Priceline Group (PCLN) and an unnamed “long-term equity investment firm” are going to invest $500 million in China-based online travel agency Ctrip.com (CTRP). Priceline and the unnamed firm plan are buying convertible debt offered by Ctrip, as Priceline looks to increase its stake in the world’s largest outbound travel market, China. Ctrip.com stock, however, was down a fraction in early afternoon trading in the stock market today. Priceline
T-Mobile US (TMUS) targeted customers of Verizon Communications on Thursday with a wireless holiday season promotion, offering a free year of Hulu’s web video services to customers that switch service providers. T-Mobile, in earlier promotions, has offered free one-year Netflix (NFLX) subscriptions to new customers that buy Samsung Galaxy devices. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.com (AMZN) are the three biggest online video providers. Verizon (VZ)
First Solar (FSLR) stock continued down SunEdison’s (SUNE) path Thursday, experiencing the scorch of Wall Street’s apparent belligerence toward solar yield companies. In midday trading on the stock market today , First Solar stock was down more than 10% after missing analyst expectations for 2016 sales and gross margins late Wednesday. Shares closed down fractionally on Wednesday but were torched after hours and gapped down Thursday. Yield company