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Apple, Google about to join Dow Jones stock index?

Apple and Google could soon see themselves in the Dow Jones Industrial Average -- perhaps at the expense of a tech pioneer.

The stock index is due for a makeover and the two tech titans wield a lot of influence in financial markets, investment newspaper Barrons reported today (subscription required). The companies "represent major shifts in the global business landscape" in ways that the venerable Hewlett-Packard, Bank of America, and Alcoa do not, Barron's said.

"The guardians of the Dow need to ensure that this benchmark, created in the 19th century, stays relevant for a 21st … Read more

Apple shares close above $600 again

Apple's share price got a nice bounce today.

Putting an end to the downward skid of the last couple of weeks, the stock -- which had been red hot from late December to early April -- closed at an even $610, up just under 9 percent for the day.

Shares in Apple began their rebound on the Nasdaq first thing this morning following yesterday's scintillating earnings news. From the opening bell, the stock soared past the $600 mark, trending up a good 10 percent or so to about $616 in early trading.

In the days leading up to … Read more

The 404 1,040: Where we've got 404 in your cup (podcast)

Aunt Jill is on the show once again, back by popular demand to tell us more about Apple's massive earnings that blew past our initial profit forecast.

She'll also update us on her LinkedIn privacy fiasco and answer more questions from our listeners -- this week's advice includes what to do with extra savings, tips to reduce interest on school loans, how to use 401(k) rollover at a new job, and more.

We tried to answer everyone's questions today, but be sure to follow Jill Schlesinger on Twitter if you think of another. If not, Jill will be back on the show in two weeks, so get ready!… Read more

Apple shares on the rise again

That skid in Apple's share price over the last couple of weeks? Not to worry.

Shares in Apple are on the rebound this morning following yesterday's scintillating earnings news. In the first hour of trading on the Nasdaq this morning, shares have again soared past the $600 mark, trending up 9 percent or so to about $612.

In the days leading up to this week, Apple's stock had dropped more than 13 percent from a high of $644. It was only on March 19 of this year that the company's shares had closed above $600 for … Read more

Apple shares down over last few days; time to sound the alarm?

Apple's shares have been down over the last few days, prompting some to express concern over the company's financial performance.

The Wall Street Journal last night wrote a report on Apple's shares, saying that the iPhone maker's stock is "showing signs of faltering, threatening to drag much of the market down with it."

Apple's shares were down 4.1 percent yesterday, closing down to $580.13 from their open of $610.06. Over the last five days of trading, Apple's stock is down $53.55, or 8.45 percent. The company's … Read more

Stock split keeps Google's destiny in hands of co-founders

Since Google went public in 2004, co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have been wedded to the idea that management ought to be able to decide what's right for the company without needing to sacrifice future opportunities to satisfy near-term demands from Wall Street.

That philosophy was on display as Google disclosed plans for a 2 for 1 split, which would still preserve their control over the company with the issuance of a new class of non-voting capital stock.

In a note published along with the company's Q2 earnings,Page and Brin returned to that theme, cautioning that … Read more

Google co-founders explain company's first stock split

After announcing its first-quarter earnings this afternoon, Google disclosed plans to issue what it described as "a new class of non-voting capital stock." In other words, a stock split. Here's more about the company's earnings results. The text of the 2012 Founders' Letter from co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin announcing the stock split follows:

Introduction Throughout our evolution, from privately held start-up to large, publicly listed company, we have managed Google for the long term--enjoying tremendous success as a result, especially since our IPO in 2004. Sergey and I hoped, though we did not expect, … Read more

The 404 1,030: Where bubble is a bad word (podcast)

Aunt Jill Schlesinger of CBS Moneywatch and Jill on Money is back in the studio today answering all your financial questions and helping us make sense of Facebook's $1 billion purchase of Instagram.

She also gets heated with another social network -- LinkedIn. We'll collectively discover the perils of stalking your ex-coworkers on the site and why an active profile on LinkedIn is kind of like cheating on your current employer.… Read more

Despite iPad production issues, analyst sees Apple soaring

Despite one analyst yesterday predicting possible trouble for Apple, others see blue skies.

The iPad will keep helping improve Apple's financial position, Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu wrote to investors today. Wu ultimately sees the stock surging to $750 a share within the next 12 months.

Apple is currently trading around $634.

"What we are picking up are strong follow-up demand trends for the new iPad despite a very strong start of 3 million units sold in the first few days," Wu wrote to investors today. "We believe this is likely because the new iPad is … Read more

Apple's market cap tops $600 billion

Apple's market capitalization crossed the $600 billion mark earlier today, setting a record for the company and nearing that of one of its biggest rivals.

Shares of the company's stock reached $644 in intraday trading. Per Dow Jones, the stock needs to close above $643.52 to reach the magic $600 billion number.

Market capitalization is defined as the value of shares times the number of shares outstanding. Apple passed previous market cap champ Exxon on that metric last year, and is now nearing the $619 billion market cap record set by rival Microsoft on December 30, 1999. … Read more