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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title>Nintendo could run out of steam</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/nintendos-risk-of-running-out-of-steam/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/nintendos-risk-of-running-out-of-steam/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/nintendos-risk-of-running-out-of-steam/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a></p><p>Nintendo already has the upper hand in the video game console market. Its Wii outsells the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft </a>(NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) Xbox 360 and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) PS3. But with its market penetration so high, the hyper-growth has to start slowing.</p>
<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121780805792108617.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace">According to</a> <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, "After overseeing several years of rapid growth at Nintendo Co., President Satoru Iwata faces new challenges: how to keep players of the company's videogames interested, and how to cultivate a new wave of customers."</p>
<p>Nintendo's problems may be beyond its ability to solve. It can bring out new consoles and games for its current products, but the industry as a whole may be facing a slow period.</p>
<p>The newest game platforms are now a couple of years old. That means most of the ready buyers probably own one. Going after the market of people only modestly interest in the products will be harder, especially when compounded by a weak economy. </p>
<p>It may be easy to focus on Nintendo because it has such a large market share, but the entire industry may have problems until the next generation of consoles brings a large number of buyers into the market again.</p>
<p><em>Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com. </em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121780805792108617.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/nintendos-risk-of-running-out-of-steam/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1274427/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/nintendos-risk-of-running-out-of-steam/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/nintendos-risk-of-running-out-of-steam/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>microsoft</category><category>MSFT</category><category>Nintendo</category><category>ntdoy</category><category>PS3</category><category>SNE</category><category>sony</category><category>Wii</category><category>Xbox 360</category><category>Xbox360</category><dc:creator>Douglas McIntyre</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-04T09:45:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>How high will 'The Dark Knight's' box office go?</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/how-high-will-the-dark-knights-box-office-go/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/how-high-will-the-dark-knights-box-office-go/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/how-high-will-the-dark-knights-box-office-go/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/ge/" rel="tag">General Electric (GE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/twx/" rel="tag">Time Warner (TWX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/dis/" rel="tag">Walt Disney (DIS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/film/" rel="tag">Film</a></p><p><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">Time Warner</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">TWX</a>) <em>The Dark Knight</em> is in the fight of its life. According to <a href="http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/">Boxofficemojo</a>, it has a slim lead over <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">General Electric</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">GE</a>) <em>The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor</em> at the domestic box office. The Batman flick is estimated to have taken in roughly $43.8 million, while the <em>Mummy</em> movie has about $42.5 million to its credit right. That's just too close to call. There is one thing for certain, however<em>. Knight </em>will approach $500 million in total box-office grosses since its cume currently stands at a little under $400 million. Awesome, indeed, although I think the movie will start to exhaust itself before it can gets to $500 million. We'll see if I'm correct on that count.</p>
<p>Moving on, we see that <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) <em>Step Brothers</em>, GE's <em>Mamma Mia!</em>, and Time Warner's <em>Journey to the Center of the Earth</em> came in third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, over the weekend. <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">Disney</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">DIS</a>), unfortunately, suffered an utter embarrassment with its new film project <em>Swing Vote</em>, starring Kevin Costner. The movie came in sixth place and only managed about $6 million. I've got to say that I don't blame Disney on this one. Concept and timing seemed solid to me, and it had a decent enough advertising campaign. However, I didn't like the performance of Disney's studio operations in the <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/disney-defies-skeptics/">latest quarter</a>, so it is too bad that this film couldn't have swung one out of the park.</p>
<p>Time Warner is really doing great with <em>Knight</em>, but I'm sure it's frustrating for shareholders to know that one hit film won't necessarily rally the stock for this big media conglomerate. It should drive studio and licensing profits down the line, however, so investors will at least notice that. I must admit that I thought the <em>Mummy</em> sequel was going to bomb over the weekend. Didn't seem as exciting as the first two. But GE's Universal division scored and seems to be having a decent summer at the multiplex, releasing hits such as <em>Wanted</em>, <em>Hellboy II: The Golden Army</em>, and the aforementioned <em>Mamma Mia!</em> Will <em>Mummy</em> will see a big drop next weekend? I fear it might. For now, it remains Batman's nemesis.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own Disney and GE; positions can change at any time. </em> </p>
<p> </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/how-high-will-the-dark-knights-box-office-go/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1274246/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/how-high-will-the-dark-knights-box-office-go/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/04/how-high-will-the-dark-knights-box-office-go/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Batman</category><category>box office</category><category>BoxOffice</category><category>DIS</category><category>Disney</category><category>GE</category><category>General Electric</category><category>GeneralElectric</category><category>inthenews</category><category>Kevin Costner</category><category>KevinCostner</category><category>Mamma Mia</category><category>MammaMia</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>Step Brothers</category><category>StepBrothers</category><category>Swing Vote</category><category>SwingVote</category><category>The Dark Knight</category><category>The Mummy Tomb of the Emperor Dragon</category><category>TheDarkKnight</category><category>TheMummyTombOfTheEmperorDragon</category><category>Time Warner</category><category>TimeWarner</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-04T09:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Earnings highlights: General Motors, Motorola, Disney, Sony, Visa, CBS and others</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-general-motors-motorola-disney-sony-vis/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-general-motors-motorola-disney-sony-vis/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-general-motors-motorola-disney-sony-vis/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">General Motors (GM)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mot/" rel="tag">Motorola (MOT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/dis/" rel="tag">Walt Disney (DIS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/cbs/" rel="tag">CBS Corp 'B' (CBS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mer/" rel="tag">Merrill Lynch (MER)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/k/" rel="tag">Kellogg Co (K)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/vz/" rel="tag">Verizon Communications (VZ)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/odp/" rel="tag">Office Depot (ODP)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/java/" rel="tag">Sun Microsystems (JAVA)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/erts/" rel="tag">Electronic Arts (ERTS)</a></p><p><img height="179" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/07/gm-hq-1.jpg" width="220" align="right" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" />Here are some highlights from this past week's <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" target="_blank">earnings coverage</a> from BloggingStocks: </p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/akamai-technologies-inc/akam/nas"><strong>Akamai Technologies Inc.</strong></a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/akamai-technologies-inc/akam/nas">AKAM</a>) <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/31/closing-bell-bears-win-non-recession-gdp-fails-to-impress/">beat estimates</a> but shares fell to a new 52-week low. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amgen-inc/amgn/nas"><strong>Amgen Inc.</strong></a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amgen-inc/amgn/nas">AMGN</a>) posted <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/28/amgen-continues-its-upward-climb-promising-study-and-good-resul/">better-than-expected Q2</a> results and listed its guidance. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/cbs-corporation/cbs/nys"><strong>CBS Corp.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/cbs-corporation/cbs/nys">CBS</a>) issued a <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/cbss-second-quarter-was-no-breakout-hit/">lackluster Q2 earnings</a> report and will buy back shares. </li>
    <li><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/concur-technologies-inc/cnqr/nas">Concur Technologies Inc.</a></strong> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/concur-technologies-inc/cnqr/nas">CNQR</a>) <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/31/american-express-dont-leave-home-without-concur/">Q3 revenues</a> spiked, and it announced a big deal. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/eastman-kodak-company/ek/nys"><strong>Eastman Kodak Co.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/eastman-kodak-company/ek/nys">EK</a>) swung to <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/">a Q2 profit</a> due to a tax refund, but revenue growth was minimal. </li>
    <li><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">Electronic Arts Inc.</a></strong> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">ERTS</a>) narrowed its <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/before-the-bell-mt-grmn-si-odp-iaci-via-erts-f-gm-dell/">loss in Q1</a> as revenue more than doubled. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/first-solar-inc/fslr/nas"><strong>First Solar Inc.</strong></a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/first-solar-inc/fslr/nas">FSLR</a>) <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/31/closing-bell-bears-win-non-recession-gdp-fails-to-impress/">easily beat</a> analysts' expectations and raised its guidance. </li>
    <li><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-motors-corporation/gm/nys">General Motors Corp.</a></strong> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-motors-corporation/gm/nys">GM</a>) posted a <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/with-a-15-5-billion-loss-can-gm-or-its-ceo-survive/">bigger-than-expected Q2 loss</a> on massive charges. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/kellogg-company/k/nys"><strong>Kellogg Co.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/kellogg-company/k/nys">K</a>) posted <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/kellogg-beats-in-q2-navigates-inflationary-environment/">solid Q2 results</a> on price increases, and raised its guidance. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/lazard-ltd/laz/nys"><strong>Lazard Ltd.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/lazard-ltd/laz/nys">LAZ</a>) reported <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/lazard-find-opportunities-in-this-market/">healthy Q2 results</a> on merger and restructuring deals. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/merrill-lynch-and-co-inc/mer/nys"><strong>Merrill Lynch &amp; Co. Inc.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/merrill-lynch-and-co-inc/mer/nys">MER</a>) warned of a <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/28/merrill-lynchs-mer-last-stand/">$5.7 billion write-down</a> in the third quarter. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/motorola-inc/mot/nys"><strong>Motorola Inc.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/motorola-inc/mot/nys">MOT</a>) posted <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/31/is-the-worst-over-for-motorola-mot/">breakeven earnings</a> while revenue fell but beat estimates. </li>
    <li><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/office-depot-inc/odp/nys">Office Depot Inc.</a></strong> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/office-depot-inc/odp/nys">ODP</a>) reported <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/before-the-bell-mt-grmn-si-odp-iaci-via-erts-f-gm-dell/">a Q2 loss</a> due to slower sales, sending shares lower. </li>
    <li><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/siemens-a-g-adr/si/nys">Siemens</a></strong> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/siemens-a-g-adr/si/nys">SI</a>) said that <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/before-the-bell-mt-grmn-si-odp-iaci-via-erts-f-gm-dell/">Q3 earnings fell</a> from a one-time gain last year. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys"><strong>Sony Corp.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/">Q1 profits tumbled</a> on lower handset and flat-panel TV sales. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sun-microsystems-inc/java/nas"><strong>Sun Microsystems</strong></a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sun-microsystems-inc/java/nas">JAVA</a>) <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/sun-microsystems-java-drops-on-forecast-of-losses/">forecast a loss</a> in this quarter due to weakness in the financial sector. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/verizon-communications-inc/vz/nys"><strong>Verizon Communications Inc.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/verizon-communications-inc/vz/nys">VZ</a>) had <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/28/can-verizon-keep-it-up/">better-than-expected Q2</a> results on growth in wireless. </li>
    <li><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/visa-inc/v/nys">Visa Inc.</a></strong> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/visa-inc/v/nys">V</a>) reported <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/31/visa-destroys-earnings-expectations-in-q3/">strong Q3 results</a> that easily beat Wall Street expectations. </li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys"><strong>Walt Disney Co.</strong></a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">DIS</a>) posted <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/disney-defies-skeptics/">better-than-expected Q2</a> profit on theme park and ESPN strength. </li>
</ul>
<p>For more highlights from this week, see: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-exxon-starbucks-viacom-comcast-sirius/" target="_blank">Exxon, Starbucks, Viacom, Comcast, Sirius, Kraft and others</a> </p>
<p>Upcoming quarterly reports include <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/archer-daniels-midland-company/adm/nys">Archer Daniels Midland</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/archer-daniels-midland-company/adm/nys">ADM</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-procter-and-gamble-company/pg/nys">Procter &amp; Gamble</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-procter-and-gamble-company/pg/nys">PG</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/jack-in-the-box-inc/jbx/nys">Jack-in-the-Box</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/jack-in-the-box-inc/jbx/nys">JBX</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/cisco-systems-inc/csco/nas">Cisco</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/cisco-systems-inc/csco/nas">CSCO</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/news-corporation/nws/nys">News Corp.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/news-corporation/nws/nys">NWS</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/whole-foods-market-inc/wfmi/nas">Whole Foods</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/whole-foods-market-inc/wfmi/nas">WFMI</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sprint-nextel-corporation/s/nys">Sprint Nextel</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sprint-nextel-corporation/s/nys">S</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">Time Warner</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">TWX</a>), <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/federal-home-loan-mortgage-corporation/fre/nys">Freddie Mac</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/federal-home-loan-mortgage-corporation/fre/nys">FRE</a>), and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/blockbuster-inc-class-a/bbi/nys">Blockbuster</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/blockbuster-inc-class-a/bbi/nys">BBI</a>).</p>
<p><a href="http://money.aol.com/news/earnings" target="_blank">Visit <strong>AOL Money &amp; Finance</strong> for more earnings coverage</a>.</p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-general-motors-motorola-disney-sony-vis/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1273446/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-general-motors-motorola-disney-sony-vis/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/earnings-highlights-general-motors-motorola-disney-sony-vis/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>AKAM</category><category>Akamai</category><category>Amgen</category><category>AMGN</category><category>CBS</category><category>CNQR</category><category>Concur</category><category>DIS</category><category>Disney</category><category>earnings</category><category>earnings reports</category><category>Electronic Arts</category><category>ERTS</category><category>ESPN</category><category>featured</category><category>First Solar</category><category>FSLR</category><category>General Motors</category><category>GM</category><category>JAVA</category><category>Kellogg</category><category>LAZ</category><category>Lazard</category><category>MER</category><category>Merrill Lynch</category><category>MOT</category><category>Motorola</category><category>ODP</category><category>Office Depot</category><category>SI</category><category>Siemens</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>Sun Microsystems</category><category>Verizon</category><category>Visa</category><category>VZ</category><dc:creator>Trey Thoelcke</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-02T15:40:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Eastman Kodak's Q2 reminds me why I hate this stock</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/ek/" rel="tag">Eastman Kodak (EK)</a></p><p><img alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/01/ek-eastman-kodak-logo.jpg" align="right" vspace="4" border="1" />Famous maker of photographic equipment and supplies <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/eastman-kodak-company/ek/nys">Eastman Kodak</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/eastman-kodak-company/ek/nys">EK</a>) reported earnings for the second quarter earlier this week, and they have not changed my opinion whatsoever on the stock. The shares are to be avoided at all cost.</p>
<p>Yeah, I've got to admit, I've been bearish on Eastman Kodak for a long time. It isn't difficult to hold such an opinion, of course. The company <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/qp/pr/_a/kodak-reports-2nd-quarter-profit-sales/rfid126600039">reported net income</a> on a GAAP basis of $0.66 per share from continuing operations as opposed to a loss of $0.53 per share from continuing operations in the year-ago period. However, the results for the quarter include a gain of $0.88 per share from an IRS refund, offset by $0.09 per share in other items of net expense (this yields a net benefit of $0.79 per share). Considering that last year's Q2 was affected by a net of $0.92 per share due to restructuring charges (which were offset by gains on asset sales), it can be seen that the adjusted scenario isn't impressive in the least. </p>
<p>I just can't get past the utterly horrible story behind this company and its long-term performance. Simply put, Eastman Kodak just didn't adjust properly to the transition from film photography to digital photography as it was happening. It's trying to make amends, but it hasn't been easy. In fact, colleague Elizabeth Harrow recently wrote an informative article on the awful history of the company and how its stock has been one of the <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/worst-10-year-performers-eastman-kodak-battles-the-digital-era/">worst performers of the last decade</a>. She discusses the impact of competition from businesses such as <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/canon-inc/caj/nys">Canon</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/canon-inc/caj/nys">CAJ</a>), as well as the demand of one big stakeholder for management to expand its current buyback program.</p>
<p> </p><p>Eastman Kodak may be trading at a yield above 3%, but this is no stock for dividend investors. The dividend has remained stagnant, and the cash flow during the quarter was not impressive at all. And even though revenue growth from digital businesses increased 10%, overall net sales went up by a lousy 1%. The stock is not too far off its 52-week low, and I don't want to touch it, not for a trade, and certainly not for an investment. It would be difficult for any bull to make an argument for Eastman Kodak, in my opinion. </p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I don't own any company mentioned; positions can change at any time. </em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1273530/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/02/eastman-kodaks-q2-reminds-me-why-i-hate-this-stock/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>CAJ</category><category>Canon</category><category>digital photography</category><category>dividend investing</category><category>dividend stocks</category><category>Eastman Kodak</category><category>EK</category><category>Elizabeth Harrow</category><category>featured</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-02T13:40:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown sues Electronic Arts and Sony</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-sues-electronic-arts-and-sony/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-sues-electronic-arts-and-sony/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-sues-electronic-arts-and-sony/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/law/" rel="tag">Law</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/erts/" rel="tag">Electronic Arts (ERTS)</a></p><img width="164" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="232" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/08/05f.jpg" />File this one under "Get over yourself you washed up former running back."<br /><br />Jim Brown, a former star running back for the Cleveland Browns, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&amp;id=3513718">is suing</a> <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">Electronic Arts</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">ERTS</a>) because a football player on the All-Browns team in a video game wears his number and looks like him. He's seeking an injunction and unspecified damages to punish the company for "taking a free ride on the trade value" of his name.<br /><br />Oh please. Mr. Brown, no one is going to buy or not buy a video games because it contains or doesn't contain your likeness. The "trade value" of your name is precisely zero. Somewhere between starring in <em>The Dirty Dozen</em>, serving as an announcer for Ultimate Fighting, and numerous arrests related to assault and spousal abuse, people just kind of lost interest.<br /><br />This isn't a material event for Sony or Electronic Arts, but it's an interesting tale of the long half-life of a former star's ego. It's also a great waste of the legal system's resources.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&amp;id=3513718>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-sues-electronic-arts-and-sony/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1273204/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-sues-electronic-arts-and-sony/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/01/nfl-hall-of-famer-jim-brown-sues-electronic-arts-and-sony/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Electronic Arts</category><category>ElectronicArts</category><category>ERTS</category><category>Football</category><category>inthenews</category><category>Jim Brown</category><category>JimBrown</category><category>NFL</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><dc:creator>Zac Bissonnette</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-01T15:38:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/analyst-reports/" rel="tag">Analyst reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/analyst-upgrades-and-downgrades/" rel="tag">Analyst upgrades and downgrades</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/wag/" rel="tag">Walgreen Co (WAG)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/analyst-initiations/" rel="tag">Analyst initiations</a></p><p><a href="http://www.theflyonthewall.com/splashPage.php?source=AOL"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/07/fly-logo-(aol).gif" alt="" /></a><strong>Analyst upgrades:</strong></p>
<ul>
    <li>Baird upgraded <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/buffalo-wild-wings-inc/bwld/nas">Buffalo Wild Wings</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/buffalo-wild-wings-inc/bwld/nas">BWLD</a>) to Outperform from Neutral following strong Q2 results as they expect comps momentum, operating leverage, and potentially favorable chicken wing costs to support healthy trends in 2H08. <br /></li>
    <li>RBC Capital upgraded <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/myriad-genetics-inc/mygn/nas">Myriad Genetics</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/myriad-genetics-inc/mygn/nas">MYGN</a>) to Outperform from Sector Perform citing solid core molecular diagnostics growth and increased confidence that the spin-out will generate better shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Analyst downgrades:</strong></p>
<ul>
    <li>Citigroup downgraded shares of <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/wyeth/wye/nys">Wyeth</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/wyeth/wye/nys">WYE</a>) to Sell from Hold following the disappointing bapineuzumab data and lowered their target to $39 from $49.</li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/molson-coors-brewing-company/tap/nys">Molson Coors</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/molson-coors-brewing-company/tap/nys">TAP</a>) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan. <br /></li>
    <li>UBS lowered <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/affymetrix-inc/affx/nas">Affymetrix</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/affymetrix-inc/affx/nas">AFFX</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sepracor-inc/sepr/nas">Sepracor</a> (NASDAQ:<a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sepracor-inc/sepr/nas"> SEPR</a>) to Neutral from Buy. <br /></li>
    <li><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) was downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at HSBC. </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Analyst initiations:</strong></p>
<ul>
    <li>Citigroup initiated <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/intercontinentalexchange-inc/ice/nys">Intercontinental Exchange</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/intercontinentalexchange-inc/ice/nys">ICE</a>) with a Hold rating and $112 target. The firm believes regulatory concerns and a potential deceleration in energy trading volumes could limit upside in the stock near-term. <br /></li>
    <li>Banc of America assumed <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/walgreen-co/wag/nys">Walgreen Co.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/walgreen-co/wag/nys">WAG</a>) with a Buy rating and $38 target and believes fewer new pharmacies openings removes an impediment to higher ROIC. </li>
</ul><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1270760/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/30/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>AFFX</category><category>BWLD</category><category>ICE</category><category>MYGN</category><category>SEPR</category><category>SNE</category><category>TAP</category><category>WAG</category><category>WYE</category><dc:creator>Eric Buscemi</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-30T12:12:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Closing Bell: Stock traders finally love the oil ticker</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/closing-bell-stock-traders-finally-love-the-oil-ticker/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/closing-bell-stock-traders-finally-love-the-oil-ticker/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/closing-bell-stock-traders-finally-love-the-oil-ticker/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/siri/" rel="tag">Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mer/" rel="tag">Merrill Lynch (MER)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/palm/" rel="tag">Palm Inc (PALM)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/kft/" rel="tag">Kraft Foods'A' (KFT)</a></p>Today was really about watching the oil ticker and seeing crude break down under the $124.00 mark. OPEC's president said in the right circumstances that oil could go back under $80.00. Median home prices fell almost 16% in May. The US's failed trade talks with China at the W.T.O. hardly mattered. It even looked like people on Wall Street were in a good mood today as the dollar hit a monthly high. After a near $3.00 drop to under $122.00 you have to wonder.... Can gasoline <a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/can-gas-prices.html ">hit $3 again</a> this year?<br /><br />Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:<br /><br />DJIA 11,395.12 (+264.04)<br />S&amp;P500 1262. 94 (+28.57)<br />NASDAQ 2319.62 (+55.40)<br />10-YR T-NOTE 4.044% (+0.026%)<br /><a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/52-week-low-c-3.html ">52-WEEK LOWS</a><br /><a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/top-pre-mark-14.html ">Top Analyst Upgrades</a><br /><a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/top-pre-mark-15.html ">Top Analyst Downgrades</a><br /><br /><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/kraft-foods-inc/kft/nys ">Kraft Foods Inc.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/kraft-foods-inc/kft/nys ">KFT</a>) saw another gain of 2% to $31.45 in the final minutes after yesterday's earnings gains. But the key to today's move besides the market was <a href="http://www.vsinvestor.com/2008/07/major-option-volume-alert-kraft-foods-kft.html">massive stock options trading</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/merrill-lynch-and-co-inc/mer/nys">Merrill Lynch &amp; Co., Inc. (NYSE: MER</a>) was a mixed <a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/merrill-lynch-3.html">"love and hate"</a> today, although by the end of the day shares were up over 5% at $25.677 in the final minutes. The company raised an effective $8.5 billion for an implied 20% dilution to get many CDO's off the books. Meredith Whitney of Oppenheimer calls this good news despite a cautious rating, while many now question John Thayne's credibility over the dilution he said wouldn't occur.<br /><br /><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/palm-inc-new/palm/nas">Palm, Inc.</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/palm-inc-new/palm/nas">PALM</a>) saw gains today after the company disclosed that it sold its 2-millionth unit of the $99.00 Palm Centro smartphone. Shares were up 10% at $6.32 in today's final minutes.<br /><br /><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sirius-satellite-radio-inc/siri/nas">Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sirius-satellite-radio-inc/siri/nas">SIRI</a>) took yet another drumming today. The firm completed the XM merger but disclosed a huge share sale and its huge 7% debt offering has an effective <a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/sirius-dilution.html">conversion price of $1.875</a>. Shares were down another 15% at $1.58 in today's final minutes. Cramer said it was <a href="http://www.247wallst.com/2008/07/cramer-likens-s.html">about as safe as</a> investing in a lotto ticket.<br /><br /><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony Corp. ADR</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) had a bad day as earnings fell 47% on flat sales, with electronics sales down 50% on price cuts and competition. The Sony-Ericsson phone venture barely made money at all, but the one bright spot here is that its video game unit is back to making money. Shares were down 6% at $37.49 (new 52-week low into close) in the final minutes.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/closing-bell-stock-traders-finally-love-the-oil-ticker/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1270075/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/closing-bell-stock-traders-finally-love-the-oil-ticker/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/closing-bell-stock-traders-finally-love-the-oil-ticker/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>china wto</category><category>ChinaWto</category><category>john thayne</category><category>JohnThayne</category><category>meredith whitney</category><category>MeredithWhitney</category><category>oppenheimer</category><dc:creator>Jon Ogg</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-29T16:08:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>3 blue chips to watch, the one stock to buy now &amp; car stereos disappearing - Today in Money 7/29</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/3/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/3/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/3/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/csco/" rel="tag">Cisco Systems (CSCO)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/wmt/" rel="tag">Wal-Mart (WMT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sbux/" rel="tag">Starbucks (SBUX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">General Motors (GM)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/xmsr/" rel="tag">XM Satellite Radio (XMSR)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/siri/" rel="tag">Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/xom/" rel="tag">Exxon Mobil (XOM)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mandftoday/" rel="tag">Money and Finance Today</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mer/" rel="tag">Merrill Lynch (MER)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/cop/" rel="tag">ConocoPhillips (COP)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/nke/" rel="tag">NIKE, Inc'B' (NKE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/alu/" rel="tag">Alcatel-LucentADS (ALU)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/amgn/" rel="tag">Amgen Inc (AMGN)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/bni/" rel="tag">Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI)</a></p><strong>In the News:</strong>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/merrill-lynch-to-jettison-troubled/104845" title="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/merrill-lynch-to-jettison-troubled/104845">Merrill Lynch to Sell Bad Assets and Issue New Stock to Raise $8.5 Billion</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-07-28-miles-driven-may_N.htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-07-28-miles-driven-may_N.htm">U.S. Drivers Drive 9.6 Billion Fewer Miles in May; 3rd Largest Drop in 66 Years</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://news.aol.com/article/us-deficit-zooming-to-half-trillion-as/103366" title="http://news.aol.com/article/us-deficit-zooming-to-half-trillion-as/103366">U.S. Deficit Zooms to Half-Trillion as Bush Leaves Office</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/sony-profit-plunges-50-pct-from-year-ago/105226" title="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/sony-profit-plunges-50-pct-from-year-ago/105226">Sony Profit Plunges 50%</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/more-cuts-at-gm-1760-jobs-lost/103762" title="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/more-cuts-at-gm-1760-jobs-lost/103762">GM Cuts 1,760 More Jobs</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/29/news/international/bc.eu.britain.ba.iberia.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008072908" title="http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/29/news/international/bc.eu.britain.ba.iberia.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008072908">British Airways &amp; Iberia Mull Merger</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/business/worldbusiness/30alcatel.html?_r=1&amp;ref=business&amp;oref=slogin" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/business/worldbusiness/30alcatel.html?_r=1&amp;ref=business&amp;oref=slogin">Alcatel-Lucent CEO Patricia Russo to Step Down</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/linens-n-things-to-close-fewer-stores/104004" title="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/linens-n-things-to-close-fewer-stores/104004">Linens 'n Things to Close 30 Fewer Stores Than Announced in May</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/amgen-beats-stock-soars-12-percent/104567" title="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/amgen-beats-stock-soars-12-percent/104567">Amgen Earnings Surprise to Upside; Stock Rises</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-07-29-sirius-xm-radio-merge_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip" title="http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-07-29-sirius-xm-radio-merge_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip">XM &amp; Sirius Merge, Forming Sirius XM Radio</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-29-starbucks-australia_N.htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-29-starbucks-australia_N.htm">Starbucks to Close Most of Its Australia Stores By This Weekend</a></div>
<div><strong>&middot; </strong><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idINN2819907120080729" title="http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idINN2819907120080729">Retailer Mervyn's to File for Bankruptcy Soon Unless Gets Last-Minute Cash Infusion</a></div>
<br /><strong>3 Blue Chip Stocks to Watch</strong><br />After nearly a decade, these growth stocks are finally showing some signs of life. They include Wal-Mart, ConocoPhillips and Burlington Northern.<br /><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/28/pf/bluechips_growth.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2008072818">Blue chips: A growth spurt - CNNmoney</a> <br /> <br /> <strong>The One Stock to Buy Now</strong><br />We asked eight up-and-coming and top mutual fund managers what one stock they would buy now. Some of their recommendations are household names. Others might surprise you. They include Nike, Cisco, ExxonMobil, Noble Corp., Canon, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Nalco Holding Co and Cognizant. <br /><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/slideshows/slideshow_pop.html?nm=stock_picks">The One Stock They Would Buy - Kiplinger</a><br /><br /> <strong>Roadblocks Ahead for Low-Cost Cars</strong><br />Indian billionaire Ratan N. Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, has captured the imagination of auto executives and consumers with his ambitious plan to launch the world's most inexpensive car. The Tata Nano, unveiled early this year and set to go on sale in October, will have a sticker price of about $2,500. With soaring oil prices and steel prices rising over 40% since Tata announced the Nano in January, it has becoming more difficult for Tata to meet its price target. Can low-cost cars hit the market? <br /><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/07/0728_tata/index.htm">Roadblocks Ahead for Low-Cost Cars - BusinessWeek</a><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb20080728_760559.htm?campaign_id=twxa"> The Nano: Tata's Costly Promise</a> <br /> <strong><br /></strong><strong>Are Car Stereos the Next Thing to Disappear in America?<br /></strong>The iPod generation is taking some of the thump-thump out of car audio sales. This year, spending on aftermarket car stereo systems is expected to slip 28%. The category includes everything from CD changers and speakers to satellite radio.<br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-07-28-car-stereos_N.htm">Car stereo sales hit a distressing low note - USATODAY.com</a> <br /> <strong><br />Cold Case: The Death of Ice Cream Magnate Tom Carval</strong><br />Tom Carvel's ice cream empire churned up a big estate and a bitter fight over his money. Now a lawsuit asks, was he murdered?<br /><a href="http://www.portfolio.com/executives/features/2008/07/16/Death-of-Ice-Cream-Magnate-Carvel">Death of Ice Cream Magnate Carvel - Portfolio.com</a> <br /> <strong><br />'Switch Kits' Make It Easier Than Ever To Change Banks</strong><br />Today, we are bound to our banks like never before, thanks to direct deposit and automatic bill pay, sweep accounts and CDs, credit and debit cards, and expanded brokerage and insurance products, not to mention online banking. But if you want to change banks it has just gotten much easier thanks to switch kits. With this new tool, even those with multiple ties to their old banks can pack up and head for better (or safer) deals. <br /><a href="http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bank/20080725_banks_switch_kits_a1.asp">'Switch kits' help depositors jump ship -Bankrate.com</a> <br /> <strong><br />World's Most Expensive Cups of Coffee</strong><br />Lenin must be rolling over in his grave. Just 17 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the one-time capital of communism is now home to the world's most expensive cup of coffee. The average cup of joe in Moscow is $10.19. Other cities with a pricey cup of joe include Paris at $6.77, Athens at $6.62 and Beijing at $6.28.<br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/wineandfood/2008/07/23/cities-coffee-expensive-forbeslife-cx_zg_0724expensivecoffee.html">World's Most Expensive Cups Of Coffee - Forbes.com</a> <br /> <strong><br />Youngest Female Billionaires</strong><br />This elite club includes the world's richest author, Barack Obama's finance chief, former factory workers and two 20-something heiresses.<br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/2008/07/23/women-billies-young-biz-cz_lb_0723youngwomenbillies.html">The World's Youngest Women Billionaires - Forbes.com</a><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1269648/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/3/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><dc:creator>Allan Halprin</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-29T09:45:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Sony (SNE) sees operating profit tumble 47% in latest quarter</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/07/sony-logo.gif" alt="" />The financial news at <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony Corp.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) just won't stop raining red. The world's second-largest consumer electronics company <a href="http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/29/afx5263357.html">reported a 47.4% drop in profit</a> for its first quarter. The disappointing quarter was partially blamed on lower cellular handset sales from its part in the Sony Ericsson joint venture, but there's more here.<br /><br />Sony's CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, continues to be someone who just doesn't get it. Sure, he's made smaller cultural changes at the electronics maker, but it's being eaten alive in the flat-panel television segment by competitors like Samsung and Vizio. Sony did say that flat-panel TV sales were down in China, although it did not comment about other regions that may have seen a dip. <br /><br />With the economy in the U.S. in a precarious position, it would be interesting to see what flat-panel TV makers were selling more TVs than Sony beyond the above-mentioned brands that seem to have better marketing and lower prices than the Japanese icon. In terms of portable electronics, Sony's grasp on maintaining proprietary storage formats on its digital cameras and others make it a laughing stock in the tech consumer world.<br /><br />And then Stringer tells the world that the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">Nintendo Ltd.</a> (OTC: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">NTDOY</a>) Wii is a "<a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19394">niche gaming device.</a>" Is Stringer completely out to lunch? The Sony Playstation 3 is a niche device that just happens to have a Blu-ray disc player in it (which is the unit's saving grace among non-gamers). The Wii continues pummeling the Playstation 3 in monthly sales, which could not be done by a "niche" device. Sony will continue to be marginalized in certain product segments if its head honcho and corporate culture continue seeing the competition in such menial terms.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/29/afx5263357.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1269551/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/sony-sne-sees-operating-profit-tumble-47-in-latest-quarter/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>featured</category><category>inthenews</category><category>nintendo</category><category>ntdoy</category><category>playstation</category><category>Sir Howard Stringer</category><category>SirHowardStringer</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony Corp.</category><category>Sony earnings</category><category>SonyCorp.</category><category>SonyEarnings</category><category>wii</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-29T08:31:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Before the bell: MER, CL, BP, AAPL, SAP, ALU, AMGN, SBUX, SNE,</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/before-the-bell-mer-cl-bp-aapl-sap-alu-amgn-sbux-sne/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/before-the-bell-mer-cl-bp-aapl-sap-alu-amgn-sbux-sne/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/before-the-bell-mer-cl-bp-aapl-sap-alu-amgn-sbux-sne/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/before-the-bell/" rel="tag">Before the bell</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/analyst-reports/" rel="tag">Analyst reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/analyst-upgrades-and-downgrades/" rel="tag">Analyst upgrades and downgrades</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/aapl/" rel="tag">Apple Inc (AAPL)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sbux/" rel="tag">Starbucks (SBUX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/marketmatters/" rel="tag">Market matters</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/via/" rel="tag">Viacom (VIA)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mer/" rel="tag">Merrill Lynch (MER)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/cl/" rel="tag">Colgate-Palmolive (CL)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/coh/" rel="tag">Coach Inc (COH)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/rimm/" rel="tag">Research in Motion (RIMM)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/bp/" rel="tag">BP p.l.c. ADS (BP)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/alu/" rel="tag">Alcatel-LucentADS (ALU)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/x/" rel="tag">U.S. Steel (X)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/amgn/" rel="tag">Amgen Inc (AMGN)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/erts/" rel="tag">Electronic Arts (ERTS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/vlo/" rel="tag">Valero Energy (VLO)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/economic-data/" rel="tag">Economic data</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/noc/" rel="tag">Northrop Grumman (NOC)</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/08/bell-green.jpg" alt="" />After a day that saw U.S. equity markets decline in the neighborhood of 2%, U.S. stock futures earlier this morning pointed to a rough start Tuesday as well. News late Monday the Merrill Lynch said it's selling a big slice of its asset-backed securities and $8.5 billion in stock, renewed concerns over the financial sector health. But futures have started creeping upward, ahead of the latest readings on house prices with the Case-Shiller home price index for May and Conference Board reading of consumer confidence for July.<br /><br />Meanwhile, we're still in the middle of earnings season and today <br />
<ul>
    <li><strong>Colgate Palmolive (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/colgate-palmolive-company/cl/nys">CL</a>)</strong> - <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/qp/ap/_a/colgate-palmolive-2q-profit-rises-19-percent/rfid125894236?channel=%22pf%22">Colgate-Palmolive 2Q profit rises 19%</a>, </li>
    <li><span style="font-weight: bold;">BP (NYSE: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/bp-p-l-c/bp/nys">BP</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span> - <span class="news_story_title"><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&amp;sid=aMU0LEllYQYo&amp;refer=home">BP's Second-Quarter Profit Rises on Record Oil Prices</a> - shares are over 2% higher in premarket trading</span></li>
    <li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach (NYSE: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/coach-inc/coh/nys">COH</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span> - <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/qp/ap/_a/weaker-dollar-helps-coach-4th-quarter-results/rfid125899989?channel=%22pf%22">Weaker dollar helps Coach 4th-quarter results</a> </li>
    <li><strong>Northrop Grumman (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/northrop-grumman-corporation/noc/nys">NOC</a>)</strong>, <strong>Viacom (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/viacom-inc-new/via/nys">VIA</a>)</strong>,    <span style="font-weight: bold;">Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/valero-energy-corporation/vlo/nys">VLO</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/united-states-steel-corporation/x/nys">X</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span></li>
    <li><strong>Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">ERTS</a>)</strong> will report after the close of tradin</li>
</ul>
The big story making headlines since late Monday is the bombshell <strong><strong><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/merrill-lynch-and-co-inc/mer/nys">Merrill Lynch</a></strong> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/merrill-lynch-and-co-inc/mer/nys">MER</a>)</strong> that it is <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/merrill-lynch-to-jettison-troubled/104845">taking an enormous $5.7 billion write-down</a> on losses from mortgage-backed securities (MBSs) and plans to raise $8.5 billion. MER shares already dropped 11.6% Monday before the news was out, and while they're rebounding 2.75% this morning, many are very uncomfortable with Merrill's current situation and actions.<br /><br /><strong>Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/alcatel-lucent/alu/nys">ALU</a>)</strong>, the French telecommunications giant, is finally <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/alcatel-lucent-chairman-ceo-to-resign/105211">getting rid</a> of its CEO Patricia Russo and Chairman Serge Tchuruk who will both resign later this year. It's no surprise shares are rebounding over 6% in premarket trading. ALU also reported its sixth consecutive quarter of losses. Alcatel-Lucent reported a net loss of 1.1 billion euros ($1.73 billion) for the second quarter including an euro810 million ($1.3 billion) goodwill writedown.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amgen-inc/amgn/nas">AMGN</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span> is rising over 4% in premarket trading after closing over 12% higher Monday. Amgen said Monday <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/28/amgen-continues-its-upward-climb-promising-study-and-good-resul/">results for its denosumab osteoporosis drug</a> met desired results and reported better-than expected earnings and sales (across the board). Citigroup upgraded AMGN from Hold to Buy, while Oppenheimer raised target price.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sony Corp. (NYSE: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span> said Tuesday its <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/sony-profit-plunges-50-pct-from-year-ago/105226">quarterly profit plunged</a> to 34.98 billion yen ($326.9 million), about half that recorded a year ago, due to a strong yen, the absence of a hit movie revenue and declining results at its cell phone operations. Nevertheless, results beat estimates.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/starbucks-corporation/sbux/nas">SBUX</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span> said Tuesday it <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/dj-starbucks-closes-61-australian/story.aspx?guid=%7B2FED0AA0%2D5A24%2D4174%2D8D30%2D9258B09DF0E7%7D">plans to close 61 Australian stores</a> and shed 685 jobs by Aug. 3 as part of a restructure of its struggling Australian business.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SAP (NYSE: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sap-aktiengesellschaft/sap/nys">SAP</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span> shares are climbing over 7% in premarket trading after the German business software reported <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/qp/ap/_a/sap-2q-profit-falls-9-percent-despite/rfid125886687">stronger-than-forecast license sales</a> and optimistic annual sales guidance. Deutsche Securities and Jefferies &amp; Co. both raised SAP shares from Hold to Buy.<br /><br />In <span style="font-weight: bold;">Apple (NASDAQ: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/apple-inc/aapl/nas">AAPL</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">) </span>news, W.R. Hambrecht analyst Matthew Kather on Monday <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/wr-hambrecht-analyst-raises-apple/story.aspx?guid=%7BE2172FDB%2D2D9C%2D4745%2DBC11%2DE1986F969F34%7D">raised his price target</a> on Apple stock to $257 a share from $238, saying he expects Apple's stock to outperform the broader tech market due to the the outlook for Macintosh PC and iPhone sales. <br /><br />That's great for Apple, but <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/research-motion-looks-vulnerable-new/story.aspx?guid=%7BFF3691CC%2D9442%2D451F%2D898E%2D86FAEC26DFFD%7D">how would that affect</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Research in Motion (NASDAQ: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/research-in-motion-limited/rimm/nas">RIMM</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span>? The pressure from the 3G iPhone is worrying investors while rumors on problems RIMM has with its touchscreen phone, which the company has never even officially announced, are also putting pressure on the stock.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/before-the-bell-mer-cl-bp-aapl-sap-alu-amgn-sbux-sne/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1269558/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/before-the-bell-mer-cl-bp-aapl-sap-alu-amgn-sbux-sne/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/29/before-the-bell-mer-cl-bp-aapl-sap-alu-amgn-sbux-sne/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>aapl</category><category>alu</category><category>amgn</category><category>bp</category><category>cl</category><category>erts</category><category>inthenews</category><category>mer</category><category>noc</category><category>rimm</category><category>sap</category><category>sbux</category><category>sne</category><category>via</category><category>vlo</category><category>x</category><dc:creator>Melly Alazraki</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-29T08:12:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Microsoft (MSFT) goes to the movies</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/23/microsoft-msft-goes-to-the-movies/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/23/microsoft-msft-goes-to-the-movies/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/23/microsoft-msft-goes-to-the-movies/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/consumer-experience/" rel="tag">Consumer experience</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a></p><p><img alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/06/xbox_360.jpg" align="right" vspace="4" border="0" /><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft Corp.</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) has to deal with improving sales for the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony </a>(NYSE:<a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys"> SNE</a>) PS3. Sony has been able to get a greater number of attractive games for its console. It has also added better features to play live over the internet with friends connected by broadband. </p>
<p>Now the Xbox 360 will add a feature that Sony cannot match, at least for now. <br /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fc780236-5843-11dd-b02f-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1">According to</a> the <em>FT, </em>Microsoft "has struck deals with five horror movie directors for a series of short films in a move aimed at boosting the original entertainment content available on its Xbox console." If the first part of the experiment works, Microsoft will probably go forward with more short content which cannot be seen by owners of rival consoles.</p><p>The idea may border on stupidity. The game platforms have become composites of services that run from HDTV players to VoIP systems which allows people to talk with one another while they are playing online. The new Nintendo Wii Fit has moved the gaming experience into the exercise business.</p>
<p>At some point the consumer will reach a place where the confusion over the array of services on the three major game platforms will be so great that he may stop using his new console and dust off his old PS2.</p>
<p><em>Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com. </em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fc780236-5843-11dd-b02f-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/23/microsoft-msft-goes-to-the-movies/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1264554/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/23/microsoft-msft-goes-to-the-movies/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/23/microsoft-msft-goes-to-the-movies/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>inthenews</category><category>MSFT</category><category>PS3</category><category>SNE</category><category>Xbox</category><dc:creator>Douglas McIntyre</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-23T13:12:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Time Warner and 'The Dark Knight' rule the box office</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/21/time-warner-and-the-dark-knight-rule-the-box-office/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/21/time-warner-and-the-dark-knight-rule-the-box-office/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/21/time-warner-and-the-dark-knight-rule-the-box-office/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/ge/" rel="tag">General Electric (GE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/twx/" rel="tag">Time Warner (TWX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/dis/" rel="tag">Walt Disney (DIS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/nws/" rel="tag">News Corp'B' (NWS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/film/" rel="tag">Film</a></p><p><em><img vspace="4" hspace="4" align="right" alt=""  src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/07/dark-knight.jpg" /></em><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">Time Warner</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">TWX</a>) bombed earlier in the summer with a movie called <em>Speed Racer</em>. If you said you didn't see that one, I wouldn't be surprised. However, in the interest of cosmic balance, the media company scored with its new Batman flick, <em>The Dark Knight</em>. And when I say scored, I mean it. The film is estimated to have taken in about $155 million over the past three-day weekend at domestic theaters, according to <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2008&amp;wknd=29&amp;p=.htm">Boxofficemojo</a>. If this estimate holds, then it represents record business. <em>Spider-Man 3</em> currently holds the three-day record of $151.1 million. </p>
<p><em>Mamma Mia!</em>, distributed by <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">General Electric</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">GE</a>) Universal didn't come close to the Bat. It came in second with around $27 million. <em>Hancock</em> from <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) was third with $14 million, and it will be crossing the $200 million mark in about a week or so. Time Warner's <em>Journey to the Center of the Earth</em> was fourth, while Universal's <em>Hellboy II: The Golden Army</em> was fifth. That film took a steep 70% drop compared to its debut-weekend performance. I didn't think it would fall that far, but I suppose the Batman juggernaut left it no choice but to step aside. It took in a weak $10 million for the weekend.</p><p>I have one criticism for <em>Knight</em>, purely from a financial/shareholder perspective. I see that the run time for the movie is two hours and thirty minutes. Have studios figured out yet that shorter movies yield less risk? Sure they have. Then, the question is, why do they allow it? Films need to be as short as conceivable. It allows more scheduled showings, it reduces budget bloat and it's more attractive to time-strapped patrons. <br /></p>
<p>Obviously,<em> Knight</em> is performing way beyond expectations. In fact, I read that some theaters scheduled extra screenings to keep up with the movie's popularity. Nevertheless, in my opinion, studios such as <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">Disney</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">DIS</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/news-corporation/nws/nys">News Corp.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/news-corporation/nws/nys">NWS</a>), as well as the ones already mentioned, need to focus on films with minimal run times. Although I can't say with scientific certainty, it feels as if the movie industry has been doing this lately anyhow. <br /></p>
<p>However, what happens if you try to tell an auteur like Christopher Nolan (<em>Knight</em>'s writer/director) that his project needs to be a certain length? I'm sure all hell breaks loose. When needs for high returns on capital collide with creative artists, studio heads oftentimes cave, proving that there's no shortage of wimps in Hollywood...</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own Disney and GE; positions can change at any time. </em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2008&amp;wknd=29&amp;p=.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/21/time-warner-and-the-dark-knight-rule-the-box-office/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1261573/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/21/time-warner-and-the-dark-knight-rule-the-box-office/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/21/time-warner-and-the-dark-knight-rule-the-box-office/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Batman</category><category>box office</category><category>BoxOffice</category><category>christopher nolan</category><category>ChristopherNolan</category><category>DIS</category><category>Disney</category><category>GE</category><category>General Electric</category><category>GeneralElectric</category><category>Hancock</category><category>inthenews</category><category>mama mia</category><category>MamaMia</category><category>News Corp.</category><category>NewsCorp.</category><category>NWS</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>spider-man 3</category><category>Spider-man3</category><category>The Dark Knight</category><category>TheDarkKnight</category><category>Time Warner</category><category>TimeWarner</category><category>TWX</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-21T08:44:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Nothing can stop the Nintendo Wii</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/18/nothing-can-stop-the-nintendo-wii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/18/nothing-can-stop-the-nintendo-wii/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/18/nothing-can-stop-the-nintendo-wii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a></p><p>Well, another month's gone by, and I see that the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">Nintendo</a> (OTC: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">NTDOY</a>) Wii system is still the number-one selling console in the United States. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. According to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&amp;sid=aK64sYWSB1Rw&amp;refer=technology">Bloomberg</a>, the Wii moved over 666,000 units in June. Yeah, that may be an evil number, but it's a righteous one to Nintendo, since <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) sold a little over 400,000 PlayStation 3 consoles last month while <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) convinced just under 220,000 users to adopt the Xbox 360. So if you add the performance of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 together, it's still less than Nintendo's. </p>
<p>Bloomberg reported that the Wii has been purchased by (or for) 10.9 million gamers, making it the number-one installed platform out there. Driving the results in June was the Wii Fit, which continues to be popular and difficult to get. However, the top-selling game software was not Wii-related, it was PlayStation 3-related, believe it or not. <em>Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots</em>, distributed by <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/konami-corporation/knm/nys">Konami</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/konami-corporation/knm/nys">KNM</a>), sold over 770,000 discs. One big opportunity Nintendo needs to work on is third-party attachment rates. As several readers have mentioned to me, the attachment rates for the Wii isn't as good as it probably should be. Most Wii owners are in love with Nintendo-published games, but sometimes don't see the value of software made by other publishers. An increased focus on this would be helpful to the platform and its continued success. </p>
<p>Nintendo is setting itself up very nicely for the holiday season. Sure, it's the height of summer, but it's never too early to be thinking about the holidays, is it? I would love to get into Nintendo's stock, but I am still stubbornly holding out for a better pullback on the ADR's. I'd love to see the price close below $60 at some point.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I don't own any company mentioned; positions can change at any time.</em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&amp;sid=aK64sYWSB1Rw&amp;refer=technology>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/18/nothing-can-stop-the-nintendo-wii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1259755/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/18/nothing-can-stop-the-nintendo-wii/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/18/nothing-can-stop-the-nintendo-wii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>inthenews</category><category>KNM</category><category>Konami</category><category>Metal Gear Solid Guns of the Patriots</category><category>MetalGearSolidGunsOfThePatriots</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>MSFT</category><category>Nintendo</category><category>NTDOY</category><category>PlayStation 3</category><category>Playstation3</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>video games</category><category>VideoGames</category><category>Wii</category><category>Wii Fit</category><category>WiiFit</category><category>Xbox 360</category><category>Xbox360</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-18T09:57:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>How big will Time Warner's 'Dark Knight' be?</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/how-big-will-time-warners-dark-knight-be/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/how-big-will-time-warners-dark-knight-be/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/how-big-will-time-warners-dark-knight-be/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/ge/" rel="tag">General Electric (GE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/twx/" rel="tag">Time Warner (TWX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/film/" rel="tag">Film</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/mvl/" rel="tag">Marvel Entertainment (MVL)</a></p><p>There will be five superheroes competing for the attention of weekend moviegoers come Friday. There's <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/marvel-entertainment-inc/mvl/nys">Marvel Entertainment Inc.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/marvel-entertainment-inc/mvl/nys">MVL</a>)'s duo <em>Iron Man</em> and <em>The Incredible Hulk</em>, <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony Corporation</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>)'s <em>Hancock</em>, <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">General Electric Corporation</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">GE</a>)'s <em>Hellboy</em> (distributed by GE's Universal), and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">Time Warner, Inc</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">TWX</a>)'s <em>Dark Knight</em>. So, who's going to be the ultimate crime fighter?</p>
<p>I'll tell you which one prevails: Time Warner and its new Batman film, <em>The Dark Knight</em>, has the weekend all locked up. This is set in stone. The <em>Hulk </em>and<em> Iron Man </em>are pretty much done, <em>Hellboy</em> isn't a powerful enough brand name,<em> </em>and <em>Hancock </em>didn't deliver the <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/06/sonys-hancock-wins-holiday-race/">big numbers</a> I thought it was capable of during its debut weekend (since then, however, the movie <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/">has held up well</a>, I have to admit). But you can bet that <em>Dark Knight </em>hits $100 million this weekend. Can you feel the buzz surrounding this blockbuster in the wings? I can. Several reviews I've read were full of cinematic worship for this new entry in the franchise, with special praise reserved for the late Heath Ledger and his portrayal of the fiendish nightmare known as The Joker. There's a decent marketing campaign behind the project, including promotion of the availability of <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/imax-corporation/imax/nas">IMAX</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/imax-corporation/imax/nas">IMAX</a>) screenings. If there ever seemed a movie fit for Imax, this is it. Yeah, <em>Dark Knight</em> can't lose, it can only win big.</p>
<p>Of course, what about Time Warner's stock? It could certainly use a superhero right now, as it has been hovering in recent times not above Gotham City (although that would probably be treacherous enough) but above 52-week-low City. I can't say that a big opening weekend definitely won't move the stock a little just due to the excitement factor, but I wouldn't buy the company ahead of the film (I also wouldn't gamble with IMAX either). Time Warner simply is too large to be affected significantly by one movie. If you consider Time Warner at all, it would be for fundamentals and valuation (I think the company is cheap here, although with this market, I'd rather get it cheaper). Enjoy the movie first, think about the stock later...</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own GE and Marvel; positions can change at any time.</em> </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/how-big-will-time-warners-dark-knight-be/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1251064/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/how-big-will-time-warners-dark-knight-be/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/how-big-will-time-warners-dark-knight-be/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Batman</category><category>box office</category><category>BoxOffice</category><category>GE</category><category>General Electric</category><category>GeneralElectric</category><category>Hancock</category><category>Hellboy</category><category>IMAX</category><category>Iron Man</category><category>IronMan</category><category>Marvel</category><category>MVL</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>superhero</category><category>The Incredible Hulk</category><category>The Joker</category><category>TheIncredibleHulk</category><category>TheJoker</category><category>Time Warner</category><category>TimeWarner</category><category>TWX</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-17T16:23:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>In a world with too many movie download services, Sony (SNE) launches another</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/in-a-world-with-too-many-movie-download-services-sony-sne-lau/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/in-a-world-with-too-many-movie-download-services-sony-sne-lau/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/in-a-world-with-too-many-movie-download-services-sony-sne-lau/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/products-and-services/" rel="tag">Products and services</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/amzn/" rel="tag">Amazon.com (AMZN)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a></p><p>Nearly every consumer electronics device from the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amazon-com-inc/amzn/nas">Amazon</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amazon-com-inc/amzn/nas">AMZN</a>) Unbox to the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) Xbox has a service for downloading and playing movies. Now, late to the market, <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) wants to offer a similar service of its own. </p>
<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121615991134456129.html?mod=hps_us_at_glance_technology">According to</a> <em>The Wall Street Journal, "</em>Sony began offering a video-downloading service Tuesday for its PlayStation 3 videogame console, part of its aim to broaden its audience."</p>
<p>When one or two companies in an industry offer a new feature, it could be a competitive advantage. But the feature of downloading movies over the internet is available on so many devices that the advantage, even for those early to the market, may be taken away.</p>
<p>Movie download services have become a commodity and not a differentiating feature. Critics could argue that Sony should have added the product to the PS3 a year ago. But it does not matter. At this point it is just one feature among others that everyone in the industry offers. What everyone has, no one is likely to be able to use as critical leverage to get more customers.</p>
<p><em>Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com. </em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121615991134456129.html?mod=hps_us_at_glance_technology>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/in-a-world-with-too-many-movie-download-services-sony-sne-lau/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1257477/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/in-a-world-with-too-many-movie-download-services-sony-sne-lau/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/in-a-world-with-too-many-movie-download-services-sony-sne-lau/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>AMZN</category><category>inthenews</category><category>MSFT</category><category>PS3</category><category>SNE</category><dc:creator>Douglas McIntyre</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-16T12:49:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Earnings preview: Microsoft to report on Thursday -- is it a buy?</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/earnings-preview-microsoft-to-report-on-thursday-is-it-a-buy/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/earnings-preview-microsoft-to-report-on-thursday-is-it-a-buy/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/earnings-preview-microsoft-to-report-on-thursday-is-it-a-buy/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/goog/" rel="tag">Google (GOOG)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/yhoo/" rel="tag">Yahoo! (YHOO)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/ge/" rel="tag">General Electric (GE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/nflx/" rel="tag">Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a></p><p><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/07/msft.jpg"  alt="" />Microsoft</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>), a competitor of <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/international-business-machines-corporation/ibm/nys">IBM</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/international-business-machines-corporation/ibm/nys">IBM</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/google-inc/goog/nas">Google</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/google-inc/goog/nas">GOOG</a>), will report its earnings for the fourth quarter on Thursday. According to Trey Thoelcke's <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/13/the-week-in-preview-expectations-as-the-earnings-crunch-begins/">earnings summary</a>, the software giant will be expected to produce sales of about $15 billion on earnings per share of 47 cents. These numbers would represent double-digit growth rates for each metric. </p>
<p>According to this estimates page at <a href="http://finance.aol.com/earnings/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas/earnings-release">AOL Finance</a>, Microsoft has cultivated a reputation for being reliable when it comes to delivering on Wall Street expectations. It certainly has the assets to keep this trend going. The company's operating-system monopoly, as well as its incredible success with the Office suite of products, guarantees a steady stream of cash flow and bottom-line predictability. Other investments, such as the Xbox 360 and the company's various Internet properties, aren't as guaranteed. In fact, Microsoft has engaged a very strange battle (strange to me and others, at least) to buy <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/yahoo-inc/yhoo/nas">Yahoo!</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/yahoo-inc/yhoo/nas">YHOO</a>) to bolster its future prospects on the 'net. </p>
<p>So, here's what investors should be looking for. I will be very interested in what management has to say about its thoughts regarding Yahoo! and its utility for Microsoft. Is it an absolute necessity? I doubt it, and I really do hope that shareholders will finally get some closure on this subject. The best thing would be for Microsoft to announce that it is done with the portal. And in terms of the Xbox 360, I would be interested in hearing any new marketing strategies being readied for the holiday season and if the current recessionary environment will have any effect on sales. Microsoft recently <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/">reduced the price</a> for one Xbox 360 model as a way of increasing that system's value proposition in relation to the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) PlayStation 3 and the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">Nintendo</a> (OTC: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">NTDOY</a>) Wii. The company also has entered partnerships with <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">General Electric</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">GE</a>) NBC Universal and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/netflix-inc/nflx/nas">Netflix</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/netflix-inc/nflx/nas">NFLX</a>), according to <em><a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988938.html?categoryid=14&amp;cs=1&amp;nid=2562">Variety</a></em>, to make its Xbox Live asset even more attractive to users looking for cool content such as movies and TV shows.</p>
<p> </p><p>Here are my thoughts on the earnings. We won't see a miss most likely. This won't be a GE-type debacle. Earnings will probably be beaten slightly. I doubt we'll see any kind of blowout. With the stock much closer to its 52-week low than its 52-week high, do I think that there is an earnings trade of any kind here? I emphatically don't. For me, the market is way too bearish to step in front of the earnings. Yes, I could imagine the stock rallying for one reason or other, but the risk-reward scenario doesn't feel right to me. Microsoft has easily been an earnings trade in the past, but presently, I wouldn't take the gamble of an oil spike ruining the Dow on the day that Mr. Softy -- itself a Dow component -- reports. </p>
<p>In conclusion, I don't expect too much of a difference between analysts' estimates and actual numbers. I wouldn't get cute with trading the stock before the report. If you're a long-term investor and the stock for some reason gets punished once the data points are released, you could take that as a buying opportunity. Shorter-term traders need to be wary.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own GE; positions can change at any time.</em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://finance.aol.com/earnings/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas/earnings-release>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988938.html?categoryid=14&amp;cs=1&amp;nid=2562>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/earnings-preview-microsoft-to-report-on-thursday-is-it-a-buy/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1255606/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/earnings-preview-microsoft-to-report-on-thursday-is-it-a-buy/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/earnings-preview-microsoft-to-report-on-thursday-is-it-a-buy/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>earnings preview</category><category>EarningsPreview</category><category>featured</category><category>GE</category><category>General Electric</category><category>GeneralElectric</category><category>GOOG</category><category>Google</category><category>IBM</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>MSFT</category><category>NBC Universal</category><category>NbcUniversal</category><category>Netflix</category><category>NFLX</category><category>Nintendo Wii</category><category>NintendoWii</category><category>NTDOY</category><category>PlayStation 3</category><category>Playstation3</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>trey thoelcke</category><category>TreyThoelcke</category><category>Xbox 360</category><category>Xbox360</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-15T10:10:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Microsoft retools for next game wars, compets with a gallon of gas</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-retools-for-next-game-wars-compets-with-a-gallon-of-g/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-retools-for-next-game-wars-compets-with-a-gallon-of-g/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-retools-for-next-game-wars-compets-with-a-gallon-of-g/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/forecasts/" rel="tag">Forecasts</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/industry/" rel="tag">Industry</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a></p><p>Now that the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) Xbox 360, <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) PS3 and Nintendo Wii have been in the market well over a year and big games have been developed for each one, the longer term war for market share has begun.</p>
<p>Microsoft intends to win that long battle by making the Xbox more appealing to a broader group of potential console buyers. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/arts/television/15gameweb.html?hp">According to</a> <em>The New York Times</em>," Microsoft announced a collection of new games and services for the Xbox 360 that are meant to appeal to the everyday entertainment consumer."</p>
<p>One of the new features are avatars that act like humans. Gamers can make their own characters and use them in some of the games. The new Xbox features will also allow people to share photos and watch movies together.</p>
<p>While all of that may be exciting to some potential buyers, the biggest problem Microsoft has is not Nintendo or Sony; it is the economy. A game console, a half a dozen games and an Xbox Live subscription could cost between $700 to $900 a year. That kind of discretionary spending is disappearing among many middle class households. Oil, food and mortgage costs have simply become too high.</p>
<p>Up until now, sales for video games have defied the drop in the economy. If a bottle of milk costs $6 and gas $5 a gallon, the trend may end.</p>
<p><em>Douglas A. McIntyre is an <a href="http://www.247wallst.com/">editor at 24/7 Wall St.</a></em></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/arts/television/15gameweb.html?hp>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-retools-for-next-game-wars-compets-with-a-gallon-of-g/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1255871/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-retools-for-next-game-wars-compets-with-a-gallon-of-g/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-retools-for-next-game-wars-compets-with-a-gallon-of-g/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>inthenews</category><category>MSFT</category><category>Nintendo</category><category>PS3</category><category>SNE</category><category>Wii</category><category>Xbox 360</category><category>Xbox360</category><dc:creator>Douglas McIntyre</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-15T09:29:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>GE's Universal gives 'em Hellboy at the box office!</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/ge/" rel="tag">General Electric (GE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/twx/" rel="tag">Time Warner (TWX)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/dis/" rel="tag">Walt Disney (DIS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/nws/" rel="tag">News Corp'B' (NWS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/film/" rel="tag">Film</a></p><p><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">General Electric</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/general-electric-company/ge/nys">GE</a>) didn't see a huge reaction to its earnings on Friday. I think the stock closed up by only a couple pennies. But at least its NBC Universal asset scored a hit with <em>Hellboy II: The Golden Army</em>. According to <a href="http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/">Boxofficemojo</a>, it topped this weekend's domestic box office with a gross of more than $35 million. <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) <em>Hancock</em>, however, is close. That film was in second place with a haul of $33 million. By the time final figures are out<em>, Hancock</em> could find itself in first place, but I doubt that's going to happen. This really seemed to be <em>Hellboy</em>'s weekend. I have to say, though, that <em>Hancock</em> did much better than I thought it would for its second weekend at bat. The film will easily pull in over $200 million, maybe $250 million, before all is said and done. </p>
<p><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">Time Warner</a>'s (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/time-warner-inc/twx/nys">TWX</a>) <em>Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D</em> was number three with over $20 million. Not a particularly great debut, I don't expect too much action in the coming weeks from this one. Now, <em>Wall-E</em> is an important project for <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">Disney</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-walt-disney-company/dis/nys">DIS</a>) shareholders since it is another effort from Pixar. Investors are still trying to figure out if the price paid for Pixar will be ultimately worth it. <em>Wall-E</em> is doing pretty well; it came in fourth over the weekend, and its total box-office take so far is about $162 million. Incidentally, Eddie Murphy failed horribly with his film <em>Meet Dave</em>. The movie, from <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/news-corporation/nws/nys">News Corp.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/news-corporation/nws/nys">NWS</a>), came in seventh with a little over $5 million. I didn't even know it was in the marketplace.</p>
<p>GE and Universal scored again at the multiplex with <em>Wanted</em>, which came in fifth. Its cumulative gross is now more $110 million. See that? GE can leverage quality content to bring in the revenues. If NBC Universal can synergize better with hits like these, then perhaps there won't be such pressure in terms of dumping the asset. For now, though, NBC Universal is a show-me division, and it better keep the hits coming to placate the board.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own Disney and GE; positions can change at any time.</em></p>
<p> </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1254269/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/14/ges-universal-gives-em-hellboy-at-the-box-office/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>DIS</category><category>Disney</category><category>Eddie Murphy</category><category>EddieMurphy</category><category>GE</category><category>General Electric</category><category>GeneralElectric</category><category>Hancock</category><category>hellboy ii the golde...</category><category>HellboyIiTheGolde...</category><category>inthenews</category><category>Meet Dave</category><category>MeetDave</category><category>News Corp.</category><category>NewsCorp.</category><category>NWS</category><category>Pixar</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>Time Warner</category><category>TimeWarner</category><category>TWX</category><category>Wall-E</category><category>Wanted</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-14T10:22:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Microsoft and its Xbox 360 franchise gets competitive with a price reduction</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/atvi/" rel="tag">Activision Inc (ATVI)</a></p><p><img height="134" alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/06/xbox_360.jpg" width="220" align="right" vspace="4" border="1" />Sorry, <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony Corp.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>), but your problems just got worse. According to a <em>Wall Street Journal</em> (subscription required) piece, sources say that <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft Corp.</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) intends on executing <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121572681173743847.html?mod=hps_us_at_glance_technology">a price reduction for its Xbox 360</a> unit that is packaged with a 20-gigabyte hard drive. It now costs $349. The new price will be $299 sometime soon. </p>
<p>This is not good at all for the PlayStation 3 system. It's expensive, it isn't as popular, and it would be very difficult for Sony to answer this move by Microsoft with a price reduction of its own. Gamers can get the PlayStation 3 for as low as $399, but that's a far cry from $299 in an economy that is tanking thanks to energy costs and financial-sector issues. The negative wealth effect is on, my friends, and it's only going to get worse. I recently wrote about Sony and how the company has <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/25/sony-and-the-debacle-known-as-playstation-3/">lost a ton of money with PlayStation 3</a>. Since the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 are considered equals in the minds of many not-so-hardcore gamers, the price reduction is going to have an effect. Of course, where does this leave <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">Nintendo Ltd.</a> (OTC: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">NTDOY</a>) and its popular Wii console? Well, the Wii should be fine for now. People who buy the Wii are usually more casual in terms of gaming, so the Xbox 360 price cut most likely will hurt Sony. However, when there is eventual parity between the price of a Wii and the price of a high-end system, then Nintendo probably will see some sort of effect.</p>
<p>Where does this leave investors? Well, for my money, I think it leaves a best-of-breed publisher like <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/activision-blizzard-inc/atvid/nas">Activision Blizzard Inc.</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/activision-blizzard-inc/atvid/nas">ATVID</a>) in a great spot. A higher number of Xbox 360s in homes means more opportunities to sell <em>Guitar Hero</em> units. As for Sony and its stock, investors should avoid it, in my opinion.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own Activision Blizzard; positions can change at any time.</em> </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1253412/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/12/microsoft-and-its-xbox-360-franchise-gets-competitive-with-a-pri/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>activision blizzard</category><category>atvid</category><category>inthenews</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>MSFT</category><category>Nintendo</category><category>NTDOY</category><category>PlayStation 3</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>video games</category><category>Wii</category><category>Xbox 360</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-12T09:40:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Activision Blizzard set to rock the market</title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-set-to-rock-the-market/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-set-to-rock-the-market/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-set-to-rock-the-market/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/msft/" rel="tag">Microsoft (MSFT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/sne/" rel="tag">Sony Corp ADR (SNE)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/erts/" rel="tag">Electronic Arts (ERTS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/atvi/" rel="tag">Activision Inc (ATVI)</a></p><p>Activision closed on its transaction with Vivendi Games Thursday and officially became <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/activision-inc-common-stock/atvid/nas">Activision Blizzard</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/activision-inc-common-stock/atvid/nas">ATVID</a>), according to an article at <a href="http://www.smartmoney.com/breaking-news/on/index.cfm?story=ON-20080710-000789-1408">SmartMoney.com</a>. And I am pretty excited at the prospects for the new business (I am a shareholder). It's going to be a tough competitor against <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">Electronic Arts</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/electronic-arts-inc/erts/nas">ERTS</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/take-two-interactive-software-inc/ttwo/nas">Take-Two Interactive</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/take-two-interactive-software-inc/ttwo/nas">TTWO</a>). (Of course, the latter two might merge at some point.)</p>
<p>Activision is riding high with its <em>Guitar Hero</em> franchise, and Vivendi Games brings an incredible asset to the table in the form of online gaming sensation World of Warcraft. I can't say I know much about World of Warcraft the game itself, but I know it has a huge following. What else do I need to know, right? For 2009, management at Activision Blizzard expects pro-forma operating income of over $1 billion and perhaps $1.20 or more in terms of earnings per share. That puts the stock, which rose over 5% on Thursday and closed with a price of $31.77 per share, with a P/E ratio a little over 26. That isn't too bad a valuation considering the growth potential. And when the holiday season comes around, I'm sure people will still be buying the publisher's software for gifts, recession or not. Whether it's the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">Sony</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sony-corporation/sne/nys">SNE</a>) PlayStation 3, the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">Microsoft</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/microsoft-corporation/msft/nas">MSFT</a>) Xbox 360, or the <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">Nintendo</a> (OTC: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nintendo-co-ltd-unsp-adr/ntdoy/nao">NTDOY</a>) Wii, gamers will be buying the company's products for these platforms in droves. </p>
<p>The stock has retreated from the highs it reached back in June when <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/18/activision-reached-a-new-52-week-high-how-high-is-it-going/">I wrote about it</a>, but I am still bullish on the thesis here. Activision Blizzard should do really well, but with the markets in turmoil, you can probably wait for a pullback before buying. </p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I own Activision Blizzard; positions can change at any time. </em></p>
<p> </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.smartmoney.com/breaking-news/on/index.cfm?story=ON-20080710-000789-1408>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-set-to-rock-the-market/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1252225/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&amp;fc=1&amp;url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-set-to-rock-the-market/" title="Linking Blogs">Linking&nbsp;Blogs</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-set-to-rock-the-market/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>ActivisionBlizzard</category><category>ATVID</category><category>Electronic Arts</category><category>ElectronicArts</category><category>ERTS</category><category>Guitar Hero</category><category>GuitarHero</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>MSFT</category><category>Nintendo Wii</category><category>NintendoWii</category><category>PlayStation 3</category><category>Playstation3</category><category>SNE</category><category>Sony</category><category>Take-Two Interactive</category><category>Take-twoInteractive</category><category>TTWO</category><category>Vivendi Games</category><category>VivendiGames</category><category>world of warcraft</category><category>WorldOfWarcraft</category><category>Xbox 360</category><category>Xbox360</category><dc:creator>Steven Mallas</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-11T14:24:00+00:00</dc:date></item></channel></rss>