Why Microsoft Wants Minecraft

Microsoft is seeking to buy electronic game maker Mojang for two billion dollars.Mojang,based in Stockholm,Sweden,makes the wildly popular Minecraft game.It is described as being a sandbox game,in which players create their own projects with the available material-in this case,virtual building blocks.*
Acquiring this online Lego-type diversion would snag a popular game they can couple with their Xbox gaming console franchise.It is a play for younger consumers and lends the firm the cool factor.The indie game studio Mojang has come up with an addictive product in Minecraft,and many others would like to list it among their assets.*
Minecraft is currently the second most popular console game and part of a more lucrative entertainment business than cinema or books.With no rules to follow,Minecraft is an adventure that is up to the players.They can build whatever they like 24/7.It is available in a PC/Mac version that has sold well over 16 million units so far;on Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3 as well.It may also be purchased in the Pocket Edition for iOS and Android devices.*
Microsoft(MSFT),Sony(SNY)

What to Buy:JC Penney;Amazon;Throwback Tech

CNBC host Jim Cramer has been handing out JC Penney gift cards to his coworkers.You can get a lot of really high quality merchandise at JC Penney-a shirt and tie combo,Cramer says.The stores look great.Give me JC Penney.Memorial Day,JC Penney's gonna be crowded.*
I like throwback tech.I like Cisco and I like Apple.I just think Apple is an inexpensive stock.*
The trade is,when the economy is slowing,you buy the consumer packaged goods,because they're not gonna miss the quarter;but people have to be very careful with that kind of trading,because the market's heading down right now.I find that things aren't as great as I'd like,but that's not the material of a recession.The 18-35s are still living at home with their parents at a record level,and that's something people forget about.*
Amazon has invested 20 million in China's food delivery site YUMMY77.They're learning from the hard lessons they learned in the past about competing in China with Amazon China,adds analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray.They're struggling in China.This seems to be striking the right balance.Let Amazon in Seattle do what they do best:focus on Western Europe and the US.I think its a phenomenal stock to own with a five year perspective.*
Microsoft can get things right,Cramer continued;there's no law written that Microsoft must get things wrong.Microsoft makes Xbox,the most popular gaming system.*
Google is the top global brand,according to a new study.They have pulled away from everyone.My charitable trust owns it,though it's been a tough stock to own the past couple of months.*
As for McDonald's,people want to buy things that are down with a good yield.The Europeans are fleeing their bond market and coming here.What's going on is global,the author and master investor Jim Cramer pointed out.
JC Penney(JCP),Amazon(AMZN),Microsoft(MSFT),Google(GOOG),Cisco(CSCO)

Microsoft's Era of Change

Microsoft is buying Nokia's devices and services unit for 7.1 billion dollars to accelerate the growth of their mobile business.The deal includes 10 years of access to relevant patents.
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop,who formerly worked at Microsoft,will return there-presumably to replace the retiring Steve Ballmer as CEO-and 32,000 other Nokia workers will be transferring to Microsoft as well.*
Ballmer and Microsoft have been laggards,said Matthew McCormick,portfolio manager at Bahl and Gaynor Investment Counsel.Ballmer's departure opens up so many doors.You're gonna see some capital return to shareholders,some new thought and leadership.We think there's gonna be more unlocking of value throughout the tech sector.
They need someone from the outside.They need to make a move.We have high expectations Microsoft is gonna do something big.
The tech sector has the best opportunity for growth going forward,and dividend growth.*
It's about accelerating our share position,to further accelerate our position with Windows phone,Mr.Ballmer said.Our partners in Windows phone have been nothing but enthusiastic.We're certainly focused on being a devices and services company.
Nokia accounts for over 80% of the Windows phone volume today.Its hardware,enterprise and distribution staff is truly world class.It's a big transformation,but that's how you have to be in the tech business,Mr.Ballmer noted.
Microsoft(MSFT)

Qualcomm Posts Global Profits

One of the biggest success stories in the telecom space,Qualcomm has added 38 billion dollars in market value,posting 5.6 billion dollars in profits in the last year.Its vision is to power mobile phones and tablets with Qualcomm chips.The company is spending much on innovation.
CEO Paul Jacobs says Qualcomm's customers want micrographics technology.They want a lot of bandwidth.Qualcomm is getting to innovate in a lot of different areas for them.
Qualcomm is the single chip supplier to Windows mobile phones.The sales of its Snapdragon chip set have really taken off.Microsoft will use the Snapdragon chips in devices running its new Windows 8 platform.
Windows 8 is to be compatible with tablet PCs.It is the biggest upgrade since Windows 95,Qualcomm's partner Microsoft announced.
Based in San Diego,California,Qualcomm has 159 offices worldwide,including a major commitment in Asia.From Manila to Mexico,the company strives to assist the underserved wherever it does business,improving lives through connectivity.
Founded in 1985,Qualcomm is one of Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies To Work For.
Qualcomm(QCOM)

Microsoft Sticks With China

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said it's clear the company is gonna operate in China.China ought to be a source of growth.Intellectual property protection is very bad there,however;it is abysmal.It's got to change.China has laws on the book,but it's important that they be enforced.If we're gonna create jobs in the U.S.,we're gonna have to export our ideas to China.
Cyber attacks won't be stopping Microsoft.Cyber attacks and occasional vulnerabilities are a fact of life,Mr.Ballmer observed.Microsoft has a whole group of people that respond to them in real time.
Microsoft sees business conditions as still being relatively flat.Fifty percent of capital expenditure goes into IT.There's been a little bit of a rebound in the consumer front.There are glimmers of hope in B2B,but it's still tough,the Microsoft executive noted.

Microsoft and Yahoo

Microsoft(MSFT) remains determined to acquire Yahoo(YHOO).The two firms met this week to discuss the matter,but no agreement was reached.Some investors may nonetheless be buying Yahoo shares in hopes of profiting from what they see as the inevitable achievement of Microsoft's ambition.