General Electric (GE) and Microsoft (MSFT) have recently held internal discussions about buying the Dow Jones Company (DJ) and combining it with some parts of NBC/Universal. However, the media reports state the two entities have not reached a point where they are ready to submit a bid.
Month: June 2007
Ameritrade (AMTD) Looks for Partner – Bank of America (BAC)? E*Trade (ETFC)?
Ameritrade’s (AMTD) owners want the company to partner with “one of its industry peers.” Two heavily invested hedge funds, JANA Partners and S.A.C Capital Advisors, are calling for the change. Their combined ownership amounts to about 8.5%, or around 50 million shares, of the company’s outstanding stock.
What do Health Food Supermarkets and Satellite Radio Have in Common? The FTC, Mergers, and Option Investing Opportunities
Although the tie may seem somewhat tenuous, natural grocer Whole Food’s (WFMI) proposed merger with rival Wild Oats (OATS) may have more in common with the XM (XMSR) and Sirius (SIRI) merger than you think. Both companies have to get past a reluctant Federal Trade Commission.
The Rupert Murdoch and Dow Jones Saga with Bonus Covered Call Suggestions on Index ETFs
Rupert Murdoch, the CEO of News Corp. (NWS) met with the Bancroft Family, the controlling entity of Dow Jones & Co. (DJ), on Monday. Murdoch emerged from the talks calling them “constructive” as the two parties seem to gravitate closer to an agreement.
Finding Profitable Covered Calls After China’s Shanghai Index Plummets 8.3%
Chinese stocks dropped Monday as the government made moves to chill the overheated market. The Shanghai Composite Index’s 8.3% plummet marked the largest one-day drop since the 8.8% drop on February 27, 2007. Since last Tuesday, the Shanghai index has dropped 15 percent.
A Company in Transition – Dell Computers – Covered Calls
Dell (DELL) shares opened over 3% higher today following the company’s positive earnings report last night. The stock fell to a 1.5% gain as of 1 pm. The computer maker was able to beat estimates for sales and earnings in the first-quarter. The company also announced it would cut 8,000 jobs in the coming year. Some analysts, however, have expressed their displeasure lately as Dell is lowering its expectations by selling at lower margins. Some market watchers feel Dell’s abandonment of direct sales in favor of low-margin retailers such as Wal-Mart (WMT) is emblematic of the problem.