Filed under: Before the bell, Deals, Rumors, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), Pfizer (PFE), Research in Motion (RIMM), Nortel Networks (NT), News Corp’B’ (NWS), Palm Inc (PALM), BHP Billiton Ltd ADR (BHP), Rio Tinto plc ADS (RTP)
A new study shows that Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)’s cancer drug Sutent may be linked to more instances of heart failure than previously thought. Some 15% of patients suffered heart failure when taking Sutent, according to results from a small study, a higher rate than the 8% previously recognized.
After already raising its offer for Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP), a senior executive on Wednesday said BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) would have to raise it “considerably” to lure the miner into talks from the latest offer of 3.4 BHP shares for each RTP share — a deal at worth around $147.4 billion.
While Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) co-CEO Jim Balsillie declined to give details about future product plans, he stated his company may bring out a touchscreen version of its BlackBerry if customers want it. Of course, this was in direct response to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone, which has won praise for its innovative touchscreen control. RIM would introduce devices based on HSDPA.
RIM customers experienced service disruption Monday and an early investigation indicated a problem caused by a current upgrade aimed to increase capacity.
MarketWatch interviewed Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) CEO Mike Zafirovski. He believes the emergence of new wireless fourth-generation communications technologies — 4G –such as WiMax and Long-Term Evolution will give it a unique chance to get an edge on rivals.
MarketWatch also interviewed Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) CEO Ed Colligan. He believes that with its Centro entry-level smart phone, Palm has the product it needs to penetrate the consumer market and conquer Europe. Centro, equipped with a full Qwerty keyboard and running the Palm operating system, is available with Sprint (NYSE: S) for $99 with a contract.
TechCrunch claims to have confirmed a rumor that News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) “are in the middle of marathon discussions.” TechCrunch has more details on the deal structure, which also includes a private equity fund. This is of course in response to Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)’s $44.6 billion unsolicited bid which Yahoo! has rejected.
Meanwhile, the pink slips have arrived at Yahoo! as it laid off more than 1,000 employees on Tuesday.
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