Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Over the past fifteen years, both Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) have invested in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), while Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has also invested in itself. Here’s a look at how those investments worked out, with particular attention to stock buybacks, a panacea certain billionaire investors are prescribing for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). A decade ago, Steve Ballmer’s Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s demonstrated no faith in Steve Jobs’ ability to turn Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) around, effectively walking away from an $11.5 billion opportunity. However, in 1999, just as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was getting ready to bail out of its purported “bailout,” Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s board of directors authorized its executives to perform up to a $500 million stock buyback.
With Gmail Overhaul, Not All Mail Is Equal (WSJ)
For some retailers that rely on emailed promotions, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) -1.17% is adding insult to injury. When the search giant overhauled its free email service three months ago, it set up algorithms to automatically siphon the flow of airfare offers and spa deals away from users’ main inboxes and into an easily bypassed “Promotions” folder. But there is another wrinkle: For Gmail users that do visit those Promotions folders, the first items they see will often be ads sold by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). The ads are different from those that already appear inside users’ opened messages. Instead, they look like emails sitting in an inbox but are shaded yellow and feature informational “i” icons explaining their purpose.
Outages hit Microsoft’s Outlook.com, SkyDrive (FinancialExpress)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is trying to fix a technological breakdown that has cut off some people from their email accounts on Outlook.com and files stored on the company’s SkyDrive service. The Redmond, Washington, software maker says only a small number of people have been affected by an outage that began Wednesday morning. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s statement about the problem didn’t provide any further specifics. Even if only a small percentage of Outlook.com users are cut off, the trouble could be frustrating millions of people. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) boasts it has more than 400 million accounts on Outlook.com.
RBC Capital lifts Apple price target estimate to USD525 (IVCPost)
“There has been increased talk about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) possibly doing a larger buyback, given low bond yields and attractive share price. Recent comments by Mr. [Carl Icahn] have increased the level of investor discussion on this topic. It will be interesting to see what Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) eventually does as this isn’t the first time an activist has asked for a change in capital allocation,” the analysts stated. Moreover, they said iPhone 5S and 5C’s mid-September launch would drive the stock prices higher. In September 2012, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) hit a record of USD702. Also, in an interview with Reuters, Carl Icahn said the shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could reach USD700 again given that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would carry out a USD150 billion share buyback program. However, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stocks have fallen by 30% year to date.
Google Leases New Building in Mountain View (NBCBayArea)
It’s not a done deal yet, but Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is apparently ready to take over the former Mayfield Mall site in Mountain View. The 500,000-square-foot San Antonio Station complex is already being renovated, and the building permit lists Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) as the company that leased the land, NBC Bay Area has learned. If and when Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) finalizes the deal, it would be the largest lease deal of the year in Silicon Valley. What Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) would do with all that space is a matter of speculation. Theories range from general office space to research and development.
Sticking with Apple, Facebook amid troubles (CNBC)
Microsoft Antitrust Case Judge Assigned On American Airline Merger Lawsuit As Well (Skift)
The federal judge assigned to hear a lawsuit to block the latest U.S. airline mega-merger began her career as a prosecutor, oversaw the resolution of the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) antitrust case and for years presided over a secret surveillance court. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly was described by lawyers on Wednesday as a thorough, experienced jurist likely to weigh equally the views of the Justice Department and the two companies that want to create the world’s biggest airline.
Apple faces possible May 2014 trial on e-book damages (IBNLive)
The federal judge who ruled that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) violated antitrust law by conspiring with five major publishers to raise prices of e-books has scheduled a May 2014 trial to determine damages, according to an order made public on Wednesday. Absent an earlier resolution, US District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan would be expected at the trial to consider whether Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) should pay damages that could reach hundreds of millions of dollars. Last month, Cote sided with the federal government and 33 U.S. states and territories in concluding that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) conspired with the publishers to undermine pricing by rivals including Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), which dominates the market for electronic books.
Google Says Android User Data MDL Still Lacks Viable Claims (Law360)
The trimmed-down allegations in multidistrict litigation accusing Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) of collecting and sharing user data without consent through its Android mobile operating system still do not establish standing or plead viable causes of action, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) told a California federal judge Wednesday. Urging U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White to toss a second amended consolidated class action complaint, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) said the plaintiffs had failed to show that any of their alleged injuries — including drainage of batteries in their mobile devices or diminished value of their personal…
