Merck MRK buys Schering-Plough SGP 3/9/09

The Dow Jones Futures are taking a bit of a nose dive as Dow component Merck ( MRK ) buys Schering-Plough ( SGP ) for 41.1 Billion today, 3/9/09.

• COMBINED COMPANY POSITIONED FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH THROUGH SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION AND A STRONGER, MORE DIVERSIFIED PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
  
• Powerful Joint R&D Pipeline with Strong Candidates in All Development Phases Doubles the Number of Late-Stage Compounds to 18
  
• Broader Product Portfolio in Critical Therapeutic Areas
  
• Expanded Global Presence Including High-Growth Emerging Markets
  
• Expected to be Significantly Accretive, Increase Efficiencies and Result in Cost Savings of Approximately $3.5 Billion Annually
  
• Merck Committed to Maintain Current Dividend

March 9, 2009 - Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today announced that their Boards of Directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which Merck and Schering-Plough will combine, under the name Merck, in a stock and cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Schering-Plough shareholders will receive 0.5767 shares and $10.50 in cash for each share of Schering-Plough. Each Merck share will automatically become a share of the combined company. Merck Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Richard T. Clark will lead the combined company.

Based on the closing price of Merck stock on March 6, 2009, the consideration to be received by Schering-Plough shareholders is valued at $23.61 per share, or $41.1 billion in the aggregate. This price represents a premium to Schering-Plough shareholders of approximately 34 percent based on the closing price of Schering-Plough stock on March 6, 2009. The consideration also represents a premium of approximately 44 percent based on the average closing price of the two stocks over the last 30 trading days

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Stock Market 10/22/08 - Pre Market Trading - Nikkei, Asian Markets Fall

Wednesday, 10/22/08 - Dow Jones closed at 9033 on 10/21/08

Today the stock market is set to open a lot lower thanks to the fall of the Asian markets overnight. The Dow Jones futures are looking down 230 points in pre market. Nasdaq futures are looking down 20.

Overnight, Asian markets fell sharply lower Wednesday, with Tokyo's Nikkei index tumbling nearly 7 percent, amid spreading pessimism over corporate earnings outlooks in the U.S. and at home. European markets also opened lower.
As credit markets show signs of improving, investors are turning their attention to dismal forecasts from major U.S. companies and Japanese media reports of disappointing sales and profit results — fears of a global recession are again here.

Stock to Watch 10/22/08

Apple ( AAPL ) - Apple came out with earnings last night and reported $1.26 per share vs $1.11 expected. Mac sales were a little light but the company sold around 6.8 million iphones for the quarter...an astonishing amount!! Looks like Apple will hit the 10 million iphone target everyone was worried about when the stock was at $160. After running to $104 in afterhours last night... Apple is set to open up pre market at $98.50. Please note, Guidance was horrible....probably the worst guidance i've seen Apple give since 2004.

VMware ( VMW ) - VMware reported better then expected earnings and that stock is set to open pre market at $21.50...this after trading around $23 last night. Keep an eye on that stock today.

SanDisk ( SNDK ) - Samsung is dropping their 5.9 billion dollar bid for Sandisk citing weak market conditions.

Boeing ( B ) just came out with earnings... .96eps vs .98eps
Merck ( MRK ) just came out with earnings.... .30eps vs .29eps