Anxious AMD

On January 22, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) reported disappointing Q4 and fiscal year 2008 results, with a ninth straight quarterly loss that was wider than expected. Already reeling under internal problems, the economic crisis is not just the straw, but rather a rock that is breaking the camel’s back. >>>

Featured Videos

Nervous Nokia

On January 22, Nokia reported fourth quarter results that missed analyst estimates due to weak consumer spending, currency volatility and credit tightness. Nokia had earlier warned that it is experiencing weak demand, but the actual impact of the dismal global economy was far greater than expected. Q4 profit slumped to the lowest level since 2001, and for the first time since 2001, Nokia has announced a cut in its annual dividend from €0.53 to €0.40. Its shares hit a 52-week low following the results release. >>>

Microsoft Also Needs Cleaning Up

Microsoft’s (MSFT) woes continued this quarter as was evident from their Q2 results announced yesterday.

Q2 revenue of $16.6 billion recorded annual growth of only 1% and sequential growth of 10%. The market was looking for revenue of $17.1 billion. EPS of $0.47 was also 2 cents shy of the market’s expectations. EPS dropped one cent sequentially and 6% over the year. This was also the fourth consecutive year of margin decline for the company. >>>

Google Needs To Tighten Up

Google’s (GOOG) Q4 earnings, reported yesterday, exceeded market expectations. Revenue of $5.7 billion grew 18% over the year and 4% sequentially. EPS of $5.10 represented 15% annual growth and 4% quarterly growth. The market was expecting revenue of $5.6 billion and EPS of $4.95. Profits, however, fell year over year. Net income for the three months ended in December fell sharply to $382 million, or $1.21 a share, from $1.2 billion, or $3.79 a share, in the same period a year earlier. >>>

Apple Beats Estimates

Yesterday, Apple reported strong first quarter results that were driven by strong Mac sales and better-than-expected iPod sales. After IBM’s results this week, it is now Apple’s turn to beat analyst estimates and its guidance of last quarter. As usual, its outlook was short of analysts’ estimates. >>>

eBay Worsening

Previous quarters’ doubts about eBay’s Q4 performance weren’t unfounded, as was evident in the company’s results announcement yesterday. eBay’s CEO, John Donahoe, called himself “frustrated” with the previous year’s user experience and search improvement initiatives failing to translate to much higher revenue and GMV growth. >>>

IBM’s Robust Performance Persists

Yesterday, IBM (NYSE: IBM), the world’s leading computer services provider, yet again reported strong earnings for its fourth quarter that beat analyst expectations. Amidst the gloomy market conditions, its upbeat outlook brought some cheer. >>>

A Sigh On January 20: Nortel’s Bankruptcy

On this historic day of President Obama’s inauguration, here is a sigh for the world economy.

The economic crisis claimed its first major victim in the technology sector when Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection on January 14 in the US and Canada. A leading supplier of networking solutions with annual revenue of $10.9 billion in 2007, Nortel had debt of $4.5 billion and was due to repay a $107 million interest debt on January 15. Nortel had $2.6 billion in cash but chose to file for bankruptcy protection. Let’s take a closer look at why. >>>

Intel Needs To Adjust With Pricing Trend

Many analysts believe that Intel is not only weathering the impact of a recession, but also battling the demand for “the same functionality for less price” phenomenon that is washing over the shores of the technology industry in every direction. I think there is a lot of truth to this, and it is a trend that will for sure impact Intel in a big way and will lead to significant restructuring and fat trimming. Let’s take a look.

On January 15, Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC), the world’s largest chip maker, reported a weak fourth quarter that met Street estimates. For the first time since 2000, Intel reported a sequential decline in the fourth quarter as a result of reduced demand for PCs and servers as well as inventory contraction across the supply chain. The one bright spot in the results was the 50% increase in sales of Intel’s new Atom processor. >>>

India Looks To Infosys To Salvage Reputation

The Indian IT industry is going through turbulent times with Satyam’s (the fourth-largest player in the country) CEO reporting a $1 billion fraud. The results announced by the largest player, Infosys Technologies (INFY), did manage to bring some respite to the market. Narayan Murthy must be ashamed of his compatriot, Ramalinga Raju for jeopardizing India’s reputation. >>>