Stocks Profile

Symantec is the largest maker of security software for computers. Norton Antivirus software is a major revenue driver for the company and comprises almost 34% of the Trefis price estimate for Symantec.

Norton Antivirus has traditionally had the largest market share in the computer security market and currently holds close to 45% market share, which is expected to decline to 42% by the end of Trefis forecast period. Full post…

Chips Ahoy!

A big earnings report from Advanced Micro Devices this morning has improved the mood surrounding the semiconductor sector. Also helping, a strong report from SanDisk, a maker of flash chips for smart phones and tablets.

AMD is surging about 17% to $7.60, SanDisk is up 10% to $45.78. Both are topping the S&P 500′s gainers list.

Other chip stocks are also jumping, partly in anticipation that the group’s pricing challenges might be starting to get better. Micron, a classic price-sensitive play, is up 6% at $8.10.

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NEW YORK – This month may be the slowest in the stock market in more than three years.

Trading volume, or the number of shares bought and sold, is down because there are fewer big investors buying stocks. And those who want to buy are worried about the job market and the European debt crisis — and the budget impasse in Washington. If Congress and the White House don’t agree on budget cuts and raising the government’s borrowing limit, the U.S. is at risk of defaulting on its debt after Aug.

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Shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) are soaring in today’s trading after the company provided a solid outlook for the third quarter of 2011. At last check, Advanced Micro Devices shares were trading 18.31% higher at $7.69, with volume up from daily average of 22.41 million to 65.68 million.

For the third quarter, the company expects revenue to increase between 8% and 12% on a sequential basis, in line with analysts’ estimates.

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