Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Himax Technologies, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:HIMX), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Taiwanese semiconductor company Himax Technologies, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:HIMX) said Monday that Internet search giant Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has agreed to invest in the company’s display unit, Himax Display Inc. or HDI. Under the deal, Google will initially buy a 6.3 percent stake in HDI, with an option to buy up to a stake of 14.8 percent with one year. HDI is a maker of chips for Google Glass devices. Shares of Himax Technologies, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:HIMX) are currently gaining more than 32 percent following the announement. Himax Technologies, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:HIMX) noted that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s investment will enable HDI to fund production upgrades, expand capacity and enhance production capabilities at its facilities that produce liquid crystal on silicon or LCOS chips as well as modules. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013.
Google Given New $875.00 Price Target at Argus (GOOG) (Zolmax)
Argus cut their price target on shares of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) from $1,065.00 to $875.00 in a research note issued on Monday, ARN reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the stock. Argus’ price target indicates a potential downside of 2.41% from the stock’s previous close. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) opened at 896.598 on Monday. Google has a 1-year low of $598.25 and a 1-year high of $928.00. The stock’s 50-day moving average is currently $888.4. The company has a market cap of $298.7 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.94. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 18th.
Google’s Motorola to hold Moto X phone event on Aug 1 (AsiaOne)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Motorola division appears set to unveil its much anticipated Moto X phone on August 1 at an event in New York City. Email invitations sent to the media on Friday displayed the Moto X name in bold letters. The invitation depicted several youths holding the Moto X, the first smartphone Motorola has developed since its 2012 acquisition by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). Motorola, which Google bought for US$$12.5 billion (S$15.8 billion), has steadily ceded market share to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co, with most of its latest phones garnering relatively lukewarm receptions. The Motorola business has been a drag on Google’s profit margins, with Motorola’s second-quarter losses totaling US$342 million.
Google’s bottom line hit by falling ad rates (AMEInfo)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has said its consolidated revenue fell to $14.11bn in the second quarter, from $11.81bn in the year-ago period, as weakening prices for the company’s ads and widening losses from its Motorola mobile phone business weighed on the bottom line, Reuters has reported. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s finance chief, Patrick Pichette, cited a variety of reasons for the decline in ad prices including a growing portion of ads in international markets with lower rates. BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis said the problem may be that consumers don’t click on mobile ads as often as they do on desktop PCs. “So even if you force advertisers to buy them, if the conversion rates drop, (advertisers are) going to pay less for clicks,” he said.
