The week ahead: Oracle takes the stage
The company will kick off its OpenWorld conference in San Francisco to push its latest database software. Plus: National Semiconductor earnings.
Following are some of the notable tech-related events scheduled for the week of Dec. 3 through Dec. 7.
Oracle will kick off its OpenWorld conference this week in San Francisco to push its latest database software.
The tech bellwether has rounded up a stable of CEO keynote speakers from companies like Intel, Compaq Computer, Sun Microsystems and EMC and booked a performance by the rock band Barenaked Ladies to help present its case against rivals Microsoft and IBM.
Investment banks Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley will hold technology events this week. Also on tap are AdTech, an online advertising confab, and Internet World's Wireless West conference.
On the earnings front, monster chipmaker National Semiconductor will announce earnings for its second fiscal quarter on Thursday. Analysts surveyed by First Call expect the company to post a loss of 31 cents a share vs. a profit of 56 cents a share for the same quarter last year.
Investors will also watch for Friday unemployment data from the U.S. Department of Labor, a key measure of the country's economic health.
The information was gathered from First Call, Hoover's Online, CCBN's StreetEvents and CNET Investor.
Other events scheduled this week:
Tech Events
Monday, Dec. 3
- Database software juggernaut Oracle will kick off Oracle OpenWorld at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Dec. 3-7. The event will provide the opportunity for software developers and technology professionals to learn about all things Oracle. Company executives are also expected to reveal plans for Oracle's new software and a revamped version of its core database application, a move that the company hopes will jump-start sales in the face of stiff competition and a gloomy economy. Keynote speakers will include Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Intel CEO Craig Barrett, Compaq Computer CEO Michael Capellas, EMC Chairman Michael Ruettgers, Veritas CEO Gary Bloom, Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.
- Morgan Stanley will conduct its CIO Outlook Conference at the Sheraton New York & Towers in New York, Dec. 3-4. The event will feature a technology primer seminar by the Morgan Stanley Technology Group and presentations from senior IT managers of major companies on trends in the tech industry.
- Telecom equipment maker Cisco Systems will hold its Worldwide Analyst 2001 conference at company headquarters in San Jose, Calif., Dec. 3-5.
- Rick Rashid, Microsoft's senior vice president of research, will speak at 12:30 p.m. about the future of computing at Microsoft's Mountain View Campus, Building 1 Conference Center, 1065 LaAvenida, Mountain View, Calif. Contact Alyson Clemens of Waggener Edstrom at (425) 638-7000 to RSVP.
- The Advanced Computing Systems Association, aka Usenix will hold its LISA 2001 conference at the Town & Country Resort Hotel in San Diego, Dec. 3-7. The event is geared toward system administrators who wish to learn about the latest trends in system and network security.
- Internet World will host Wireless West at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., Dec. 4-6. The conference aims to inform business and technology executives of how wireless technology can be used to improve a company's productivity and e-business initiatives. Executives from Motorola, Microsoft, Aether Systems and BEA Systems will make keynote speeches.
- Penton Media will hold CDN-The Content Networking Event at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., Dec. 4-6. The event is targeted at Internet and e-business professionals interested in content and network-design technology. Representatives from Digital Island, Volera, Cisco Systems and IBM will make keynote presentations.
- AdTech takes place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, Dec. 4-6. The conference will feature workshops, case studies and research on how businesses can advertise and market themselves on the Internet. DoubleClick CEO Kevin Ryan will make a keynote speech along with Gregory Coleman, an executive vice president at Yahoo.
- The Interactive Advertising Bureau, an Internet advertising trade group, will hold its annual meeting at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York.
- The Infosecurity conference will kick off at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, Dec. 4-6, and will focus on issues related to protecting and securing computer networks. Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and Network Associates CEO George Samenuk will make keynote speeches.
- The Wall Street Reporter will conduct a conference at the Le Parker Meridian Hotel in New York. The gathering is for investors interested in biometric and security technology.
- Lehman Brothers will launch its Telecom Trends and Technology conference at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 5-8. The event will feature presentations by senior executives from Qualcomm, Ericsson, Lucent Technologies, SBC Communications and Qwest Communications International.
- BusinessWeek will hold a conference on the digital economy at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, Dec. 6-7. The event will highlight companies and executives who are using current Internet technology to realize their business goals. Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch will make a keynote presentation.
- Chipmaker Intel will give its midquarter financial update for the fourth quarter.
- Internet server and software maker Sun Microsystems will make a presentation on its second fiscal quarter.
Tuesday, Dec. 4
- Crossroads Systems makes equipment for computer data-storage networks. Per-share consensus estimate for the fourth fiscal quarter: loss of 24 cents.
- Photronics makes chip manufacturing equipment. Per-share consensus estimate for the fourth fiscal quarter: profit of 2 cents.
- Synopsys makes electronic design automation software for chipmakers. Per-share consensus estimate for the fourth fiscal quarter: profit of 36 cents.
- IDT is a telecom carrier that handles long-distance and calling-card calls. No estimates were available.
- National Semiconductor is a major manufacturer of chips for communications and networking equipment . Per-share consensus estimate for the second fiscal quarter: loss of 31 cents.
Monday, Dec. 3
- Personal income shows the monthly percentage change in household income from the Commerce Department. This number is expected to rise 0.1 percent for October compared with no change in September.
- The Commerce Department will also release data on personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, which measures purchases of goods and services. Analysts expect PCE to rise 1.9 percent in October vs. a 1.8 percent drop in the previous month.
- The National Association of Purchasing Managers index tracks how many hard goods were purchased by purchasing managers. The NAPM index is expected to rise to 41.9 percent in November from October's 39.8 percent. Index values above 50 generally indicate an expanding economy, while values below 50 are indicative of contraction. The index declined in October for the fifteenth consecutive month.
- Construction spending tabulates the dollar amount of newly completed building structures in a month as reported by the Commerce Department. Economists expect spending to fall 0.5 percent in October vs. a decline of 0.4 percent in September.
- The Non-Manufacturing NAPM index tracks how many hard goods were bought monthly by purchasing managers in the services industry. Wall Street estimates that the index will rise to 42.5 percent in November from 40.6 in October.
- Initial claims refers to the number of people who filed for unemployment benefits each week as reported by the Department of Labor. Claims will be reported for the week ended Dec. 1.
- Quarterly productivity figures from the Labor Department track the quantity of goods and services produced relative to the amount of labor and capital used in the process, and basically provide a picture of the economy's efficiency. Economists expect this closely watched figure to be revised down to an increase of 2.6 percent for the third quarter compared with an earlier reading of 2.7 percent for the quarter.
- Nonfarm payrolls represents the change in total nonfarm employment. Analysts expect payrolls to shrink by 210,000 jobs in November compared with 415,000 jobs shed in October.
- The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed adults, as estimated monthly by the Labor Department. Economists expect a rate of 5.6 percent in November, up from 5.4 percent in October.
- The Labor Department also follows the monthly percentage change in hourly earnings in the private sector. Wall Street watchers forecast a rise 0.2 percent for November vs. October's climb of 0.1 percent.
- Average workweek for November is the average amount of hours worked per week in the private sector, as estimated monthly by the Labor Department. Economists expect hours worked to stay unchanged at 34 hours from the previous month.
- The Consumer Credit report by the Federal Reserve shows the monthly debt assumed by consumers for purposes other than home mortgages. This number is expected to fall to $1.5 billion in October from $3.2 billion in September.