Seeking Alpha
04-11-2008, 07:50 AM
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<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080411/earns_general_electric.html?.v=2">GE comes up short.</a></strong> GE (GE) posted Q1 EPS of $0.44, falling short of consensus estimates ($0.51). Revenue of $42.2B (+7.8%) was also less than expected ($43.7B). GE down guided its Q2 EPS estimate to $0.53-0.55, vs. consensus estimate of $0.58. It lowered its prior 2008 guidance of $2.42/share to $2.20-2.30 (vs. $2.43 consensus). "Demand for our global infrastructure business remained strong, but our financial services businesses were challenged by a slowing U.S. economy and difficult capital markets... Our primary shortfall was a decline in financial services earnings. We knew the first quarter was going to be challenging, but the extraordinary disruption in the capital markets in March affected our ability to complete asset sales and resulted in higher mark-to-market losses and impairments," it said. <strong>Futures dropped heavily</strong> after the earnings release.<!--more--></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120787225229506541.html">Scotiabank interested in National City.</a></strong> Sources say Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is interested in acquiring or taking a stake in National City Corp. (NCC), which is under regulatory pressure to either increase its capital or find a buyer before it reports Q1 results on Apr. 22. BNS's $45B market cap puts it in a solid position to acquire National City, which is now worth just $5B. BNS's Scotiabank lacks a U.S. retail presence. Others figuring in on the race include KeyCorp (KEY), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), and private-equity interests.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/frontiers-bankruptcy-portends-still-more/story.aspx?guid=%7B753DB0D8%2D14F8%2D4E4A%2D8945%2 DE8C0F0D0133F%7D&siteid=yhoof">Frontier files for Ch. 11.</a></strong> Frontier Airlines (FRNT) filed for Chapter 11 reorganization following an unexpected move by its principal credit card processor to substantially increase a holdback of customer receipts which threatened its liquidity. Frontier will continue normal business operations.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSL1079438120080410">Merger of the mobile chipmakers.</a></strong> STMicro (STM) is merging its wireless chip business with NXP in a $3B joint venture. STMicro is paying NXP $1.55B to own 80% of the new company. The two hope to better challenge market leaders Qualcomm (QCOM) and Texas Instruments (TXN). "This deal is about creating scale in a market with too many players," STMicro CEO Carlo Bozotti said. STM and NXP are the #3 and #4 wireless chipmakers, with a combined 10% global market share. Texas Instruments has 16%, and Qualcomm has 18%.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/business/11aircnd.html">Still grounded.</a></strong> American Airlines (AMR) is cancelling another 570 flights today, after grounding 930 on Thursday. It expects all of its 300 MD-80s to be back in service by Saturday night. AMR CEO Gerard Arpey said Thursday he takes <strong><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/amr-ceo-takes-responsibility-md-80/story.aspx?guid=%7BD546A762%2DD72C%2D478E%2DB8B2%2 D13D3FB6B514E%7D&dist=msr_37">"full, personal responsibility"</a></strong> for the groundings, which were due to a lack of preciseness in AMR's compliance with FAA standards. Shares gained 7.6% Thursday, as investors apparently hoped the worst was behind the company.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120788502599307497.html">Linens N' Things on brink of bankruptcy.</a></strong> Home-furnishings retailer Linens 'N Things is expected to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by Tuesday, sources say. It will be one of the first major retailers to file for bankruptcy protection during the current economic downturn. Apollo Management, which this week filed for an IPO, acquired Linens 'N Things in 2006 for $1.3B.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=algfkrVb9XBY&refer=home">No surprises at Genentech.</a></strong> Genentech (DNA) reported Q1 EPS of $0.84 (vs. consensus of $0.82), up 12% on strong sales of its cancer drugs. Operating revenue of $3.06B was in line. Major drug sales: Rituxan sales up 13% to $605M; Avastin up 13% to $600M; Herceptin up 9% to $339M; Lucentis down 6% to $198M. DNA reiterated 2008 EPS guidance of $3.35-$3.45, vs. consensus of $3.43. Shares were flat in AH trading.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/judge-dismisses-most-dan-rathers/story.aspx?guid=%7B07E5D3F3%2D78E0%2D4B8A%2D9BE1%2 D235383EB59BE%7D&dist=msr_39">Judge vindicates CBS.</a></strong> A court dismissed most of Dan Rather's claims against CBS (CBS). Rather sued for fraud, tortious interference with prospective business relations, breach of good faith and fair dealing, among other accusations.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120776362649702195.html">More to come.</a></strong> The latest WSJ survey shows a majority of economists still see more downside to the U.S. economy. 75% of economists think the economy is in recession, and almost the same amount feel we haven't reached the bottom. They were divided on what is the biggest current risk: 35% said crumbling credit markets; 25% said a sharp drop in consumer spending; 13% said housing weakness.</li>
</ul>
<br/><strong><a href="http://seekingalpha.com/page/email-preferences/?source=newsbriefbody">Get Wall Street Breakfast by email</a></strong> -- it's free and takes only seconds to sign up.<br/><a href='http://seekingalpha.com/article/71964-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed'>Complete Story »</a>
complete article here... (http://seekingalpha.com/article/71964-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed)
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080411/earns_general_electric.html?.v=2">GE comes up short.</a></strong> GE (GE) posted Q1 EPS of $0.44, falling short of consensus estimates ($0.51). Revenue of $42.2B (+7.8%) was also less than expected ($43.7B). GE down guided its Q2 EPS estimate to $0.53-0.55, vs. consensus estimate of $0.58. It lowered its prior 2008 guidance of $2.42/share to $2.20-2.30 (vs. $2.43 consensus). "Demand for our global infrastructure business remained strong, but our financial services businesses were challenged by a slowing U.S. economy and difficult capital markets... Our primary shortfall was a decline in financial services earnings. We knew the first quarter was going to be challenging, but the extraordinary disruption in the capital markets in March affected our ability to complete asset sales and resulted in higher mark-to-market losses and impairments," it said. <strong>Futures dropped heavily</strong> after the earnings release.<!--more--></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120787225229506541.html">Scotiabank interested in National City.</a></strong> Sources say Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is interested in acquiring or taking a stake in National City Corp. (NCC), which is under regulatory pressure to either increase its capital or find a buyer before it reports Q1 results on Apr. 22. BNS's $45B market cap puts it in a solid position to acquire National City, which is now worth just $5B. BNS's Scotiabank lacks a U.S. retail presence. Others figuring in on the race include KeyCorp (KEY), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), and private-equity interests.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/frontiers-bankruptcy-portends-still-more/story.aspx?guid=%7B753DB0D8%2D14F8%2D4E4A%2D8945%2 DE8C0F0D0133F%7D&siteid=yhoof">Frontier files for Ch. 11.</a></strong> Frontier Airlines (FRNT) filed for Chapter 11 reorganization following an unexpected move by its principal credit card processor to substantially increase a holdback of customer receipts which threatened its liquidity. Frontier will continue normal business operations.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSL1079438120080410">Merger of the mobile chipmakers.</a></strong> STMicro (STM) is merging its wireless chip business with NXP in a $3B joint venture. STMicro is paying NXP $1.55B to own 80% of the new company. The two hope to better challenge market leaders Qualcomm (QCOM) and Texas Instruments (TXN). "This deal is about creating scale in a market with too many players," STMicro CEO Carlo Bozotti said. STM and NXP are the #3 and #4 wireless chipmakers, with a combined 10% global market share. Texas Instruments has 16%, and Qualcomm has 18%.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/business/11aircnd.html">Still grounded.</a></strong> American Airlines (AMR) is cancelling another 570 flights today, after grounding 930 on Thursday. It expects all of its 300 MD-80s to be back in service by Saturday night. AMR CEO Gerard Arpey said Thursday he takes <strong><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/amr-ceo-takes-responsibility-md-80/story.aspx?guid=%7BD546A762%2DD72C%2D478E%2DB8B2%2 D13D3FB6B514E%7D&dist=msr_37">"full, personal responsibility"</a></strong> for the groundings, which were due to a lack of preciseness in AMR's compliance with FAA standards. Shares gained 7.6% Thursday, as investors apparently hoped the worst was behind the company.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120788502599307497.html">Linens N' Things on brink of bankruptcy.</a></strong> Home-furnishings retailer Linens 'N Things is expected to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by Tuesday, sources say. It will be one of the first major retailers to file for bankruptcy protection during the current economic downturn. Apollo Management, which this week filed for an IPO, acquired Linens 'N Things in 2006 for $1.3B.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=algfkrVb9XBY&refer=home">No surprises at Genentech.</a></strong> Genentech (DNA) reported Q1 EPS of $0.84 (vs. consensus of $0.82), up 12% on strong sales of its cancer drugs. Operating revenue of $3.06B was in line. Major drug sales: Rituxan sales up 13% to $605M; Avastin up 13% to $600M; Herceptin up 9% to $339M; Lucentis down 6% to $198M. DNA reiterated 2008 EPS guidance of $3.35-$3.45, vs. consensus of $3.43. Shares were flat in AH trading.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/judge-dismisses-most-dan-rathers/story.aspx?guid=%7B07E5D3F3%2D78E0%2D4B8A%2D9BE1%2 D235383EB59BE%7D&dist=msr_39">Judge vindicates CBS.</a></strong> A court dismissed most of Dan Rather's claims against CBS (CBS). Rather sued for fraud, tortious interference with prospective business relations, breach of good faith and fair dealing, among other accusations.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120776362649702195.html">More to come.</a></strong> The latest WSJ survey shows a majority of economists still see more downside to the U.S. economy. 75% of economists think the economy is in recession, and almost the same amount feel we haven't reached the bottom. They were divided on what is the biggest current risk: 35% said crumbling credit markets; 25% said a sharp drop in consumer spending; 13% said housing weakness.</li>
</ul>
<br/><strong><a href="http://seekingalpha.com/page/email-preferences/?source=newsbriefbody">Get Wall Street Breakfast by email</a></strong> -- it's free and takes only seconds to sign up.<br/><a href='http://seekingalpha.com/article/71964-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed'>Complete Story »</a>
complete article here... (http://seekingalpha.com/article/71964-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed)