Amazon rally looks overdone 4 Dec 2006 The internet retailer's shares soared some 60% since the summer on its plans to grow sales and repurchase stock. Yet in an uncharacteristic twist, Wall Street analysts are more bearish on Amazon than their clients. Who's right?
Yahoo forecasts change Hollywood-style 20 Nov 2006 The leaking of the socalled peanut butter memo calling for a massive revamp has the hallmarks of an orchestrated PR campaign. It s good that Yahoo recognises it s in trouble. But CEO Semel will need to employ more than special effects to achieve a turnaround.
Yahoo vulnerable to takeover 30 Oct 2006 If the internet portal doesn't do a better job of turning traffic into profits, Rupert Murdoch or some other predator might do it for them. As a preemptive move, Yahoo might be tempted to buy AOL's online business for more than $10bn. But this seems unlikely.
Internet bulletin boards claim their first scalp 24 Oct 2006 The shareholder revolt that forced out the founder of Coffee Republic should worry other boards for two reasons. It illustrates how internet chat rooms can spread misleading stories, and how easy the web makes it for retail investors to club together.
Is Mike Bloomberg missing the boat? 19 Oct 2006 The New York Mayor says he s had recent approaches but won t sell the financial information giant he founded anytime soon. Given the hedge fund gusts that have filled his sails, and the private equity boom that promises him a clean exit, this could be a mistake.
Yahoo shareholders are myopic 18 Oct 2006 Investors have marked down Yahoo shares after disappointing results. But a new advertising system in 2007 is likely to boost the internet company s prospects.
What is Google really worth? 13 Oct 2006 Conventional valuation methods such as discounted cash flow are sensitive to changes in assumptions. It s better to use a variety of tools. But even then, determining a fair value for the fastestgrowing firm ever is more of an art than a science.
HP emerges intact from Washington 29 Sep 2006 With HP's reputation at stake, its general counsel quit, its former chairman looked weak and several others refused to testify to Congress. But chief executive Mark Hurd performed well under the political krieg lights. Shareholders look safe.
HP shareholders brace for Hurd on the Hill 26 Sep 2006 The computer group s chief executive faces a political grilling over HP s inappropriate snooping. To avoid turning this governance fiasco into an electionfueled nightmare, Hurd must show genuine contrition.
Hewlett-Packard magnifies its errors 25 Sep 2006 Patricia Dunn s exit is a good thing. Mark Hurd s ascension to the chairman s seat, though, creates undue business risk. Sure, Dunn screwed things up. But there was some sense in her hanging around to clear up the mess. Now Hurd has been sucked in too.
Freescale LBO could mint new record 19 Sep 2006 The chipmaker s $17.6bn buyout relies on slapping an excessive amount of debt on a company with poor and erratic cash flows. Either that or the financial sponsors will have to agree to inject a record amount of equity perhaps up to $8bn.
Apple should ditch the iPod 15 Sep 2006 Competition is heating up with Microsoft s new Zune digital media player. Microsoft is also opening a digital music store. There s one way for Apple to protect its current dominance. It should open up its iTunes software to other music players.
Apple breaks its mould with big promise 13 Sep 2006 Steve Jobs has been masterful at underpromising and thereby overdelivering on the expectations of consumers and investors. But to preempt rivals on Apple s iTV initiative, he has had to break that tradition, raising expectations that may be harder to meet.
Facebook revolt underlines difficulties managing social networks 7 Sep 2006 In most enterprises, owners call the shots and customers follow. But when users generate content, management finds it hard to get its way. That's what Facebook, a networking website, is discovering after attempts to broadcast personal information provoked howls of protests.
Google looks to books revenue 21 Aug 2006 But instead Google is forging ahead, recently cutting a fresh deal to scan the University of California s 34 million library books. With litigation stacking up against it, Google might easily have dropped plans to make millions of library books searchable on the internet.
Google pays to play 8 Aug 2006 This extravagant deal is reminiscent of internet mania. But escape clauses and the prospect of real revenues make this deal look sound. The internet search giant will pay News Corp $900m to replace Yahoo on the MySpace website.
Google assembles TV network for internet age 7 Aug 2006 Millions of computer users turn to Google and Yahoo daily for fast answers to queries. But future revenues will not come just from search. Recent deals with MTV and XM Satellite Radio show that Google's vast network of affiliated web sites provides a competitive advantage.
Google reports standout Q2 21 Jul 2006 Investor worries that Google's performance would mirror Yahoo's disappointing results proved wrong. Instead, Google posted healthy growth in revenue and profits from search both in the US and internationally.
Tech slump has further to run 14 Jul 2006 Now tech s saviour consumer demand is showing signs of strain. Hopes that spending by companies would pick up this year have been dashed, hitting tech valuations.
Gates should reflect on splitting Microsoft 16 Jun 2006 Impending retirement offers Bill Gates a chance to think about the best way to preserve his legacy. Microsoft is now a complex beast even with his talent, Gates found the group difficult to control. It may be time to split it up.