8 posts and columns on financial services

Report Finds That Mobile Payments Are Coming This Year, but It Will Be Messy

in Commerce on April 6, 2011 at 11:11 am PT

This year will finally be the year when mobile payments make it into the hands of millions of consumers, according to a new report by Forrester. And mass-market adoption? Still a long way off.

Ad Sales, Pay Walls, and Absolutely Nothing About iPads at the New York Times Earnings Call

in Media on February 10, 2010 at 8:01 am PT

The New York Times said things got better–or, if you like, no worse–during the last quarter of 2009. But investors are disappointed that the publisher isn’t more optimistic about 2010, and they’re pushing shares down this morning. Let’s see if the paper’s executives can turn that around during their earnings call.

So Much for Those Better-Than-Expected HP Earnings [UPDATED]

in News on May 19, 2009 at 2:13 pm PT

Hewlett-Packard’s second-quarter financials may have been in line with forecasts, but they were troubling nonetheless. A number of analysts predicted that the company might report better-than-expected earnings. Sadly, it did not.
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Why Portfolio’s Peers Shouldn’t Be Celebrating

in Media on April 28, 2009 at 9:17 am PT

While the chattering classes continue to pick over Portfolio’s bones, it’s worth checking in on the business titles Condé Nast was targeting with its ill-fated magazine. In short: None of them are suffering from a Portfolio-like swoon, but they’re all in lousy shape. And while we’re at it, let’s dispense with the story that Condé Nast burned $100 million or more on this one.
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Health Care: For Oracle, an Acquiring Taste

in News on March 23, 2009 at 1:30 pm PT

Oracle’s ongoing pursuit of vertical markets has served it well, particularly in these recessionary times–as its latest earnings prove. No surprise then to see the company bolstering its presence in the health care market with yet another acquisition–its 50th since 2005.

Voices

Sun Micro: Goldman Downgrades to Sell; Stock Slides

in News on January 8, 2009 at 5:45 am PT

Goldman Sachs analyst David Bailey cut his target price for Sun Microsystems from $5 to $3, putting the company’s stock under some pressure this morning. His reason? Sun’s services are heavily concentrated in telecom and financial services, putting it at a disadvantage compared to its more diversified competitors, weakening its position during the economic downturn.

Newest Unpleasant Ad Numbers: Mortgage Ads Down 62 Percent

in Media on December 2, 2008 at 9:18 am PT

It’s no surprise that financial advertising has slowed down in the first three quarters of 2008. The surprise is that it’s only been a 10 percent reduction, according to Nielsen. But next year will be worse, of course.

Voices

Will Display Ad Slowdown Crimp Yahoo and AOL?

in News on July 17, 2008 at 2:30 pm PT

Earlier today, Valueclick (VCLK) warned that results for the second quarter as well as the rest of the year will be below previous expectations, putting at least part of the blame on a slowdown in online display advertising. That raises some serious questions for other companies with significant exposure to online display ads, in particular Yahoo (YHOO) and Time Warner’s (TWX) AOL unit.