Technology Report: Stellar Apple results point to a good year ahead

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	01/25/2012
Good afternoon Bit Netflix's fourth-quarter revenue outpaced Wall Street's expectations as the video rental website reversed subscriber losses to sign up more than 600,000 new U.S. customers in the period, pushing its shares up. Netflix posted a 47 percent leap in fourth-quarter revenue to $876 million, outpacing an average forecast for $857.9 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Symantec took the rare step of advising customers to stop using one of its products, saying its pcAnywhere software for accessing remote PCs is at increased risk of getting hacked after blueprints of that software were stolen. The announcement is the company's most direct acknowledgement to date that a 2006 theft of its source code put customers at risk of attack. Also on Wednesday, Symantec reported a higher quarterly profit and issued an outlook in line with Wall Street estimates. Europe proposed strict new data privacy rules, putting greater responsibility on companies such as Facebook to protect users' information, and threatening those who breach the code with hefty fines. But the move, which legislators say is designed to better defend children against predators, has rattled major technology and Internet-based companies, with executives concerned the legislation will be almost impossible to implement in full or will do serious damage to their business models. Apple's customer service plan for the iPhone makes them more appealing to thieves because the phone's warranty applies to the phone and not the owner, Mitch Lipka writes. This approach thrills many Apple owners, who have boasted on message boards of how generous some stores have been in replacing broken iPhones. But that same approach has apparently rewarded a lot of thieves, Lipka adds. LATEST NEWS Stellar Apple results point to a good year ahead January 25, 2012 01:31 PM ET (Reuters) - Apple Inc shares surged the most in more than three years, after skyrocketing iPhone and iPad sales helped it smash Wall Street expectations, prompting analysts to raise their price targets on the stock by as much as $100. | Full Article Analysis: Wall Street puzzles over Google's new direction January 25, 2012 05:12 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc, which revolutionized Internet searches with an easy-to-use website, has itself become an increasingly tricky business to grasp. | Full Article Analysis: Zynga needs mobile to move away from Facebook January 25, 2012 04:28 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - David Ko, Zynga's chief mobile officer, has one of the most important and pressure-filled at the online gaming company -- he's charged with figuring out ways to get people to play Zynga's games on tablets and smartphones. | Full Article Prem Watsa brings hope to RIM's restless shareholders January 25, 2012 02:46 PM ET TORONTO (Reuters) - The arrival of the man known as "the Warren Buffett of North" on Research In Motion's board this week offers a ray of hope to the BlackBerry maker's impatient shareholders after their disappointment that an insider was named new chief executive. | Full Article U.S. experts urge more study of nanotechnology threat January 25, 2012 03:29 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Studying the potential health hazards of nanotechnology will require an additional $24 million a year to close the knowledge gap about the tiny particles used in a fast-growing array of consumer products, the National Research Council said on Wednesday. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Fed and Apple reignite buying on Wall Street January 25, 2012 04:48 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Big profits from Apple and a promise from the Federal Reserve to keep rock-bottom rates for at least two more years powered the U.S. stock market higher on Wednesday. | Full Article Bernanke says Fed pondering further stimulus January 25, 2012 04:59 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the central bank was ready to offer the economy additional stimulus after it announced interest rates would likely remain near zero until at least late 2014. | Full Article ECB split on how to handle any Greek bond losses: sources January 25, 2012 03:01 PM ET FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has ruled out taking voluntary losses on its Greek bond holdings but is now debating how it would handle any forced losses and whether to explore legal options to avoid such a hit, central bank sources told Reuters on Wednesday. | Full Article Boeing 2012 earnings to be hit by pension expense January 25, 2012 04:36 PM ET (Reuters) - Boeing Co said on Wednesday that a pension expense larger than Wall Street had anticipated would weigh on its 2012 earnings, but it handed investors good news with expectations for increased commercial aircraft deliveries this year. | Full Article In historic shift, Fed sets inflation target January 25, 2012 03:38 PM ET (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve took the historic step on Wednesday of setting an inflation target, of 2 percent, a victory for Chairman Ben Bernanke that brings the Fed in line with many of the world's other major central banks. | Full Article U.S. TOP NEWS U.S. commandos free two hostages in daring Somalia raid Obama urges taxing the rich, reining in Wall Street Housing data points to slowdown in sales Einhorn, Greenlight fined for UK market abuse Irishman makes "billion-euro home" of shredded notes RELATED VIDEO Turning smartphones into toys Apple beats Wall St targets UK teen's app creates stir A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. 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