported that institutional investors are looking to oust a board member at Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) due to his "inaction" on their climate change strategy.

• The U.K. Times reported that HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) is looking to expand into Colombia.
• The Economic Times reported that Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) may buy a stake in Indian logistics company Radhakrishna Foodland, citing the Indian company's founder.

Newspaper wrap-up 5-23-07: Wal-Mart may buy stake in Indian company originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 May 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and online services company Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE: CRM) may form a partnership to better compete with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
  

• The U.K. Times reported that Warner Music Group Corporation (NYSE: WMG) is expected to offer EMI Group (OTC: EMIPY) a "£100 million sweetener" to try and keep the company from accepting an offer from private equity.
• According to The Observer, Royal Bank of Scotland (OTC: RBSPY), along with its partners Fortis and Banco Santander Central Hispano (NYSE: STD), hope to "table" a £47 billion offer for ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) this week.
• The Observer reported that a private equity consortium is considering a $15 billion offer for Virgin Media Inc (NASDAQ: VMED).
• Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) is planning to return £5 billion to shareholders through a special dividend or share buyback, according to The Observer.
• The Sunday Telegraph reported that UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) will offer to buy out the pension schemes of some of the leading FTSE100 companies next week.
• Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) may be looking to acquire British social networking site Bebo, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
• The Bollywood film producer, Eros International, is expected to announce a partnership with Google Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) YouTube, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited's (NASDAQ: TEVA) Copaxone will face generic competition for the first time, but will not see an impact immediately, Ha'aretz reported.

• The Orange County Register blog looked at a transcript from IndyMac Bancorp Inc's (NYSE: IMB) first quarter conference call, where the CEO Michael Perry said: "When you see that delinquency number in the press of 13% subprime delinquencies, it's hugely understated. It is absolutely hugely understated. And the prime delinquencies are overstated. The subprime delinquencies are more like 18, 20, 22% delinquencies and that's where I think you're going to see the problems."

Newspaper wrap-up 5-21-07: Google may form partnership with Salesforce.com originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 May 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Sallie Mae (NYSE: SLM), the education loan company, has agreed to sell itself for $25B to J.P. Morgan Chase and Co (NYSE: JPM) and Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC).
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Clear Channel Communications Inc (NYSE: CCU) have agreed to a multi-year deal in which Google will sell advertising on Clear Channel's 675-plus radio stations.

• According to the Daily Mail, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin is planning on taking on Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ: RYAAY) in a air fare war for transatlantic routes.
• Nestle SA ADS (OTC: NSRGY) has reportedly placed a bid to acquire India's Mount Everest Mineral Water, according to the Economic Times.
• The U.K. Times reported that it has emerged that a key BP plc ADS (NYSE: BP) pipeline has been closed for over six months due to suspected corrosion.

Newspaper wrap-up 4-16-07: Sallie Mae to be bought out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Apollo Management is considering a private sale of 10% of the firm that would raise $1.5B.
• Carl Icahn has offered WCI Communities Inc (NYSE: WCI) $22 a share, 55 cents higher than its closing price yesterday, and equal to $920M, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• The U.K. Times reported that Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) is set to advise Royal Bank of Scotland on a potential counter-bid of GBP40B or more for ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN). Other bidders for ABN Amro include Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS), which is currently in exclusive talks with ABN.

• The New York Post has learned that the American Stock Exchange, which is looking at "strategic options," has at least one "high-profile suitor" exploring the possibility of an investment, Susquehanna Investment Group.
• Investor's Business Daily's "The New America" column mentioned U.S. Global Investors Inc (NASDAQ: GROW) positively.

Newspaper wrap-up 4-5-07: Carl Icahn makes offer for WCI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported on how the prospect of Cadbury Schweppes (NYSE: CSG) and the Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) merging would be bad news for the already struggling WM. Wrigley Jr. Co (NYSE: WWY).
• The Wall Street Journal's "Ahead of the Tape" column wrote that Best Buy Co., Inc.'s (NYSE: BBY) Q1 earnings report, due out today, will help the Street deduce whether Circuit City Stores Inc. (NYSE: CC) cost cutting measures announced last week were company issues, or if it was a sign of a larger industry problem.
• The Financial Times reported that U.S. authorities are planning to interview Total (NYSE: TOT) CEO Christophe de Margerie as part of an inquiry into whether his company violated U.S. bribery laws.

• According to the U.K. Times, citing research by Prudential Equity Group and AXA Framlington, AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) could lose 38% of its revenue because key drug patents, including Arimi-dex, Seroquel and Symbicort, will expire in the next five years.
• Investor's Business Daily's "The New America" column mentioned Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) positively. Elbit is a small, flexible company that works with industry giants such as the Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA).

Newspaper wrap-up 4-4-07: AstraZeneca may lose 38% of its revenue in next 5 years originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that New Century Financial Corporation (OTC: NEWC) is expected to announce as soon as today that it is filing for bankruptcy projection.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that EMI Group plc (OTC: EMIPY) will hold a special media event on Monday with Apple Inc's (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs as its special guest, fueling speculation that EMI will sell music without anti-piracy software.
• The Financial Times reported that the U.S. and South Korea said they had agreed on the terms of a landmark free trade deal which will boost trade by as much as $20B a year.
• The Financial Times reported that French stock market regulators are looking into unusual share price movements in France Telecom ADS (NYSE: FTE) and a few other CAC40 stocks, as there is concern that unknown forces could be profiting from false rumors and speculation in the stocks.

• The U.K. Times has learned that GlaxoSmithKline plc ADR (NYSE: GSK) is in talks with the World Health Organization, or WHO, over a proposal for a subsidized mass avian flu vaccine for developing countries.

• According to an internal memo obtained by SUSE-IRC.org, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is in talks to acquire Novell Inc (NASDAQ: NOVL).

Newspaper wrap-up 4-2-07: EMI to hold media event with Apple's Steve Jobs today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Online ad firm DoubleClick is exploring a sale, and is in talks with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), among others, reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that BP plc ADS's (NYSE: BP) Russia venture, TNK-BP, abandoned its bid for a stake in Rosneft less than ten minutes into bidding, leaving Rosneft able to buy its own shares back at a 10% discount.
• According to the Financial Times, Tyco International Ltd (NYSE: TYC) bondholders are worried the company may try to avoid paying them in full when the company completes its break-up later in the year.
• The Financial Times reported that Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) CEO Todd Stitzer said a merger with Hershey (HSY) would make "commercial, strategic and financial sense" for Cadbury, which is preparing to split into two divisions.

• The U.K. Times reported that British Airways ADS (NYSE: BAB) is considering making a GBP1B bid for bmi, a competing British airline.

• BusinessWeek Online reported that Beazer Homes USA Inc (NYSE: BZH) is being investigated for potential mortgage fraud by the FBI.
• CNet.com reported that Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) will offer unlimited email storage beginning in May, according to an announcement by the company.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-28-07: Microsoft to buy DoubleClick? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that a confidential report on the Texas City refinery explosion found that John Manzoni, BP plc ADS's (NYSE: BP) CEO of refining, should have inspected the facility much deeper after "warning signals" from previous accidents.
• The Financial Times also reported that both retailers and consumer goods manufacturers in developed countries are shifting their logistics operations, including sorting and labeling, to China.

• The U.K .Times has learned that a boardroom split has emerged between Jean-Francois Dehecq, the chairman of Sanofi-Aventis ADS (NYSE: SNY), and Gerard Le Fur, the CEO of Sanofi, over whether to acquire Bristol-Myers Squib Company (NYSE: BMY) for $54 billion.
• According to the Independent, Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) is asking regulators whether it could make a bid to acquire J. Sainsbury (JSAIY), Britain's third largest supermarket.
• The New York Times reported that stock bonuses paid to executives like CEO Gerard J. Arpey (his bonus includes shared valued yesterday at around $7.5M) have reportedly angered the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing AMR Corporation's (NYSE: AMR) American Airlines' pilots.
• According to the Detroit Free Press, citing people familiar with the talks, General Motors (GM) is not actively pursuing a purchase of DaimlerChrysler AG's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler Group after talking in January about a potential transaction.

• GamesIndustry.biz reported that 20 million copies of Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Vista were sold in the month after the new operating system, or OS, was released worldwide on January 30, Microsoft reported. Vista is selling at more than twice the rate of Windows XP, Microsoft's previous OS.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-27-07: Wal-Mart looking to acquire J. Sainsbury originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Kraft Foods Inc (NYSE: KFT), looking to make foreign acquisitions, is giving its international managers more power to engineer deals. Kraft is most interested in acquisitions in Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and Mexico, according to a person familiar with the matter.
• According to Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" column, Corn Products International Inc's (NYSE: CPO) recent 17% drop could be a buying opportunity.
• According to the Financial Times (subscription required), Bertelsmann has joined forces with private equity partners to consider a bid for textbook publisher Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC). The asking price is about $5B.

• Several private equity firms, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Bain Capital and Texas Pacific Group, have shown a strong interest in acquiring the beverage arm of Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) reported the U.K. Times.
• The New York Post reported that WPP Group plc ADS (NASDAQ: WPPGY) has Hollywood ambitions, taking a 6.8% stake in Media Rights Capital, partly owned by talent agency Endeavor.
• Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column mentioned shoe maker Sketchers USA Inc (NYSE: SKX) positively, noting that the company's presence has increased significantly in stores like Foot Locker Inc (NYSE: FL) and Finish Line Inc (NASDAQ: FINL).

Newspaper wrap-up 3-22-07: Kraft looking for foreign acquisitions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column focused on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX), writing that some analysts see the stock rebounding since being beaten down after hitting a 52-week high in November.
• Also in the Wall Street Journal, "The Mossberg Solution" reviewed the Apple TV product from Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), concluding that it is "a very well-designed product that easily brings the computer and the TV together."
• The Financial Times reported that Mike Mayo, one of Wall Street's best known financial services analysts, is heading to Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) after leaving Prudential (NYSE: PRU).

• According to the Economic Times, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: IBM) is close to signing a 10-year $700M outsourcing contract with Idea Cellular in India.
• The U.K. Times reported that prospective merger partners Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS) and ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) are considering using the proceeds from a possible sale of ABN Amro's LaSalle retail bank to generate a merger dividend for shareholders on both sides of the possible merger.

• Henry Blodget's Internet Outsider blog wrote that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) should buy Spot Runner, which reduces the cost and time necessary to plan and buy a TV advertising campaign.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-21-07: Walt Mossberg reviews Apple TV originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), citing people familiar with the matter, Community Health Systems Inc (NYSE: CYH) is near a deal to purchase Triad Hospitals (NYSE: TRI), which would break up an existing $4.5B private-equity buyout plan.
• The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column reported that rumors are swirling that Infineon Technologies ADS (NYSE: IFX) will be chosen to supply the main chip to drive the upcoming iPhone from Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL).

• The Business Standard reported that Reliance Industries is reportedly in advanced discussions with Nova Chemicals Corporation (NYSE: NCX), the plastics and petrochemicals firm, to form a joint venture.
• According to the U.K. Times, Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS) will announce today its formal interest in buying Netherlands bank ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) for a price of up to a little less than EUR60B, or EUR31.3 per share, according to reports.
• Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ) is trying to buy the Financial News for GBP25M, the U.K. Times reported.
• The Sunday Telegraph reported that Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is planning a 'beauty tea' in conjunction with L'Oreal ADR (OTC: LRLCY), called Lumae.
• According to Google Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) official blog, it has acquired Adscape media. Terms were not disclosed.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-19-07: M&A in focus originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) has renegotiated the terms of leases with a number of banks, giving the retailer the ability to offer mortgages, home-equity lines of credit and consumer loans.
• According to the Financial Times, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEH) is attempting to reassure investors about its exposure to the upheaval in the subprime mortgage market, saying activity from the sector accounted for an average of less than 3% of revenues over the past six quarters.
• Time Warner Inc's (NYSE: TWX) AOL internet division has withdrawn its $900M offer for Swedish internet advertising group TradeDoubler after a decision not to increase the value of the bid, the Financial Times reported.

• The Associated Press reported that the U.S. government is expected to soon award its largest telecommunications contract ever to at least two bidders. The bidders, looking to be awarded the 10-year contract worth up to $48B, are Qwest Communications International Inc (NYSE: Q), Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S), AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ).
• The U.K. Times reported that private equity firms are eyeing Cadbury Schweppes ADS's (NYSE: CSG) Beverages business.
• Airline leasing company AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER) was mentioned positively in Investor's Business Daily's "The New America" column. In 1990, 18% of commercial jets worldwide were leased. In 2005 that percent was 30, and it could reach 40% to 50%, says Wachovia analyst Gary Liebowitz.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-15-07: Wal-Mart the banker? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) speculated that Carl Icahn's bid for WCI Communities Inc (NYSE: WCI) may be the start of home-builder buyouts. Other possible LBO targets, according to some Wall Street firms, include Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE: TOL), Ryland Group Inc (NYSE: RYL), Beazer Homes USA Inc (NYSE: BZH) and KB Home (NYSE: KBH).
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) is looking to push deeper into the subprime lending business at a time when the subprime mortgage market is suffering a "meltdown."
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Cerberus Capital Management, one of the leaders in the bid to buy DaimlerChrysler AG's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler unit, has signed Wolfgang Bernhard to an advisory contract. Bernhard helped restructure Chrysler five years ago.

• The U.K. Times reported that a CVC-led private equity group is planning to bid above GBP9.5B for Sainsbury's plc ADR (OTC: JSAIY).
• The U.K. Times also reported that Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) is considering spinning off and selling its profitable drinks business, which includes Dr. Pepper and 7-Up, as a way to defend against a takeover bid for the entire group.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-14-07: Goldman Sachs to push deeper into subprime lending originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to the Wall Street Journal's (subscription required) "Heard on the Street" column, JP Morgan Chase and Company (NYSE: JPM) is working on its growth without acquisitions, by bulking up its Hollywood business and its pension-advisory business.
• The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that China's economic-planning agency said it would allow Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) to build a chip plant in the northeastern city of Dalian.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) has raised its bid for Nikko Cordial by 25.9% to around $13.4B.

• CNet.com has learned that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is close to acquiring privately held Tellme Networks, which a deal expected to be completed later this week.
• The U.K. Times reported that Warner Music Group Corp (NYSE: WMG) is struggling to justify raising its bid for rival EMI Group (OTC: EMIPY), because it does not believe it can risk an improved offer without having access to EMI's books.
• According to the Independent, Diageo plc ADS (NYSE: DEO) is expected to bid for Absolut vodka owners Vin & Sprit despite worries about competition.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-13-07: Microsoft to acquire Tellme Networks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that General Motors Corporation's (NYSE: GM) CEO Rick Wagoner expressed caution about the possibility of General Motors adding new brands or US manufacturing plants to its portfolio, remarks that are likely to quash expectations of an imminent GM bid for cross-town rival DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE: DCX).
• According to the Financial Times, Nikko Cordial's largest investor has rejected Citigroup Inc's (NYSE: C) $11B takeover bid.
• Also in the Financial Times, 3M Corporation (NYSE: MMM) has filed infringement lawsuits against Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE) and Lenovo (LNVGY), and others, including Hitachi Ltd ADR (NYSE: HIT), CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd (NYSE: MC).

• India's Economic Times reported that Wipro Ltd ADS (NYSE: WIT) is said to be close to acquiring an unnamed U.S. aerospace services company for about $90M.
• According to the U.K. Times, Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) has said it is willing to team up with private equity firms to pursue deals.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-8-07: Nikko investor rejects Citiroup offer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to the Wall Street Journal's (subscription required) "Heard on the Street" column, Clear Channel Communicationss Inc's (NYSE: CCU) CEO, Mark Mays, is starting to sound desperate, afraid that shareholders would vote against a $26B takeover of Clear Channel by two private equity firms. Many investors have written off the vote's chances of success, as it needs 2/3 approval, unless a higher bid emerges.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO) and IBM Corporation (NYSE: IBM) will today announce a partnership to develop software that combines voice, instant messaging and other communications services.
• Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" feels that Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL), Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) and Activision Inc (NASDAQ: ATVI) shares haven't reflected the companies' improving prospects.

• The Telegraph reported that Aston Martin, which is owned by Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), will be sold by the end of the week for an estimated GBP500M. The sale will go to a consortium of business interests from the U.S. and the Middle East, headed by Prodrive founder and owner David Richards.
• According to Polymerupdate.com (subscription required), citing an industry source, Koch Industries and the Blackstone Group are planning to team up to launch a bid for General Electric Company's (NYSE: GE) GE Plastics unit.
• The U.K. Times reported that BT Group plc ADR (NYSE: BT) rose yesterday on the London Stock Exchange on rumors that a private equity group was considering a leveraged buyout of the telecom company.
• Investor's Business Daily's "The New America" column mentioned steel giant United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) positively.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-7-07: Aston Martin to be sold by Ford originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Alltel Corporation (NYSE: AT) is stepping up efforts to sell itself. People familiar with the matter said that Alltel has made "overtures" to AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) but that AT&T is skeptical about a potential combination due to antitrust problems, technology-integration issues and Alltel's stock-market capitalization.
• According to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, Palm Inc (NASDAQ: PALM) has hired Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) to help explore strategic options, including a potential sale of the company, an investment by private equity or purchase of its own.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that former Attorney General John Ashcroft has been hired by opponents of the XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc (NASDAQ: SIRI) deal, claiming that the merger will leave only provider in the market.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) has announced plans to build a low-priced vehicle, to be built and sold in emerging markets including India, China and Russia.

• The U.K. Times reported that HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HBC), Europe's largest banking group, said it was taking a $10.6B charge against bad loans, mostly in the U.S.
• The U.K. Times also reported that Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is in exclusive talks with Prodrive, the sports racing company, over a potential GBP450M sale of Aston Martin.
• The Telegraph reported that Apax is said to be the frontrunner for Claire's Stores Inc (NYSE: CLE) with a $3B offer, the deadline for final bids is said to be Wednesday.
  

Newspaper wrap-up 3-5-07: Alltel looking to sell itself originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.