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How will this affect options expiring this Friday?
Google sites No. 1 for first time in comScore's monthly Web rankings, surpassing Yahoo
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080514/google_comscore.html?.v=2
Use of wind energy expected to grow dramatically
Two decades from now Americans could get as much electricity from windmills as from nuclear power plants, according to a government report that lays out a possible plan for wind energy growth.
The report, a collaboration between the Energy Department research labs and industry, concludes wind energy could generate 20 percent of the nation's electricity by 2030, about the same share now produced by nuclear reactors.
Such growth would pose a number of major challenges, but is achievable without the need of major new technological breakthroughs, said the report released Monday.
"The report indicates that we can do this nationally for less than half a cent per kilowatt hour if we have the vision," said Andrew Karsner, the Energy Department's assistant secretary for efficiency and renewable energy.
If achieved, it would be an astounding leap.
Wind energy today accounts for only about 1 percent of the nation's electricity, although the industry has been on a growth binge with a 45 percent jump in production last year.
To reach the 20 percent production level, wind turbines would have to produce 300,000 megawatts of power, compared to about 16,000 megawatts generated today. Such growth would envision more than 75,000 new wind turbines, many of them larger than those operating today. About 54,000 megawatts would be produced by turbines in offshore waters.
And it would require a major expansion of the electricity grid system to move power from high-wind areas to other parts of the country, the report said.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gOGeZEoyI1AB7xfqwwsq68e4Fg8AD90KB0PO2
Yea, where is T. Boone Pickens when you really need him?
Through his company Mesa Power, Pickens has plans to produce 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity--equal to the power produced by two nuclear power plants. Next month Mesa power will begin buying the tracts of land for 2,700 wind turbines, the report said.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/15831
Foreign investment money flowing into U.S. companies is clearly one benefit of a devalued dollar, not to mention making U.S. products & companies more competitive in world markets.
Me neither, but we won't have to. Just talk into the mike... like a cellphone!
Just a couple decades ago, who'd'a thunk we'd all be typing our work?
No options trading available yet, but keep an eye on CPTC.OB. Credit Suisse just increased its stake with an option for 400% more.
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=OTC:CPTC
Once word gets around to other investment banks that a major player like Credit Suisse has taken a larger stake, CPTC will no longer be a penny stock.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2007/snapshots/10334.html
http://www.credit-suisse.com/us/en/
Right on. You can't build capacity without capital. It bodes well for a solid institution like Credit Suisse to substantially increase its position with an option for 400% more.
Benton Wilcoxon, CEO of Composite Technology, stated, "We are pleased that Credit Suisse has increased its equity stake in CTC. This permits CTC to continue its commitment to its high value energy efficient ACCC* conductor products for transmission lines and its innovative renewable energy DeWind turbine products. We believe that this growth capital will assist CTC in expanding our conductor business and supporting the sales of its D8.2 turbine."
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080509/0395495.html
First command lines, then GUI, & now browsers. What next, Sergey?
How might expanding Google's cloud-computing service alter the digital world?
One of the places where Google, in particular, could have a large impact is integrating cloud computing into mobile devices, says Vander Wal. The company recently announced Android, a platform that allows people to build software for a variety of mobile phones. The alliance could spur the creation of mobile applications geared toward cloud computing, he says. People want to seamlessly move their data between computers, the Web, and phones, Vander Wal adds. "If Google is starting to solve that piece of the problem, it could have an impact because that's something no one's been able to do yet."
Still, there's a sense that Google's version of cloud computing has the appeal of simplicity, in spite of the current challenges. Schillace says that by moving applications and data to the Internet, Google is helping make the computer disappear. Initially, people interacted with computers using command lines, Schillace explains, then used a graphical interface; now people can do much of their work in a Web browser, which can be on a personal computer or a small handheld device. "It's about letting the computer get out of our way so we can work with other people and share our information."
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/19785/?a=f
Gotta think outside (& get rid of) the box. Cloud computing is a disruptive technology just around the corner.
Cloud computing, the notion of outsourcing hardware and software to Internet service providers, is showing the classic signs of disruptive technology--it's not good enough for the masses yet, but it has clear potential to shake things up.
Forrester Research on Monday released a report written by James Staten, an IT operations and infrastructure analyst, saying that cloud computing does not meet the needs of large businesses. But that could be only temporary.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9889947-7.html
How right you are...
Google Inc.'s top executives expressed hope Thursday that the Internet search leader will be able to form a potentially lucrative advertising partnership with Yahoo Inc. -- a deal that would lower the odds of Microsoft Corp. renewing its attempts to buy Yahoo.
"We have been talking to Yahoo and we are very excited to be working with them," Google co-founder Sergey Brin told reporters before the company's annual shareholders meeting. "We share a lot of values with them."
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080508/google.html?.v=14
Careful on the puts, my friend.
Google Inc expects to launch new products for its YouTube Web video service in the next few months and sees reason for closer cooperation with Yahoo Inc, Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said on Thursday.
Schmidt has said getting the video sharing site to make money is the Web search company's top priority for the year. He did not give details of the products, however, and they are not even in initial, or beta, testing.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080508/google.html?.v=1
Perhaps a feature could be built into a device resident BIOS to boot up & auto connect the computer/wireless device to the internet, then the rest is handled by the internet just like online apps, storage, etc.
If it can be done, GOOG'll do it!
Today, perhaps. Tomorrow, who knows?
Don't see MSFT's name up there.
Sprint Nextel Corp. announced a $12 billion joint venture for WiMAX with Clearwire Corp. Wednesday.
The deal creates a new company that would use the Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) name and offer traditional voice service plus wireless broadband access. The new company has raised $3.2 billion in outside financing, including $1.05 billion from Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), $1 billion from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), $550 million from Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC), $500 million from Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) and $100 million from Bright House Networks. Clearwire was founded by wireless pioneer Craig McCaw.
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/05/05/daily22.html?ana=yfcpc
It's called a browser.
Steve Ballmer would probably disagree. Don't be surprised if he comes back with another offer, esp. after another YHOO stumble.
Since GOOG prefers open systems and already uses Linux, not sure GOOG will ever put out its own OS. Platforms like Android (also based on Linux) may be the closest to a GOOG OS we ever see.
Besides, by putting everything on the internet instead of on your PC, the internet becomes the de facto OS.
MSFT's reliance on closed systems may be its Achilles' heel.
GOOG doesn't need YHOO, but a mega-deal where GOOG places & serves search ads for YHOO would be a boon to both companies at the expense of MSFT & others. It would make YHOO an extra cool $1 billion per year and cement GOOG as the search ad king, virtually cutting MSFT out of this very lucrative & fast growing market.
MSFT has been seriously trying but it ain't so easy, esp. since they came so late to the game. Swallowing YHOO is MSFT's fastest route to become a strong No. 2 in online search ads, even as GOOG continues to increase its lead over both MSFT & YHOO.
Had GOOG not bought YouTube, GOOG would still be a distance second or third in online video instead of the dominate Numero Uno.
Yahoo May Do Full Rollout of Google Ads Next Week; Could Include Non-Exclusive Ads on Competitors
http://biz.yahoo.com/paidcontent/080501/1_322895_id.html?.v=1
Google optimistic regulators won't bar Yahoo
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News) believes regulators would not bar a potential business deal with Yahoo Inc (NasdaqGS:YHOO - News) because it would be "non-exclusive" and falls short of an outright merger, a person familiar with Google's thinking said on Friday.
Google believes such a partnership would not be anti-competitive because it would be an arrangement in which Yahoo would use Google's more profitable search advertising platform to make more money for itself, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A deal would be no different from partnerships Google has with other Web companies including Time Warner Inc's (NYSE:TWX - News) AOL and IAC/InterActiveCorp (NasdaqGS:IACI - News), the source said.
By contrast, Google thinks a takeover by Microsoft of Yahoo would raise far more antitrust concerns because the combined company could corner large chunks of multiple markets, from Web mail to instant messaging, the person said.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080425/google_yahoo.html?.v=2
This should add a few more billion to GOOG, don't ya think?
CEO Says Microsoft Could Forgo Yahoo
Steve Ballmer says Microsoft Corp. is willing to go it alone rather than buy Yahoo Inc. And he has a reason besides opposition from the Internet company: skepticism among his own employees.
But the longer that process takes, the more Microsoft's rank-and-file workers and executives weigh the consequences of what would be Microsoft's largest acquisition ever -- and many are against it, say Microsoft employees and other people familiar with the company. A Microsoft spokesman declined to comment.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120899881620840131.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo
If You Doubt Google, Make Leap of Faith; Stock Is Good Value
I'm not blind to the fact that Google cannot keep growing forever at double-digit rates. But the long-term case for Google isn't based on paid clicks or traditional advertising. Google has created a radical new advertising model in which clicks can be linked directly to purchases. Call this click fulfillment. This is so valuable that I've heard advertisers say they would pay far more for this than they currently do under Google's auction-price system. You could argue that it's especially valuable in a recession, when the yield on advertising spending is even more critical.
Google gained even more market share in Internet search last month. But apart from dominating its core ad-search business, Google has other long-term virtues. The migration of advertising to the Internet is still in its infancy. Google's acquisition of DoubleClick will enhance its capacity in display advertising and offer advertisers a comprehensive, one-stop approach to Internet-ad spending. Google's YouTube video service grows more ubiquitous by the day. Someday Google will find a way to monetize this remarkable asset, just as it did Internet search.
Even after the price run-up last week, Google shares represent good value. They've gained about 10% since I last recommended them, but if you believe in Google's long-term prospects as I do, and are prepared to stay the course, that 10% will eventually seem insignificant.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120891482995336817.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo
Is today's GOOG surge a bet that YHOO will at least hit its rosy expectations so MSFT has to up its bid?
$28 bil? Not a bad day at all.
Google Inc.'s stock soared 20 percent Friday, restoring $28 billion in shareholder wealth as Wall Street renewed its love affair with the Internet search leader after weeks of worry about an online advertising slowdown.
Driven by stellar first-quarter results that surprised industry analysts, Google shares surged $89.87 to finish at $539.41. It marked the biggest one-day gain since Google's initial public stock offering in August 2004, leaving the shares at their highest closing price since January.
Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt left little doubt he expects the company to prosper as he hailed the first quarter results. "It's clear we are well positioned for 2008 and beyond, regardless of the business environment we are surrounded by," Schmidt told analysts.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080418/google_fever.html?.v=4
It's better to be lucky than smart.
Earlier in the week, prices on deep out-of-the-money calls (an option to buy a stock at a later date at a given price) rose steadily. For instance, $500 April calls were traded at 55 cents Thursday, up from 10 cents earlier in the week. But shares were lately quoted at $538.93, and that $500 call — which is now safely in the money — traded lately at a ridiculous $39.02. The $530 call was traded Thursday at 10 cents, and is now at $9.60.
“They probably had the biggest payout ever in an expiring option,” says Michael Schwartz, chief options strategist at Oppenheimer & Co. “They’re making money more from being lucky than being smart.”
But people have used this opportunity to get even bolder. Calls at the $540 and $550 strikes show a massive increase in volume. Headed into Friday, open interest for these contracts was 4,926 and 5,344 contracts, respectively, but this session has seen an explosion of volume, with nearly 28,000 and more than 14,000 contracts traded. Those bets were made Friday — which shows investors are hoping that Google will close above this price, or more likely, they’re trying to take advantage of the frenzy to buy these calls and sell them at a higher price later on.
http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2008/04/18/going-ga-ga-for-google/?mod=WSJBlog?mod=yahoo_hs
541? 11.5 mil? Give it a break already!
Are we gonna have a $100 day?
Hey, don't pick on Kramer. He got me in at 250.
Hope you can handle all that voume this a.m.
Picked up a few grand @ .88 this a.m. on the advice of my attorney. Now on to 10 bucks, so I can afford to pay him.
Google says targeted ads can withstand econ slump
Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt told investors on a conference call the company's Web search and advertising business has seen no impact from macroeconomic weakness.
"On the macro side we've looked at this really carefully and we do not see an impact as of this time," Schmidt said in response to an analyst's question about how wider economic trends would figure in its business.
"Our conclusion is that we're well positioned, should economics change, to continue to do well because our model is so targeted and targeted advertising does well in pretty much most scenarios, we think," Schmidt said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN1719701620080417?rpc=44
Bet you wished you had a few more of those calls! Would a truckload do?
Just don't get bowled over by the short-squeeze manana.
Some of the Networks/Cables are trying to compete with GOOG/YouTube for eyeballs, but with zippo success. GOOG does work with some Networks, but on limited basis... so far.
Barely. 5-6 bucks up or down is a typical GOOG day.
Investors where optimistically cautious, or is that cautiously optimistic?
But SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!
GOOG up 70 to 520 AH!!!
GOOG Conference call RIGHT NOW... http://investor.google.com/webcast.html
2008Q1 Qtrly Earnings Summary slides... http://investor.google.com/pdf/2008Q1_ConfCall.pdf
First Quarter 2008 Highlights
• Revenue growth of 42% Y/Y and 7% Q/Q
– Google properties revenue growth of 49% Y/Y and 9% Q/Q
– Network revenues increased 25% Y/Y and 3% Q/Q
– Growth in international markets continued to be strong, with $2.7 billion in Q1 international revenue
Intl Sales now 51%.
Income tax rate down.
WOWIE! GOOG back to 500 AH. We can see your sh*t-eating grin from here.
"It's a good time to be a Google bull," said Colin Gillis, an analyst with Canaccord Adams. "The boys delivered."
On Thursday, the company said first-quarter net income rose to $1.31 billion, or $4.12 per diluted share, from $1 billion, or $3.18 per share, in the year-earlier quarter.
Excluding one-time items and stock option expenses, profit was $4.84 a share, ahead of the average Wall Street forecast of $4.53 per share as compiled by Reuters Estimates.
Gross revenue rose 42 percent to $5.19 billion. By contrast, Google's revenue grew at a 63 percent rate in the same quarter a year ago.
Revenue had been expected, on average, to grow 40 percent to $5.13 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.
Traffic acquisition costs -- the cut of advertising revenue Google pays out to affiliated sites that run its ads -- amounted to 29 percent of ad revenue in the first quarter. A year ago, the proportion was 31 percent.
Google shares shot up as much as 11.5 percent to $501 in extended trading from its close of $449.54 on the Nasdaq earlier on Thursday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN1740758020080417?rpc=44
Hightime for TV networks to tie-up with YouTube, ya think?
New data reveal online video views are soaring
New data released Wednesday show online views of videos soared 66 percent in the U.S. in February from a year earlier, with TV networks grabbing just a pittance of those eyeballs.
YouTube racked up one-third of the estimated 10 billion views of online video in February, up from 15 percent last year, according to comScore.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080417/networks_online.html?.v=4
Google Revs Up Search Growth
http://biz.yahoo.com/portfolio/080415/dcrb0b77801a182d1093bcd5c5477a08c50.html?.v=2
Got email this evening that Comscore reported to brokers that GOOG clicks for March were up 30% y/y, and its U.S. share up from 59.5 to 60%. Should hit the financial news manana.
Looks like Feb was a fluke. Surprise, surprise!