News Corp.: Conan’s Not Coming to Fox Just Yet; Amazon’s Ready to Bend on E-Book Pricing

Amazon caved to Macmillan’s demands on e-book pricing, and now the online retailer is set to give News Corp.’s HarperCollins a new deal too, says Rupert Murdoch. Meanwhile, don’t hold your breath waiting for Conan O’Brien on Fox.

New From Google Labs: Google Plutocrat

The broader advertising recovery may take time, but search advertising is clearly beating a hasty path back toward normalcy. Or it is in Google’s case anyway. Reporting third-quarter results after market close Thursday, the search giant posted revenue of $5.94 billion, an increase of seven percent compared to the third quarter of 2008.
sergeymoneydive

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Venture Firms Making Bets on Forex Start-Ups

Foreign exchange trading has grown rapidly in popularity among individual investors in this last decade, and that opportunity has not been lost on venture capitalists who have put their money behind the trend.

Amazon Delivers: Revenue, Earnings in Line, Bezos MIA for Conference Call

Amazon’s Q2 was just what Wall Street was expecting–which in Wall Street’s perverse logic means that Wall Street will be disappointed. Amazon delivered net sales of $4.65 billion and earnings of 32 cents per share; consensus called for $4.67 billion and 32 cents. Jeff Bezos might have been able to allay investors’ worries, but he was a no-show for the conference call.
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Research in Slow Motion

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Software: UBS Downgrades Adobe, Intuit, Siebel, Symantec

Citing concerns about the softening macro economy and ongoing market volatility, UBS software analyst Heather Bellini cautioned this morning that estimates for the sector “need to come down materially” for the second half and for 2009.

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Comverse Plunges as Business Slows, Filings Delayed

Shares of telecom software provider Comverse Technology are plunging today, down over 20 percent, or $3.42, at $13.50, after the company last night filed a form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission that indicates business is slowing.