looks like ibm/hwp is having tough time, and server mrkt isHOT. some one's got to to be ripping of the maket w. server sales. wonder who?
Shares of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES slumped Thursday on
widespread rumors the computer maker could warn of a shortfall in
first- quarter results, but analysts dismissed the fears as normal
seasonal investor jitters ahead of the quarter's end. "The rumor
was that they were going to miss the quarter," Brown Bros.
Harriman analyst Bill Milton said. SoundView Technology Group
analyst Gary Helmig agreed. "There are some rumors that IBM is to
pre-announce," he said. IBM spokesman Rob Wilson declined to
comment on the rumors. IBM stock traded down more than $5 during
the day Thursday, but battled back in late afternoon trading to
close at $175.56, down $1.50 on the day. IBM's losses were cloaked
by strong gains in the broader stock market. (Reuters 07:30 PM ET
* Morgan Stanley said that it lowered its price target on IBM CORP
to $195 a share from $210. Maintained its outperform rating on the
stock. (Reuters 02:40 PM ET 03/19/99)
* IBM CORP stock dropped sharply in mid-afternoon trading Friday,
after a brokerage analyst cut his price target on the stock amid
heightened fears that the computer maker's 1Q revenues could fall
short. IBM, which has been hit for two days by rumors that its
results for the current quarter would prove disappointing when it
reports next month, tumbled still further after Morgan Stanley
analyst Thomas Kraemer cut his price target on IBM. In addition,
Lehman analyst George Elling remarked early Friday that March
quarter results at IBM, and HEWLETT PACKARD CO, would "be a
challenge from a revenue perspective." But SoundView Technology
Group analyst Gary Helmig argued that IBM's stock decline was
closely tied to the market-wide expiration of options and futures
contracts, not specific fears about IBM business fundamentals.
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