After months of rumors,Microsoft and Skype finally confirmed that they have reached a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype for $ 8.5 billion.The agreement was approved by the boards of both companies.With 170 million connected users and over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype has been a pioneer in creating rich,meaningful connections among friends,families and business colleagues... [read news]
New York Stock Exchange closed in positive territory today and the Dow Jones industrials,its main indicator, ended with an increase of 0.36%,boosted by the rising prices of raw materials after the collapse of last week.This index,which groups the 30 largest listed companies in the U.S.,amounted in the first day of the week 45.94 points, to finish at 12,684.68 points,S & P 500 climbed 5.9 points to 1346.29 and the Nasdaq Composite... [read news]
Even after admitting PSN problem of security and data theft,Sony's shares rose 1%,compared to those who expected a bump in the stock market but the latest news regarding the online security of the company have had an impact on its shares,which have fallen by 3.7%.Financial analysts say this drop is caused by the long period of inactivity of the online service PlayStation Network,and the second data theft,this time suffered by Sony Online... [read news]
Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ:NTRS) slid -1.08%, to close at $48.63 and its overall traded volume was 1.90M shares in the last trading session. NTRS opened at $48.93 and is trading within the range of $48.57-$49.20. The stock has a 52 week low of $45.30 and 52 week high of $56.86. At current market price, the market capitalization of the company stands at $11.77B and it has 242.12M outstanding shares. Northern Trust Corporation (Northern... [read news]
We could see it coming, although perhaps not so soon (the analysts expected it for the fall.) ECB President Jean Claude Trichet, yesterday threw a bucket of cold water on the economic recovery of the weaker countries from eurozone, including Spain. "A rise in interest rates next month is possible, though not certain, 'said the man who manages monetary policy for euro members. Between early October 2008 and May 2009 the ECB lowered... [read news]
The increase in VAT on subscriptions triple play (Internet, TV, fixed telephony) has, unsurprisingly, been criticized by the Internet service providers (ISPs) and by consumer groups and opposition, and finally by the SACEM (authors and music publishers), who fears that this has consequences for the legal downloading, and the SCAM (multimedia authors). How did this happen? Everything from a character of VAT for triple play subscribers, generally... [read news]
The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday in Lisbon that it is "very important, even essential" that the banking sector is restructured. "The proper restructuring of the banking sector should play an important role." According to Trichet, speaking to reporters in Lisbon, this is one of the secrets to gain better ability to withstand crises. Robust balance, effective risk management... [read news]
The Lisbon Stock Exchange was in free fall on Tuesday, with the investors more worried about the risk of contagion from Greece. The interest of the Portuguese government debt are going up and away from more debt spreads from Germany - a reference for the euro zone and one of the safest in the world. Lisbon was the second square in Europe that has lost more after the Greek (-6.7%) and Spain (-5.4%) markets. The markets are pressured by fears of... [read news]
The U.S. economy has seen an expansion in the first three months of the year slightly lower than expected, partly curbed by entries and export stocks, while the good performance of consumer spending appears to mirror a sustainable recovery. The first estimate of the data by the Department of Commerce shows for the period January-March growth of gross domestic product amounted to 3.2%, the third consecutive quarter of improving the situation... [read news]
The U.S. senators attack Goldman Sachs and its conduct. As expected the hearing convened to investigate allegations of fraud raised by the SEC against the bank, is emerging as a target practice by which managers seek to defend the institution from the rain of criticism, including one that Goldman Sachs helped inflate the housing bubble earlier in the decade and then take advantage of its collapse in 2007. "I do not think we get very clear... [read news]
