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HOME > Headlines: Headlines Archive
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 Microsoft considers $10bn shareholder payout
Microsoft is considering paying its shareholders a special dividend of more than $10bn to reduce its $46bn cash pile. Shareholders would receive the dividend in a one payment of "significantly more than $10bn" or spread over three or four quarters, according to a person close to the discussions. The dividend, which would be the largest corporate pay-out ever, is one of a number options Microsoft is looking at, the FT's sister paper, Les Echos, has learned. The other options include a buyback, acquisitions and higher ordinary dividends. A decision is expected by the end of the year.
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FT.com --- 7/4/2003
Comcast to sell QVC stake for $7.9 bln
Comcast said Thursday it will sell its stake in home-shopping titan QVC to Liberty Media for $7.9 billion in cash and stock, a move that adds to media mogul John Malone's television programming empire. Shares of Philadelphia-based Comcastthe nation's largest cable operator, rose 39 cents to $30.30 in after-hours trading on the Island ECN. Liberty Media based in Englewood, Colo., closed 14 cents lower at $11.45. QVC is best known for its television channel, where a series of affable hosts move thousands of appliances, fashion accessories, sports memorabilia items and other pieces of merchandise in a few minutes. The brand has naturally been extended to the online universe.
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CBS MarketWatch --- 7/4/2003
Gold May Have More Upside
Gold has proved itself to be the ultimate contrarian bet against the market over the past three years. So is the gold rush over, or is there still time for individual investors to profit from this trend? It depends: If you think the economy is reviving and the bull market has returned, you may not think you have much need for gold. However, the verdict is still out on a recovery -- and if we get one, it doesn't automatically mean a return of the bull. If you believe the economy and the markets are still in for tough sledding, many investors might consider adding some gold to their portfolio. [complete article]
TheStreet --- 7/4/2003
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Cisco Fans' Latest Chant: 'Defense!'
As business customers prolong the IT budget freeze and phone companies continue to hold the line on network spending, at least one analyst sees a massive, well-timed federal windfall coming for the San Jose Internet gearmaker. Buckingham Research analyst Gina Sokolow has checked with her sources and believes there's about $10 billion worth of government work heading into Cisco's pipeline. In a report Wednesday, Sokolow raised her rating to strong buy from buy, saying that the Defense and Homeland Security departments will spend $30 billion on networking equipment over the next two years -- with a third of that money going to Cisco. [complete article]
TheStreet --- 7/3/2003
Boeing plans to offer 7E7 in '04
Boeing Co. confirmed Thursday that it plans to offer its 7E7 Dreamliner aircraft in early 2004, and said it expects the airplane to enter into service in 2008. Boeing Chairman and Chief Executive Philip Condit said in June that delivery of the aircraft was probable in 2008, if Boeing's board gives it the nod by the end of this year. The aerospace firm said in a news release Thursday that it will decide in late 2003 where the fuel-efficient 7E7, which will have 200 to 250 seats, will be built. It said the 7E7 would only take three days to build instead of the traditional two weeks or more, while the majority of the aircraft will be made of advanced composite materials instead of aluminum. [complete article]
CNNfn --- 7/3/2003
Despite Q2 Warnings, Analysts Say Growth May Be Around Corner
PeopleSoft, Westwood One and Baxter International have joined the swelling ranks of firms preannouncing or telegraphing earnings as the second quarter winds to a close. Investors, meanwhile, try to gauge the market's profit strength. After Tuesday's close, radio programmer Westwood One said it expects second-quarter earnings and revenue to fall year over year due to soft ad sales. Fellow radio stock Emmis set the tone earlier in the day, when it missed fiscal first-quarter profit estimates. Baxter, which makes treatments for cancer, kidney disease and other maladies, said it will close 26 facilities, cut 2,500 jobs and miss second-quarter and full-year 2003 earnings views due to slow growth in its bioscience business. [complete article]
Investors --- 7/3/2003
Target Passes Sears as No. 4 U.S. Retailer
Discounter Target Corp. passed century-old department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Co. for the fourth spot on this year's list of the largest U.S. retailers. The biggest three U.S. retail chains held their positions on the list, released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation (search)'s Stores magazine. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. the world's largest company by revenues, widened the gap over its rivals with sales greater than its five biggest U.S. competitors combined. Home improvement chain Home Depot Inc. held onto the No. 2 spot that it claimed last year, while grocery chain Kroger Co. remained at third. [complete article]
FOX News --- 7/2/2003
Carmakers Betting on Bright Second Half
The Big Three automakers reported lukewarm June sales Tuesday, even as Detroit continued to offer aggressive incentive programs to lure consumers to dealer showrooms, but they all sounded generally upbeat tones regarding the rest of the year. General Motors said sales rose 1.5% last month, with the company keeping its position as the industry's volume leader. The result was below analysts' estimate of a 2.6% increase. Ford reported a 7.7% decline in new car and truck sales, below estimates of a 2% rise, but sales were essentially flat when considering last month had fewer selling days than June 2002. [complete article]
TheStreet --- 7/2/2003
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