Telecommunications

Markets? Markets? We Don’t Need No Markets!: During its nearly 18-year history, CNBC has employed a number of programming strategies on days when the markets are closed. Today is one such day - as the nation honors the memory of its 38th president, Gerald Ford. In this instance, we chose to go with regular live programming....

AT&T agreed last night to a number of concessions in its $85 billion proposed buyout of BellSouth. The telecom bellwether is hoping for approval by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission by the end of today – the final business day in 2006. Telecom analyst William Power was on “Street Signs” explaining what will happen if AT&T doesn’t make the deadline.

Almost every analyst has an angle on how to beat the market, and investors pay big money for trading tips that promise guaranteed profits. But here on CNBC we give that advice away for free. John Prestbo, editor of Dow Jones Indexes, shared his “Dogs of the Dow” strategy on “Morning Call” today. It returned 32% in 2006.

U.S. stocks are aiming higher after a late day rally gave stocks a lift yesterday, resulting in another record on the Dow but in a mixed market. Oil is firmer this morning, and energy shares were among those rebounding late yesterday after several losing sessions. Tokyo stocks were higher, and European markets were mostly higher with technology stocks among the winners.

The "rumors" are buzzing about what Apple's next big move might be. Some say it's an i-Pod cell phone combo, others think Apple will make a big move in, quote, "I-TV".  On Power Lunch, Bill Griffeth sifted through all the speculation with with PC Magazine’s Lance Ulanoff. Ulanoff said, the only sure thing is the I-Phone.

They are the most powerful players in the M&A world. You could say they are the go to folks on a CEO's speed dial--when it comes to making deals. The first (or inaugural) issue of Dealmaker Magazine is out--and ranks the best investment bankers on the buy side of Wall Street.