Filed under: After the bell, Deals, Intel (INTC)

VISICU, Inc. (NASDAQ: EICU): Philips Electronics is buying the company. The stock moved up to $11.76 from a 52-week low of $6.57.

Canadian Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ): Thanks to a big rally in renewable energy stocks, shares are up to $27.15 from a 52-week low of $6.50.

EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ: EMKR): This company is buying a piece of Intel Coporation (NASDAQ: INTC)’s telecom assets. It traded up to $14.11 from 52-week low of $3.84.

Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES): The market is still bullish on oil prices and Hess moved to $90.57 from 52-week low of $45.96.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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Filed under: Deals, Industry, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Circuit City Stores (CC)

With the last full shopping week before Christmas well underway, retail analysts are scrutinizing each sale at many national retailers to see how consumer spending is shaping up this holiday season amid recession fears that drove the stock market down a pretty decent chunk yesterday. Consumer electronics giant Circuit City (NYSE: CC) is set to report earnings come this Friday in what is expected to be another disastrous quarter for the retailer. Will this follow through to other retailers due to a soft holiday shopping season? With more massive competitor Ideal Buy (NYSE: BBY) reporting Q3 numbers today, we might have quite a contrast in results come this end of this week — or not.

Even though November retail numbers were better than expected due to the full week of holiday shopping after the Black Friday shopping day, that kind of result should not be expected in December. Marshal Cohen of research firm NPD Group said that “while the November numbers make it look merry, some challenges lie ahead. Discounts work to some degree, but retailers still need generate excitement … and there’s still a lack of new products.” Enough stated? But I love this quote from Britt Beemer of the Americas Research Group: “I have to conclude that retailers don’t try to comprehend today’s consumer as they focus on Wall Street and their share value.” I concur 100% from my end.

So, what will December retail holiday sales bring? A string of disappointments to add more fuel to consumer spending fears and an upcoming recession, or a mild reaction from Wall Street when the smoke clears on December 26th? If you own retail stocks now, be watching for results next week — and you may not want to keep tabs on your portfolio at the same time unless you have a large stomach.

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Filed under: Deals, Aon Corp (AOC)

Aon (NYSE: AOC) thinks that risk brokerage and consulting has the best future, in terms of margins and growth.

To that end, the company announced Monday that it is selling off its underwriting businesses. Combined Insurance Company was sold for $2.4 billion to ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), while Munich Re bought Aon’s Sterling Life segment for $352 million.

Yes, even in the huge insurance business, this is a good chunk of change for Aon.

So where will the cash go? Part of it will be for stock buybacks (the authorized buyback has gone from $2.6 billion to $2.78 billion) - and perhaps even dividends. However, Aon might want to make some acquisitions as well.

All in all, Aon’s divestitures make a lot of sense, and were expected on the Street. Simply put, the global insurance business requires scale and focus, which was tough for Aon to provide.

In today’s trading, Aon’s stock was up about 1% to $49.40.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates DealProfiles.com.

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Filed under: Forecasts, Deals, Consumer experience, Apple Inc (AAPL), iPhone, Japan, Technology

In some ways, Wall Street should be surprised that it did not happen sooner. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is speaking to cellular carriers about launching the iPhone in Japan. In the country that created the Walkman and PlayStation, it would seem only logical that a tech gadget like the iPhone would be a massive success.

Japan is known for its obsession with cellphones. It is a massive market for text applications and ringtones.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Apple is in talks with NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM), the largest carrier in Japan, and Softbank. The Japanese market has “nearly 100 million mobile-phone users who buy new phones each two years on average. Japanese consumers are also already used to shelling out hundreds of dollars for expensive phones with advanced capabilities such as digital TV, camera and music,” according to the paper.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that Apple could sell 5 million iPhones in Japan within a year or two of the launch. If deals in the U.S. and Europe are any indication, the huge U.S. consumer electronics company could get as much as $400 for each handset and a piece of the calling plan revenue from its local carrier.

The biggest drawback to the current iPhone, especially in a market like Japan, is that it isn’t a 3G device and can’t take advantage of the fastest networks yet. Rumors are that a 3G iPhone will debut in the first half of 2008.

If Jobs & Co. have made any real mistake in launching the iPhone, it is that it is too slow to take advantage of many of the wireless world’s most advanced, high-speed technologies. In Japan, it will be a must.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com

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