As Bill Cara predicted several months ago, Phelps Dodge’s (PD) bid for Inco and Falconbridge has been thwarted, and has now become dinner rather than diner. Smaller Rival in Agreement to Acquire Copper Giant…
by Jon C. Ogg Stock Tickers: RHAT, ORCL, MSFT, NOVL Red Hat (RHAT) has not been without controversy nor been without problems of late. It has managed to see its core Linux office suite…
by Jon C. Ogg The Blackstone private equity buyout of Equity Office Properties Trust (EOP) is a real game changer for Office REIT shares. This office property sector has been consolidating in the recent…
In looking for the most overvalued stocks, we considered metrics like price-to-sales, rapid stock price appreciation not supported by comparable financial growth, pricing and revenue pressure from competition, and future predictions of success like…
by Jon C. Ogg The spin-off of Verizon’s (VZ) phone book business has been completed. The Idearc (IAR) operator of Yellow and White Pages begins trading today on its own basis. Idearc’s products include…
by Jon C. Ogg (AGE) A.G.Edwards announced 10M share buyback.(AGN) Allergan indicated higher as FDA allows Silicone breast implants after a 14 year ban.(AKAM) Akamai Tech is acquiring private Nine Systems for 3.1 million…
ALC raised to Buy at Jefferies.ALSK cut to Neutral at B of A.AMB raised to outperform at RBC.APPB cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.BLL raised to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.CBEY started as Overweight at…
F Scott Fitzgerald made the observation that "the very rich are different than you and me." Well, the mega-banks think so anyway. As opportunities like corporate lending and M&A become more competitive because investment…
Stocks: (VIA)(CBS)(DIS)(TWX)(NWS) There has been a far amount of speculation recently that both CBS and Viacom could be takeover targets. The purchase of Clear Channel by private equity interests has focused large hedge funds…
In looking for the most overvalued stocks, we considered metrics like price-to-sales, rapid stock price appreciation not supported by comparable financial growth, pricing and revenue pressure from competition, and future predictions of success like…
Stocks: (BCS)(BP)(BT)(FSK)(PUK)(RTRSY)(UL)(VOD)(DCX)(DB)(DT)(SI)(ALA)(AXA)(FTE)(V) Markets in Europe were lower at 5.30 AM New York time. The FTSE was down .6% to 6,158. Barclays was down .2% to 705.5. BP was down 1.1% to 575.5. BT was…
Stocks: (FCX)(PD)(GM)(TWX)(NDAQ)(NYX)(YHOO)(BAC) According to Reuters, Freeport McMoRan, the metals company, has agreed to buy Phelps Dodge of $25.9 billion. Reuters writes that Blackstone has agreed to buy real estate firm Equity Office Properties for…
Stocks: (CAJ)(FUJ)(HIT)NIPNY)(NTT)(SNE)(TM)(PCW)(HBC)(CHL)(CHU) Markets in Asia fell sharply. The Nikkei was down 2.3% to 15,726. Bridgestone was off 2.8% to 2445. Canon was down 3% to 6120. Daiwa Securities was down 3.2% to 1223. Fuji…
Stocks; (PD)(FCX) Freeport McMoRan is buying Phelps Dodge for $25.9 billion to create a cooper company of unprecedented size. The irony of the move is that Phelps Dodge had made an attempt to buy…
A federal appeals court is reviewing the decision to let a group of smokers file a class action suit about whether "light" cigarettes where marketed as being safer than regular smokes. While it is…
One of the reasons that Starbuck’s does well is that it changes its business as often as a chameleon changes colors. On the surface, it is a simple coffee stand with overpriced beverages. But,…
Stocks: (GOOG)(YHOO) As Yahoo!’s stock price sits new its 52-week low, the amount of speculation about the company’s future increases. Merrill Lynch recently raised its rating on the web company saying that the pullback…
Stocks: (AMR)(LUV)(CAL)(SNE)(CCE)(KO)(MTG)(DD)(MDT)(STJ)(BSX)(JNJ)(ATHR)(SIRF)(BRCM)(HAL) The US Air bid for Delta is driving up other airline shares. Lower fuel prices and low valuations may help prices of American and Continental continue to rise. Even with the introduction…
Stocks: (SNE)(DCX)(GM)(F)(NWS)(AGN)(MNT) According to the New York Times, the growing Chinese car market may not be large enough to support all of the sales aspirations of large international car makers and local Chinese companies.…
Stocks: (GM)(F)(DCX) Chrysler has announced that it will try to cut its cost-per-vehicle-manufactured by $1,000 through methods that include outsourcing parts production to companies outside the US. The company also said that it wants…