The News Issue Week Day

RICH AMERICA, POOR AMERICA The split nature of today's economy has been great for stock like Coach, tough for ones like Wal-Mart. Why that won't change much, even as the Democrats gain clout in Washington. he New IBM

Big Blue's shareholders have been blue for the past few years. But the tech giant has a new strategy, focused on software. Best of all, it's working.

Randall Forsyth The buck may be real loser in Iraq ...

Review&Preview A vote keeps ASMI intact. Going more nuclear ...

Storming Ahead, After run-up, a few insurers look good ...and Direct TV

Smooth Style Polo stock will stay in fashion ...

Follow the Leaders Copying smart stockpickers is one way to build a best-ideas portfolio, and it saves on management fees. A look at Oracle, Sears, AutoZone,Wendy's and other top holding of five closely watched hedge funds ...

Coming Spinoff Duke Energy's powerful idea ...

The New Big Blue Cover Story: IBM investors may soon be smiling like CEO Palmisano, as Wall Street comes to realize that Big Blue's reinvention as a software giant gives it a steadier, more profitable business with plenty of potential for further improvement ...

Spreading Joy The four rules of good giving ...

Technology Trader Microsoft stock could be ready for takeoff, now that new version of Vista and office have launched ...

13 Great Gadgets Our pick for sleek and sophisticated gadget gifts include Sony TAV-L1 all-in-one home theater, a digital SLR camera, Logitech's Harmony 1000 universal remote ...

Friday

Preview 1


Wednesday 25
The Federal Open Market Committe concludes a two day meeting. It's expected to keep the fed-funds rate at 5.25%.



Monday 23

The Treasury Department con­ ducts an auction of $7 billion of re-opened Treasury Inflation Protection Securities, or TIPS.

Former Enron Chief Executive Of­ ficer Jeffrey Skilling faces sen­ tencing on 19 counts of fraud, con­ spiracy, insider trading and lying to auditors for his role in the 2001 collapse of the energy trad­ ing company. His boss, Ken Lay, had his convictions expunged due to his death.

Tuesday 24

The Federal Open Market Com­ mittee, the policy-making arm of the Federal Reserve, begins a two-day meeting to discuss inter­ est rates and the economy.

The Treasury sells $20 billion of two-year notes.

European Union Mfairs Minis­ terEmma Bonino and World Trade Organization head Pascal Lamy hold a news conference in Rome.




The Muslim holiday of Eid al-fitr, depending upon the appearance of the new moon, ends the fast­ ing month of Ramadan.

Belgrade hosts an international book fair.

Wednesday 25

A fresh look at the slumping housing market \"ith a report on existing-home sales in Septem­ ber is expectd.

The Treasury sells $14 billion of fiye-year notes.

The NASA Stereo twin spacecraft, which will study the sun, are scheduled to be launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Thursday 26

The parade of corporate earn­ ings reports continues, with NIl Holdings (formerly Nexte1) ex­ pected by analysts to announce third-quarter net 41 cents a share.

The government releases orders for durable goods in Septem­ ber.

The latest data on new-home sales will be disclosed.

New York Fed President Timothy Geithner speaks about central banking in the global economy at a conference on the Japanese economy at Columbia Business School Center.

A World Trade Organization group is expected to approve a draft treaty allowing Vietnam's entry.

The New York Society of Security Analysts hosts its 13th annual Fi­ nancial Reporting Conference.

Ocean Tomo hosts its Fall 2006 Live Intellectual Property Auce tion at Capitalein New York

City, including Jimi Hendrix properties.

Friday 27

The Commerce Department re­ ports on third-quarter gross do" mestic product.

The University of Michigan re" leases its latest reading on con­ sumer sentiment.

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China's $19 billion initial pub­ lic offering of shares begin trad­ ing in Hong Kong and- Shanghai. The IPO is the largest ever, ac­ cording to market-data provider Dealogic.

Minneapolis Fed President Gary Stern gives a luncheon address at the 43rd annual meeting of the Missouri Valley Economic Associ­ ation.

The Wharton School of the Uni­ versity of Pennsylvania hosts its 9th annual Wharton Investment Management Conference in Phila. delphia.

Saturday 28

The Museum of American Fi­ nance sponsors a walking tour of Wall Street's history on the anniversary of the stock market crash of 1929. It will meets at 1 p.m. at the museum's gallery, 28 Broadway, New York City. $15 per person; $10 students/senior citizens.

Sunday 29

Fall back: DaYlight Sa\ing8 Time ends. Clocks get 8et back by one hour.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio cla Silva faces Geralc10 AlckIl-2l in a presidential election run-off.

Complete Archive Desember 2006

The New Cisco As technologies like Internet video take off, Cisco Systems, the king of computer networking, will be among the biggest winners. Why its shares could rally another 15%.

Survivor! GOP Will Hang On Despite a profusion of predictions to the contrary, the Republicans will keep control of Congress through just barely. So says our highly reliable seat by seat analysis of local political funding.

The New IBM Big Blue's shareholders have been blue for the past few years. But the tech giant has a new strategy, focused on software. Best of all, it's working.