MAJOR PAPERS:

• Australian resources firm BHP Billiton Limited (NYSE: BHP) is unlikely to up its $99.22B bid to acquire mining company Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE: RTP), according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Ten years after taking the reins at eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY), CEO Meg Whitman is making plans to retire, reported the Wall Street Journal. Company president John Donahoe is the leading candidate to replace her.
• According to the Financial Times, Biogen Idec Incorporated (NASDAQ: BIIB) CEO Jim Mullen said the company could make a "large-scale acquisition" this year after it failed to sell itself.

WEB SITES:

• Finance companies including Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE: C) could sell proprietary investments in India as they struggle to shore up their capital after suffering losses in the subprime sector in the U.S., LiveMint.com reported.

PAPERS:

• With shares of eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) down 17% from their highs in 2007, CEO Meg Whitman is more than likely on her way out, TheDeal Blogs speculated.
• According to sources, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: IBM) is in advanced talks to acquire the Israeli start-up XIV for 4300M-$350M, Globes reported.
• According to sources in London and New York, Merrill Lynch and Co Inc's (NYSE: MER) CEO, John Thain, is in talks with Chinese and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds this weekend, which could lead to the sale of another big stake in the U.S. bank, the Observer reported.

WEB SITES:

• According to motherboard makers, DigiTimes reported that Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NYSE: AMD) may have the upper hand against Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) in the next IGP chipset battle.
• iLounge learned that Apple Inc (NASDAQ: APPL) is planning a push for iTunes tagging-ready, HD Radio-equipped boomboxes with iPod docks and is expected to make an announcement at Macworld in mid-January.

It was what thousands of parents of whiny kids were waiting for. Out of the blue, the Tickle-Me-Elmo floodgates are open and (among others) Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) makes oodles of TMX Elmo dolls available on the company's web site. From an, umm, "hidden cache." According to Heather, a TMX Elmo searcher in my office, she finally discovered an Elmo available "suddenly" from Fisher Price. Another warehouse abruptly appear out of the fog in El Segundo? (Do they have fog in El Segundo?)


All at once, eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) listings are everywhere, 22,446 results for my search for "TMX Elmo" and not just lots of results but falling prices. When I first checked around 10:45 a.m. there were dozens of listings closing around $5 or $10 over the suggested retail price of $39.99. 20 minutes later, when I was finishing up this piece? It was more like $5 or $10 under the suggested retail price. The Spanish version was going for a ridiculously cheap $26.55. Market floodage has commenced.

When Black Friday was approaching and customers were gearing up for their long wait in line to be one of the few, the proud, the early purchasers of TMX Elmo dolls, a few less festive souls whispered of "artificial shortages" and wondered if Mattel was purposely creating a frenzy over the toys. Most parents and eBay sellers accused them of a distinct lack of holiday spirit, and oh yeah, not enough capitalism.

I was walking along 57th Avenue in New York late one recent evening, two days before the release of both the Nintendo Wii and the Sony Playstation 3. I saw a huge line of people camped out, and my first thought was, "there isn't a Star Wars movie due soon, is there?" A few moments later I realized it was a line for a Playstation 3.

It's certain that many of those faithful campers would later sell their Playstation 3 on eBay; same with the Wii. According to the Wall Street Journal [subscription required], nearly 15,000 of Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE)'s new game console have been sold, for around $1200 each, on eBay since the release last Friday. (Which is, if you're counting, some $500k straight to eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)'s bottom line) Those who sold, made about a $500-$600 profit. The way I calculate? It's so not worth it.