Tech Stocks Get Past Dell
Robert Holmes

Tech stocks firmed early Friday as weakening oil prices helped
investors shake off soft revenue guidance from Dell.


Dell Stays a Downer
Alexei Oreskovic

Following a Halloween profit warning, Dell delivered its expected 39
cents a share in third-quarter earnings before items, but its
fourth-quarter estimate raised questions about the company's long-term
growth rate. The world's No. 1 computer maker projected sales of $14.6
billion to $15 billion for the final quarter of the year, with
earnings between 40 cents and 42 cents a share. Analysts polled by
Thomson First Call had expected $14.98 billion in revenue with
earnings of 42 cents a share.


Abercrombie Weathers the Storm
Nat Worden

Investors wary of getting burned again by Abercrombie & Fitch when it
reports earnings next week could be missing the big picture on this
best-in-breed retailer. The short- term ups and downs of the teen
fashion industry have not always been kind to the stock, as evidenced
by its performance in recent months. But a long-run look at the
company's history reveals a consistent performer, a durable brand and
lots of room to grow.


All Clear on the Bernanke Front
Tracy Byrnes

If Alan Greenspan thought he was the Chosen One, then his successor
Ben Bernanke hopes to be Everyman. The soon-to- be Federal Reserve
chairman wants us to relate to him. His mission is to reach the
average American, and he has made it very clear that when he takes
over as chairman on Feb. 1, we can expect more transparency in his
federal policy making. Does that mean a stock market crash by
Valentine's Day? Hardly. Just because his policy making will be
transparent doesn't necessarily mean it will be any different.

The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street
Colin Barr

Looks like Guidant blew a fuse this week. The maker of devices for
treating heart ailments sued Johnson & Johnson on Monday in a bid to
resuscitate their fallen merger. J&J says it isn't obliged to close
the $25 billion deal because ballooning legal and regulatory problems
have dimmed Guidant's long-term outlook. In a suit filed in U.S.
District Court in the Southern District of New York,
Indianapolis-based Guidant demands "specific performance" of the Dec.
15, 2004, agreement.

Daily Investing Tip
Pairing Up for Profit

Catching the wave of a strongly trending market can take a lot of the
guesswork out of investing. But the fear of being left behind can lead
to decisions that lack a sound investment thesis. A rising tide may
indeed lift all boats, but over time, performance diverges as the
superior companies outperform the weaker ones. The basis for
successful investing is choosing the better stocks for the longer
haul, and the paired trade is one strategy that requires comparisons
and qualitative judgments between companies. -- Steve Smith,
TheStreet.com



Jeff Cooper
S&P Technically Set Up for Big Upside
The possibility of 1275 by year-end beckons.

Michael Comeau
Dear Mr. Chambers: Show Me the Money
With Cisco's glory days of growth behind it and the stock going
nowhere, a special dividend is in order.