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. Strangers with Kandi
The week got off to a revved-up start for Kandi Technologies Group (KNDI -3.70%) investors, with the stock soaring 27% on Monday. The Chinese maker of electric vehicles announced that its joint venture with Geely Automobile resulted in the sale of 4,114 of the venture's Kandi-brand electric vehicles during the second quarter. It was a 238% sequential spike from the 1,215 electric cars that it sold during the first three months of the year. Kandi did reveal several months ago that it was being investigated by the SEC, but at least its current fundamentals are coming along nicely.
China's been aggressively promoting the use of electric vehicles to help tackle its notorious smog issues. At the end of next month it will be waiving the 10% sales tax it charges on the sale of electric vehicles. Kandi's faring well now with its role in group leasing and auto-sharing plans, but things may get interesting come September when there's a bigger incentive in the world's most populous nation to go electric.
2. LinkedIn makes a new connection
LinkedIn (LNKD.DL) is acquiring Newsle, a service that takes contacts from leading social-networking and social-media sites and scans the Internet for Web mentions. It may be a simple purchase, but it's easy to see how it can make LinkedIn stickier than it is in its current form.
Armed with the ability to expand Newsle's platform, LinkedIn will have more reasons to reach out to its growing yet often passive user base to offer up relevant nuggets on user connections. Getting to know connections a little better may actually make LinkedIn more of the social-networking website that it needs to be if it wants to grow.
3. Tesla goes for three
We finally have a name for Tesla Motors' (TSLA 5.34%) next car. Elon Musk told Auto Express that a dispute over ownership of the Model E name that it wanted to use led Tesla to go with Model 3 -- or Model III -- for its new car after the Model X rollout.
Tesla's Model III will be a lot cheaper than the Model S sedan and Model X crossover. It should hit the market by 2017.
4. Sirius XM's $6 bilion plan
There are a lot of shares outstanding at Sirius XM Radio (SIRI), and the company is doing something about it. The satellite radio provider's board has authorized another $2 billion in share buybacks, making this $6 billion in authorizations since late 2012.
Sirius XM had already worked through more than half of its first $4 billion as of three months ago, making this a good time to have the freedom to continue eating its own cooking. Naturally, gnawing away at its share count makes profitability more attractive on a per-share basis.
5. Foolish mortals
Making the most of its multimedia synergy again, Disney (DIS 0.20%) is creating an animated TV special based on its popular Haunted Mansion attraction that will air on Disney Channel and Disney XD.
Disney is no stranger to turning its rides into filmed entertainment properties. Country Bear Jamboree, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean have spawned live-action movies. Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror became a made-for-TV movie. Returning to Haunted Mansion -- this time going the animated route with horror genre artist Gris Grimly and some of the creative forces behind Disney's Phineas and Ferb cartoon show -- should pay off with more publicity for its theme parks and hype for the special itself.