Apple To Begin Using Intel Processors…Here’s What That Means To You

Stocks ended mildly in the green after earlier
losses.  Equities started off the week on a positive note thanks to
the latest round of M&A activity.  Volume was on the low side today as
investors await Fed Chairman Greenspan’s testimony on the outlook of the U.S.
economy later tonight.

After more than a decade of using IBM‘s microprocessors in their
Macintosh computers, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that they will be
switching to Intel’s microprocessors. At an annual software conference in San
Francisco, Job’s commented that “Our goal is to provide our customers with the
best personal computers in the world, and looking ahead Intel has the
strongest processor road map by far.”  Using microprocessors from Intel
will allow the company to lower prices on the personal computers.

Washington Mutual
(
WM |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is buying Providian in a $6.45
billion deal.

Catellus is being acquired by Prologis [PLD|{LD] 3.6 billion

Precision Drilling
(
PDS |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is selling its energy services division
to Weatherford in a $2.3 billion deal.

The Wall Street Journal  said Agilent
(
A |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is selling its
semiconductor products division; the sale could fetch $1.5 – $2 billion.

Oil is near a 6-week high; copper continues its rally. 

Strong sectors are:  Airlines
(
$XAL.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) +1.93%  
Internet Commerce
(
$ECM.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
+1.06%    Home Builders
(
$HGX.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) +1.01%    

Weak sectors are:    Gold &
Silver
(
$XAU.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) -1.14%    Gold Bugs
(
$HUI.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
-0.99%     Networking
(
$GIP.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) -0.71%

FuelCell Energy
(
FCEL |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) beat by 0.06 but revenues were light.

Taser
(
TASR |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) customers will be subject to a 24-hour waiting
period–the same as gun buyers. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the
legislation on Friday, which goes into effect January 1.

The Wall Street Journal reports Earthlink
(
ELNK |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) will
offer Internet calling on regular phones.

Teva Pharmaceuticals
(
TEVA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) sadi Q4 earnings will we lower
because of a ruling which prevents it from selling the generic version of Abbot
Labs’ Biaxin.

ATI Technologies
(
ATYT |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) slashed its sales guidance for Q3 and Q4.

ETrade is sweetening its offer for Ameritrade.