Technology Sector Review: Intel’s Challenge, Ispen Leaves Cisco for Microsoft

February 20, 2012

Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU): Celestial Tiger Entertainment (NASDAQ:CTE), the recently-launched independent Asian media company, announced several major content licensing deals for Video On Demand rights with multiple platforms in China, including iQIYI (NASDAQ:BIDU), Sohu (NASDAQ:SOHU), YOU On Demand and Youku (NYSE:YOKU). The deals establish CTE’s presence as a significant content distributor in Asia in addition to its operation of six branded pay TV channels across Asia Pacific. The deals encompass feature films and television content from the Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) library, and enable CTE to further penetrate China’s booming $300M video-on-demand market.

The shares closed at $136.90, down $4.93, or 3.48%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $47.80 billion.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC): Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) could use a patent it recently received for the design of a thin laptop as ammunition against Ultrabook designers, according to Cnet. Specifically, Apple could utilize the patent to thwart vendors who make laptops deemed to resemble the Macbook Air, the publication explained.

The shares closed at $27.37, up $0.55, or 2.03%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $139.37 billion.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO): A source close to Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) says that the loss of Laura Ipsen to Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) came as a “big blow” to Cisco, as she “was like a daughter” to CEO John Chambers, Business Insider reports. Ipsen, who was a senior VP at Cisco leading the Connected Energy team, will become corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Worldwide Public Sector division.

The shares closed at $20.29, up $0.1, or 0.5%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $109.08 billion.

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