Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : Microforum (MCF:TSE) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Walker who wrote (191)	12/30/1998 1:32:00 PM
From: Link Lady	Respond to of 3896

Thought I'd add this here. canoe.com Web stocks to fall, spur consolidation, firm says NEW YORK (Reuters) - The era of gravity-defying Internet stock valuations will come to an end in 1999, information technology research firm International Data Corp. said Wednesday. The correction will create winners and losers in the Internet market, intensifying competitive pressure and drive companies to consolidate, IDC said in its fourth annual report of Internet predictions. Frank Gens, IDC's senior vice president of Internet research, thinks likely mergers could include leading Web portal Yahoo!Inc. joining media companies such as Time Warner Inc. or CBS Corp. As recently as July, Time Warner Chairman Gerald Levin said the company had no interest in buying Internet companies such as Yahoo!, while a CBS spokesman said the company does not comment on speculation. Online broker E+Trade Group Inc. could sell out to a large financial firm such as Citigroup Inc. or Wells Fargo & Co., Gens said, and software giant Microsoft Corp. may buy a major Web portal. Representatives of E+Trade and Microsoft were not immediately available to comment. The Internet will also change dramatically in the way it affects day-to-day life, IDC said. The firm predicts that many retailers will provide Web access through kiosks in their stores, while live salesmen will be available on retail Web sites. "Not having an Internet presence and an Internet commerce strategy is a recipe for market share loss," Gens said. "In the U.S. market, starting in 1999, the virtual market is reality." The firm sees PC prices dropping to the $400 range and appearing in over half of U.S. households, Internet use jumping to 147 million users and Internet commerce more than doubling to $68 billion. Internet demographics will change in 1999, IDC said, as women break through the 50 percent market and more than half of Internet users will for the first time live outside the United States.