Filed under: Before the bell, Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), Intel (INTC), Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Sprint Nextel Corp (S), Aetna Inc (AET), Verizon Communications (VZ), duPont(E.I.)deNemours (DD), Genentech Inc (DNA)
Before the bell: Investors await inflation data
Not really surprising, but another step to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)’s iPhone global expansion. While investors would really like to see the iPhone released in China and India, Ireland and Austria are important steps in the expansion. Apple just released the iPhone into Ireland and Austria, pricing it €399 for the 8GB model and €499 for the 16GB unit. O2 and T-Mobile are the respective carriers. Mind you, this is just and official stamp as many have already bought unlocked iPhones there.
While peer-to-peer file sharing has been unpopular (to say the least) with internet providers as they tried to limit their use, Verizon Communication (NYSE: VZ) is set to announce Friday its plans to help its users share files faster - at least those who do it legally. Indeed, when an ISP cooperates with a file-sharing software it can speed downloads an average of 60% to six-fold. While it’s not clear what the percentage of legal downloads are out of overall downloads, the cooperation can cut costs to Verizon, not to mention increase its attractiveness in the eyes of the consumer.
According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) executives met to talk about a potential deal for the first time since Microsoft’s unsolicited takeover bid on Jan. 31. The execs, it was said, met without a banker, with the intention of Microsoft outlining its plan for the portal.
Genentech (NYSE: DNA), DuPont (NYSE: DD) and Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) are scheduled to have their annual analyst meetings. They may move according to what is said.
Shares of General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) fell Thursday after Morgan Stanley cut its 2008 U.S. industry sales forecast as well as GM and Ford’s earnings and outlook, putting GM at loss and widerning Ford’s loss. GM stock fell to its lowest level in nearly two years and Ford stock to a more than 16-year low. The analyst expects things to improve somewhat in 2009.
Meanwhile, GM said it will road test lithium-ion battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid beginning in July, slightly later than expected.
Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S), who has experienced both a significant share price decline as well as customer exodus, is again the source of some speculations about the company’s future. While analysts disagree whether Sprint is ripe for a takeover, they think it is more likely it will begin to sell parts of its operation to generate cash. While Deutsche Telekom and Verizon among other have been named as possible companies interested in buying the wireless business, Intel and Clearwire were named as interested in buying the WiMax segment. Indeed, possibilities are abound, but what everybody seems to agree on, is that the company needs to act.
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