If you're feeling good about the market, you're not alone. Take my hand as we go over some of this week's more uplifting headlines.
1. For whom the Dell tolls
Guess who's thinking outside of the box? Dell (Nasdaq: DELL ) is buying Perot Systems (NYSE: PER ) in a $3.9 billion deal.
The all-cash buyout is a sweet exit strategy for Perot investors, who'll cash in at a juicy 68% premium to the previous trading day's close. However, this is also a winning move for Dell, even if the shares originally headed lower on the news.
Dell is following in the footsteps of other hardware makers who have thrust themselves into the potentially lucrative business services market. This may seem like a lousy time to smoke out technology-driven service contracts through Perot given the soft corporate environment, but the deal also positions Dell to be fashionably early for the inevitable recovery.
It's a great deal, and combining the Rolodexes of Dell and Perot will open even more new doors. Well played, Dell.
2. Chrome wasn't built in a day
Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) is a hijacker. Google Chrome may command a tiny 2.8% sliver of the web browser market, but it has a plan to get bigger. Its new Google Chrome Frame is a brilliant plug-in for users of market leader Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT ) Internet Explorer.
Why would owners of a Mercedes Benz want a Mustang hood ornament? Well, Google Chrome Frame claims to speed up Internet Explorer and enhances surfing functionality in other ways.
This is a great way for Google to get its foot in the door. What's it's basically saying is that Chrome is the new and improved Internet Explorer. You've got to love that kind of moxie.
3. Charge it like a debutante
Investors are still hungry for fresh IPO meat. A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE ) was originally set to go public between $8 and $9.50 a share. Healthy demand propped up the offering to between $10 and $11.50 a share. It eventually priced at $13.50 a stub, and that still wasn't high enough. The stock began its publicly traded life at $17 yesterday.
A123 makes clean energy batteries. Its lithium-ion solution didn't make the cut in the hyped Chevy Volt, but its batteries will be featured in rival Chrysler's electric-drive vehicles.
The company has plenty to prove as it is presently not profitable, but the market's warming up to a true story stock is a welcome sight.
4. A million mandate march
Leave it to Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX ) to squeeze out three years of suspense and intrigue from techies in pursuit of a million-dollar prize. The DVD rental specialist finally named a winner to its Netflix Prize contest.
The challenge -- to improve Netflix's own recommendations engine algorithms -- was brilliant. The fact that it took a few years for teams of data geeks to substantially top Netflix is a testament to the site's ability to deliver timely picks based on subscriber viewing habits and personal flick ratings.
So what do you do when you have a blockbuster on your hands? Sequel, baby. Netflix is launching a second million-dollar competition. Let's hope it's more entertaining than Transformers 2.
5. Yahoo! lays it all on you
Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO ) is launching a new marketing campaign. The "it's you" mantra is admittedly hokey, but it does get the personalized-experience message across.
Yahoo! is finally cashing in on what it once called its "dormant social network" in its market-leading email platform. Users are now encouraged to post status updates and connect with other contacts. Yahoo! is also aiming to serve up useful information when someone visits its portal, and this is all about making Yahoo! and its properties stickier destinations.
It won't be easy. The company has a history of meandering stagnancy to overcome. However, it's trying at least. For Yahoo!, that's a start.
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