Big Blue pushes technology sector into the black ( Earnings from Asia key)

MarketWatch ^ | Jan. 14, 2008 4:33 p.m. EST | Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Technology stocks closed with solid gains on Monday, boosted by news that International Business Machines Corp. will exceed Wall Street's fourth-quarter earnings estimates.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

IBM expects profit to easily top forecasts
While Big Blue's shares jump, analysts mull tech's demand outlook

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The broad scope of IBM's global business -- led by strong operational performance in Asia, Europe and emerging countries -- drove these outstanding results," said Samuel Palmisano, IBM's chief executive, in a statement.

IBM said it would release more details on Thursday, when the company plans to formally announce fourth-quarter results.

[Always Right]

Weak dollar is good for exporting. US companies are selling more and at a higher profit margin. A weak dollar may be the only thing that saves us from a recession.

[jiggyboy]

I can never remember whether a strong dollar has lowered the price of imports and attracted a flood of foreign capital that buoyed the stock market or whether a weak dollar is actually helping to prop up earnings so that Stocks Fly High As Dollar Hits Lows.