The big news before the open of the market is that Apple’s board has complete confidence in Steve Jobs. The fact that he seemed to know about some miss-timed options grants notwithstanding. He will not be taken away in handcuffs with a raincoat over he head.Apple’s stock should run like a scalded dog at the open. It is up 4% in the pre-market.
Additionally, AT&T is making concessions to the FCC to try to get its BellSouth acquisitions approved. Standalone DSL and some pledge to not charge companies like Google for significant use of AT&T pipes seem to be the big peace offerings.
Exxon is going to court to try to get a decision to recind its leases in the North Slope’s Point Thomson oil and gas field overturned.
Marsh & McClennan is selling its Putnam mutual fund company to a firm in Canada.
Oil seems to be fairly steady, so driving over the holidays should be affordable.
Douglas A. McIntyre