Dell, Icahn Strike a Deal
courtesy Dell Inc.You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, you might get what you need. That seems to be the outcome of the deal announced today between Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:…
All Work
Paul Ausick
Commodities Trading Needs to Shape Up
ThinkstockOver the past 10 years the world’s largest commodities trading houses have racked up nearly $250 billion in profit. That is more than the net profit of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), J.P.…
Housing Starts at Five-Year High
ThinkstockThe U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported this morning that new housing starts in March rose to an annual seasonally adjusted rate of nealry 1.04 million. That was…
Twitter Seeks Video Deals with Viacom, Comcast
thinkstockIn an effort to boost the amount of time users spend on its website, privately held Twitter is reportedly negotiating with Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB) and Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) for the rights to…
Underwriting Props Up Goldman Sachs Results
Wikimedia CommonsGoldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) reported first-quarter fiscal 2013 results before markets opened this morning. The investment bank and financial services giant reported quarterly diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.29 on…
Coca-Cola Falls Short Due to Currency Effects
courtesy of The Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) reported first-quarter 2013 results before markets opened this morning. The soft-drink maker posted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.39 on revenues of $11.04 billion.…
Market Close: Big Winners & Losers for April 15, 2013 (GENE, THRX, SGRP, MAGS, CNIT, UNTK, GSS, DSCO, HXM, ECTY)
thinkstockHere are today’s five biggest gaining stocks at closing: Genetic Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: GENE) is up 22.8% at $2.75. Theravance Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) is up 19.4% at $28.36. Spar Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SGRP) is…
Gold Dives, Drags Equities and Oil Along
ThinkstockToday’s 9.3% drop in the price of gold was the largest one-day drop in 30 years. The sell-off began in Asia last night, continued through the day in Europe, and wound up slamming U.S.…
24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell — April 15, 2013: Markets Drop as Gold Collapses (CMG, FCX, SKS, GFI, GS, C, SCHW, FRC, PBY, BLK, CMA, GS, JNJ, KO, S, DISH, ABX, LIFE, TMO)
U.S. equity markets opened lower this morning as overnight trading in gold saw the beginnings of the biggest one-day drop in the yellow metal’s price in 30 years (more coverage here). Markets in Asia,…
Does It Matter Who Owns Sprint?
courtesy of Sprint Corp.Now that Dish Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH) has made a better offer for Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) than the one on the table from Japan’s Softbank, we might pause to…
Verizon Muddies the Sprint Deal Even More
ThinkstockThe announcement this morning of a $25.5 billion offer from Dish Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH) for Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) has pushed Sprint stock up by double digits. Part of Sprint’s value, both…
Crude Takes a Beating Today; Goldman Braces for More Losses
thinkstockWe have already noted today’s pounding on gold mining stocks as the price of the yellow metal heads for $1,400 an ounce. Crude oil is taking a less severe beating, but a beating nonetheless.…
Home Builder Confidence at Six-Month Low, Prospects Brighter Though
ThinkstockThe National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo housing market index fell by two points in April to 42. The January reading of 47 was the highest for the index since April 2006. An…
Will Jamie Dimon Lose His Job?
Wikimedia CommonsA group of investors in J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) have filed a shareholder proposal calling for the bank’s board of directors to name an independent chairman, splitting the two roles…
Thermo Fisher to Acquire Life Technologies
ThinkstockThe world’s second largest maker of laboratory equipment, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) has agree to acquire competitor Life Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: LIFE) for $13.6 billion in cash ($76 a share). Thermo Fisher…
Shrinking Credit Losses Boost Citigroup Profit
Flickr / rOsssCitigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) reported first-quarter results before markets opened this morning. The bank posted adjusted diluted quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $1.29 on revenues of $20.8 billion. In the same…
Galaxy S4 Threatens iPhone in China — Survey
courtesy of Samsung More than 50% of China’s iPhone users are considering the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone when the new phone makes its appearance in China. On top of that, more…
Market Close: Big Winners & Losers for April 12, 2013 (RALY, CLNT, CPGI, KFS, SBGI, OSH, CRMB, INFY, TRMD, ALVR)
thinkstockHere are today’s five biggest gaining stocks at closing: Rally Software Development Corp. (NYSE: RALY) is up 27.2% at $17.81. Today marks the firm’s IPO. Cleantech Solutions International Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNT) is up 21.4%…
24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell — April 12, 2013: Markets Start, Stay Negative (V, HD, APO, AMZN, KORS, CRMB, JPM, WFC, C, RALY, EVTC, RAD, ABX)
U.S. equity markets opened lower this morning and failed to generate any positive traction all day long. Economic data from Europe was mixed, and the European Central Bank said that 19 banks are set…
No $20 Million Severance Deal for AMR CEO — Yet
ThinkstockThe CEO of AMR Corp., parent company of bankrupt American Airlines, won’t be getting a $20 million severance package from the company. A bankruptcy court judge in New York rejected the payment, citing restrictions…