Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), International Business Machines Corp. (IBM): Market Rally May Be Losing Steam

A lack of positive economic data and nervous investors don’t make a great mix. As market participants continue to worry about what the Federal Reserve may do with its stimulus programs, the markets are heading south this afternoon. As of 12:50 p.m. EDT the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 63 points, or 0.41%, after opening up by more than 100 points this morning. The S&P 500 is lower by 0.44%, while the Nasdaq is down 0.65%.

A few Dow losers today
Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) are down 0.2% this afternoon on the news that Vodafone — its joint-venture partner in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Wireless — has offered $9.6 billion for German cable television company Kabel Deutschland. Earlier reports have indicated that Kabel is not interested in that price, but this looks like a good place for the two companies to start talking. This is likely hurting Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) because Vodafone has a 45% stake in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Wireless, and this deal may put a higher price tag on that share if Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) wants to make a buyout deal.

Shares of International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) have dropped 1% following a report that the company is battling with Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) over a $600 million contract to setup the CIA’s cloud-computing system. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) has long been the go-to supplier for this type of service, but as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has built its own systems and proven itself in the IT world over the past few years, Big Blue now has some formidable competition. To lose the contract would be a huge blow to International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) but an even bigger boon to Amazon.

Shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) are down 1% after the company announced that it would attempt to sell its rights to two offshore oil fields near Nigeria. That part of the world currently has a number of oil fields on the selling block, so it’s unlikely that Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) will receive a premium for the rights. A number of the world’s largest oil companies have all been slowly moving out of the region, as Nigeria’s government is involved in the area’s oil business, and many have claimed that it is overrun with corruption.

The article Market Rally May Be Losing Steam originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Matt Thalman owns shares of Amazon.com. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com and Chevron. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com and International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM). Check back Monday through Friday as Matt explains what caused the Dow’s winners and losers of the day, and every Saturday for a weekly recap. Follow Matt on Twitter @mthalman5513.

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