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. And the Emmy goes to...
There was speculation that Netflix (NFLX -9.09%) would pick up an Emmy nomination or two this week, but the leading video service wound up grabbing 12 nods for the annual television awards presentation.
House of Cards picked up nine nominations and Arrested Development locked up another three slots.
This is huge for Netflix. Naturally, it validates the streaming platform for producers. If there was ever a stigma in bypassing traditional broadcasting outlets in favor of striking an exclusive deal with Netflix, that will no longer exist.
Viewers will also be more likely to stick around, especially as more content producers flock to Netflix for exposure and artistic freedom.
2. Baidu's got an app for that
Companies potentially overpaying for acquisitions often get smacked down, but shares of Baidu (BIDU -0.56%) are moving higher after announcing a $1.9 billion deal for mobile apps marketplace giant 91 Wireless.
It's a smart move for China's leading search engine. Skeptics have been wondering how Baidu will hold up as desktop search -- where Baidu commands more than two-thirds of the country's queries -- gives way to mobile usage.
Baidu has been taking steps to become a bigger player in mobile, but it may not get any bigger than this as 91 Wireless has digitally delivered more than 10 billion smartphone apps across its exchanges.
3. Inteliquent design
Inteliquent (IQNT) is doing better than it thought.
The provider of wholesale voice services -- delivering roughly 10 billion minutes of traffic per month through its network -- moved higher after boosting its outlook.
Inteliquent now sees $215 million to $225 million in revenue for all of 2013, above its earlier outlook calling for no more than $210 million in revenue. To be fair, it was back in May when Inteliquent lowered its guidance that at the time was calling for as much as $250 million in revenue. We can't ignore that Inteliquent's new target is still well below where it was two months ago. However, its new adjusted EBITDA estimate is well ahead of where it was back then.
4. Green acres
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR.DL) makes the cut this week for two promising developments.
The company behind the Keurig single-cup brewer had investors buzzing early in the week after filing a trademark application for a maker of carbonated beverages. It remains to be seen if Green Mountain wants to enter the soda market or if it wants to give its brewers the ability to fizz up its iced beverages, but it should expand its turf if it does see the light of day.
Later in the week, Nielsen data showed that Keurig's share of the single-serve portion pack market widened with growth accelerating for Green Mountain. Analysts at Goldman Sachs and SunTrust issued encouraging notes on the findings.
5. Ronald isn't clowning around
McDonald's (MCD 0.37%) kicked off its four-week Monopoly-themed promotion on Tuesday.
The fast-good giant attracts diners during this annual campaign as folks collect game pieces depicting the Monopoly board game properties. Matched sets can be exchanged for prizes, though the burger giant offers plenty of instant winner pieces, too.
The reason that Mickey D's gets singled out is that it's doing this now. The Monopoly game at McDonald's has kicked off in late September during the past couple of years. At a time when store-level sales growth has been spotty, this is one way to make sure that comps through July and August remain positive.
Sure, it will have to address the shortfall come late September, but don't be surprised if that coincides with a seasonally early return of the McRib and other new menu items.
