Bombs Away
Stocks are selling off slightly as US and NATO forces
launch retaliatory strikes against Afghanistan in a third day of aggression.
The uncertainty the strikes create as well as negative expectations for
earnings, are keeping some buyers sidelined.
The Dow is down 28 at 9039, the S&P 500 is down
5.53 at 1056.50, and the Nasdaq is down 27.23 at 1578.72.
The quarterly earnings season begins in earnest this
week with Motorola
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PowerRating) kicking off tonight by announcing its
performance report after today’s close. Motorola is expected to lose seven
cents a share. The stock has shedded .84 to 16.55.
Microsoft
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PowerRating) is weighing on the market after
the Supreme Court rejected the appeal of its antitrust case. This paves the
way for the penalty phase and is working to send the stock down 2.77 at
55.26.
Cepheid
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PowerRating) is rallying following a death
attributed to anthrax poisoning in Florida. The company makes a product that
speeds testing of biological agents. In the aftermath of the anthrax scare,
the stock has jolted higher on surging volume and is up 3.76 at 8.16.