Under The Radar News

1. Apple (AAPL) is planning a push for iTunes tagging-ready, HD Radio-equipped boomboxes with iPod docks. An announcement is expected at MacWorld mid-January. iTunes tagging was announced in Sept.
2. Gmail (GOOG) code suggests the company may introduce a new feature that enables updates to contacts. The code suggests users will be able to delete updates they do not like, reply by email, and comment.
3. Motherboard makers say AMD's (AMD) RS780 chipset may have the upper hand against Nvidia's (NVDA) MCP 78 in the next IGP chipset battle
4. A boom in coal-to-chemicals conversion in China will likely have significant impact on global chemical companies like Celanese (CE), Dow Chemical (DOW), Anglo American (AAUK) and Praxair (PX).
5. The Taiwan Stock Exchange will sell about 25% of itself around the time of its IPO in 2009. Exchange VP Michael Lin named CME (CME), NYSE/Euronext (NYX) and Nasdaq (NDAQ) as potential investors.
6. Psychiatric drugs may be hit by reimbursement restrictions as comparative effectiveness data becomes more prevalent. Eli Lilly's (LLY) Zyprexa, AstraZeneca's (AZN) Seroquel and Pfizer's (PFE) Geodon could be affected, especially once a J&J (JNJ) patent on Risperdal expires in June.
7. Matria Healthcare (MATR) may be an attractive takeover target; the co. has received strategic interest. Pharmacies like CVS Caremark (CVS) and Walgreen (WAG), and supermarkets with pharmacies like Wal-Mart (WMT) and Pathmark (GAP) could be potential suitors. A banker says the firm could command a 35%-40% premium.
8. U.S. pension fund Calpers intensified its campaign against HSBC Holdings' (HBC) management by setting a six-month deadline for an outline of its plans to implement "radical change."
9. Expect increased competition between Microsoft (MSFT) and Adobe (ADBE), as both seek dominance in the Rich Internet Application [RIA] space. Analysts don't foresee other major competitors.
10. After years of double-digit growth, the global ring tone market appears to be shrinking. Players include News Corp.'s (NWS) Jamba and Microsoft-owned Musiwave (MSFT).
11. Australia's $6.6B purchase of 24 Super Hornet aircraft could be discarded. The Super Hornet aircraft is made by a team including Boeing (BA), Northrop Grumman (NOC), GE (GE) and Raytheon (RTN).
12. Intel (INTC) will launch an assault at the Consumer Electronics Show next week aimed to propel it into becoming a key provider of components for next-gen mobile internet devices. Analysts say it will make little progress.

Comments

[Long-ShortGuy]

What's iTunes tagging?