A handful of big companies made big moves Tuesday as several Apple (AAPL) chip suppliers and two pharmaceutical distributors hit new closing highs. Today’s Screen of the Day features Big Cap Leaders, generally top stocks with market values of at least $15 billion priced at 15 or higher. Avago Technologies (AVGO) ended the day at 113.18. Analysts expect the Singapore-based firm to announce its biggest earnings growth in four years when it reports
With the Apple Watch set to launch in April, Pebble Technology, a pioneer in the smartwatch market, introduced its next-generation wrist device on Tuesday. Early demand for Pebble Time is strong, demonstrating consumer interest in wearable devices from companies not named Apple (AAPL). Pebble started taking orders for Pebble Time on Tuesday morning through a Kickstarter fundraising page. It sought $500,000 in pre-orders, but by late afternoon it had raised more than $6 million. The promotion included orders for more than 32,000 units. Pebble Time will begin shipping in May and retail for $199. It features a color e-paper display, thinner design and up to seven days of battery time per charge. The new watch is compatible with all 6,500-plus existing Pebble apps and watch faces. It also will come in three colors: black, white and red. The Pebble Time watch lacks the high-end technical specs of the Apple Watch…
Apple (AAPL) stock notched an all-time high on Tuesday, its eighth in the last 10 trading days. But a report predicting that Apple’s next capital return report will underwhelm gave investors caution. Apple shares rose nearly 0.5% in morning trading on the stock market today, to peak at 133.60. But the stock reversed and ended the day down a fraction, at 132.17. Apple stock has been soaring lately — up 23% since Jan. 16 — on heavy hedge fund buying and investor enthusiasm over hot iPhone sales, the upcoming Apple Watch and a possible Apple electric car under development. Also, Apple is expected to increase its cash dividend and stock buybacks when it updates its capital allocation plan in April. However, UBS analyst Steven Milunovich said Apple’s next capital return program could be less than expected. “Most appear to expect a large, multiyear program based..