STOCKS TO WATCH: Agilent, Appiant and Wink Communications
Expect the following technology stocks to be among Monday's most actively traded issues: Agilent, Appiant Technologies and Wink Communications.
Agilent will be active Monday after announcing it has purchased the intellectual property and selected assets of Wavefront Research to extend its capabilities in fiber optics. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In its prepared release, Agilent executives said the acquisition would give it time-to-market advantages in its fiber-optic component offerings. The acquisition is part of Agilent's strategy of investing in the fiber-optic communications area.
Wavefront is a five-engineer, research and development company that develops novel optical systems and technologies.
Agilent shares closed off 10 cents to $34.75 ahead of Friday's announcement.
The software developer will be worth watching Monday after announcing it will lay off 20 percent of its work force and consolidate some of its operations.
"The recent market conditions have caused us to carefully analyze the various options for taking the company back to a cash positive position," said Chief Executive Officer Doug Zorn in a prepared release.
Wink Communications could be active after announcing it has entered an agreement to integrate its interactive television services on digital set-top platforms running Gemstar-TV Guide's (Nasdaq: GMST) interactive program guide.
The agreement allows Wink access to Gemstar's 6 million subscribers, none of which are currently Wink customers.
Wink shares closed off 22 cents to $5.03 Friday.>