ETF

March 12 2013 10:40 AM

According to Business Insider, based on job postings, new products, and partnerships, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) is going out of its way to make iOS the standard operating system for all cars. As evidence of this move, Apple is hiring for positions like “iOS Car Services” and “Manager QA (In-Car.” In addition, Eddy Cue, Apple executive joined the board of Fiat owned, Ferrari last year and the two companies are talking publicly about a partnership.

March 11 2013 4:06 PM

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]), which saw strong same-store sales in February where other big retailers did not, is scheduled to report its second-quarter fiscal 2013 results Tuesday, March 12, before the markets open. Investors will be looking to see how the company has held up, with consumers facing higher gas prices, tax refunds delays and the end of the payroll-tax holiday. Note that Costco's fiscal second quarter included the bulk of the holiday shopping season.

March 11 2013 1:50 PM

Is Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) planning to take on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Redbox (NASDAQ: CSTR), Amazon Prime (NASDAQ: AMZN) and other streaming video companies? According to Peter Micelli -- an agent with Hollywood's largest talent agency, CAA (Creative Artists Agency) -- the answer is yes. In a speech quoted by Variety, Micelli estimated that streaming video companies are spending millions more to produce their shows than traditional networks.

March 11 2013 12:05 PM

Times of India is reporting that telecom giant AT&T (NYSE:T) is planning to purchase a 25 percent stake in Reliance Jio Infocomm, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, for $3.5 billion. This would put the value of Reliance at roughly $14 billion, and would represent the largest foreign direct investment for the firm – an impressive figure, given that the telecommunications services have not started yet.

March 11 2013 11:35 AM

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) has repeatedly argued that Samsung is guilty of patent infringement. This has led to several dozen lawsuits worldwide as both firms sue (and counter-sue) in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Their biggest trial concluded last August after an American jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $1 billion in damages.

March 08 2013 4:33 PM

Citing high costs, competitive markets and declining profitability, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced that it would be slashing 1,200 jobs from its Motorola Mobility division, a number which represents about 10 percent of the department’s workforce.

March 08 2013 3:17 PM

Travelers is a holding company that provides a range of commercial and personal property insurance and casualty insurance products and services to individuals and businesses. Commercial and personal properties have been seeing increasing demand since the financial crisis. As commercial and personal property purchases are on the rise, look for companies like Travelers to be well-positioned to provide proper insurance products.

March 08 2013 2:18 PM

Whole Foods is a natural and organic foods supermarket that operates in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. As consumers become more health conscious, they are demanding new products at an increasing rate that Whole Foods is able to provide. The natural and organic food trend sees no signs of slowing so look for Whole Foods to continue its dominance in this space for years to come.

March 08 2013 1:55 PM

Analysts at Bank of America's (NYSE: BAC [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) Merrill Lynch division said today in a report that they see a buying opportunity in wireless tower stocks. Among the reasons they cited were attractive valuation, a favorable interest rate and inflation environment, and a spending outlook by wireless carriers that is strengthening. And they blamed the recent lack of momentum in the industry on caution due to potential mergers and acquisitions.