New Money

Afternoon Buzz: Apple Fans, Analysts Freak Out

By Katy Marquardt

Posted: December 17, 2008

News that Steve Jobs wouldn't be delivering his annual keynote at the Macworld show sent shares of Apple's stock down 7 percent today. One analyst (Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster) thinks Jobs will soon be replaced. And Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner downgraded the stock today on concerns stemming from Jobs' pullout, to "perform" from "outperform." That follows downgrades by Goldman Sachs and Calyon Securities analysts earlier this week.

Here's Silicon Alley Insider's list of possible reasons Jobs is bowing out of his Stevenote (I prefer No. 3):

  1. Apple is just phasing out trade shows. 
  2. Apple wants to let other executives share the limelight. 
  3. Steve just wants to pop out of a cake or something and stun his adoring fans.
  4. Apple, Steve, and Macworld are having some sort of business dispute.
  5. Apple expected to have an exciting product or two to announce, but it has now realized that they won't be ready.
  6. Steve is sick.

Speaking of Mac, New York Governor David Paterson is pushing an iPod tax.

So...does the Fed rate cut mean you and I can get a zero-percent loan? In at least one case, yes, but it's no free lunch.

Which leads me to: LOLFed.

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New Money

Katy Marquardt, a senior editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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