Amazon May Not Make Much Money for Years
Wikimedia CommonsWall St. was mildly upset that Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) did not make more money than hoped for in the first quarter of the year. Add that to slowing sales, and the worry…
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Douglas A. McIntyre
What Is Important in the Financial World (4/26/2013)
ThinkstockElectronic Arts Layoffs Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), which recently dumped its chief executive officer, has decided to cut a large number of workers as well. EA has been unable to make the transition…
Will George Soros Press J.C. Penney to Close Stores?
courtesy J.C. Penney Co. Inc.Billionaire investment god George Soros has bought 7.9% of J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP). His filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said the investment is passive, but Soros…
Media Digest (4/26/2013) Reuters, WSJ, NY Times, FT
courtesy of AOL, IncFirst-quarter gross domestic product probably will run about 3%, but the momentum likely has fallen off since. (Reuters) The Bank of Japan believes it can reach its inflation targets by 2015. (Reuters)…
Apple Phone Sales Falter — Strategic Analystics
courtesy of Apple Inc.Just two days after Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced disappointing earnings and forecasts for future quarters, research firm Strategic Analytics reports that the electronics company’s smartphone market share is rapidly eroding.…
Verizon Gets Serious About Wireless Buyout
courtesy of Verizon WirelessVerizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) apparently wants to buy out the 45% of Verizon Wireless it does not own. The other portion is owned by Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ: VOD), which…
United Kingdom Squeaks Out GDP Growth
ThinkstockThe threat of a triple-dip recession in the United Kingdom has gone away, although gross domestic product (GDP) growth is so small that the discussion is a matter of semantics. The Office of National…
Global Tablet Shipments: Microsoft Gains on Apple
ThinkstockApple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) still holds the top spot among tablet makers. But Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) has started to get a foothold in the business. The latest data on global tablet shipments: According…
What Is Important in the Financial World (4/25/2013)
ThinkstockVerizon Talks with Vodafone Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) apparently wants to buy out the 45% of Verizon Wireless it does not own. The other portion is owned by Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ: VOD),…
Spain’s Unemployment Reaches U.S. 1930s Levels
ThinkstockSpain’s unemployment level reached 27.2% in the first quarter, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). The worst level of American national unemployment was 24.75% of the civilian labor force in 1933. It is…
Could Zynga Disappear?
courtesy of ZyngaIt is rare that a relatively large U.S. public corporation loses such a large portion of its revenue that it becomes pathetically small. Online game firm Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) is headed…
Amazon’s Unfortunate Streaming Video Plans
Wikimedia CommonsIf several media reports are true, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) will release a set-top box through which consumers can stream premier video content. Even with its huge customer base and tremendous brand leverage,…
Media Digest (4/25/2013) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg
ThinkstockVerizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) will make a $100 billion offer to Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ: VOD) for the part of Verizon Wireless that it does not own. (Reuters) Spanish financial firm Banco Santander…
German Economy Is Taking a Breather?
courtesy SAP AGJust one day after Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data about Germany showed that its economy is in trouble, Ifo reports that the problem has spread, and spread widely. According to its…
Apple’s Woes Have a Ripple Effect
courtesy of Apple Inc.Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) problems have rippled to its Asia components suppliers. Shares in many of these fell in anticipation of weak earnings from the American consumer electronics giant. Apple’s forecast…
U.S. Wealth Distribution Trend Is No Surprise
ThinkstockThe rich have become get richer, and the middle class has become poorer. The trend continued throughout the end of the recession and into the tepid recovery. Many people expected that trend, which increases the belief…
What Is Important in the Financial News (4/24/2013)
ThinkstockFalling German Business Sentiment Just one day after Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data about Germany showed that its economy is in trouble, Ifo reports that the problem has spread, and spread widely. According…
J.C. Penney Outsources Turnaround
courtesy J.C. Penney Co. Inc.If The Wall Street Journal is accurate, J.C. Penney (NYSE: JPC) has hired turnaround firm AlixPartners to help it “identify cost savings and manage cash flow.” In other words, the battered…
The Death of Growth at AT&T
ThinkstockWhat has been a worry about AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) for some time has become a reality. The big telecom firm can no longer grow. The years in which its revenue expanded are behind…
Media Digest (4/24/2013) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg
courtesy of AOL, IncApple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) new dividend will allow management a period to recover earnings growth while offering investors a return. (Reuters) Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) may use its consumer database to…