Google (GOOG) and its Android operating system are now the next big thing for smart phones, taking the spotlight from Apple Inc. (AAPL) and its iconic iPhone. And with these two smart phones as the leaders, future demand for Research in Motion (RIMM) BlackBerry devices is drying up.

The S&P Case Shiller index of housing prices rose 0.3% in January on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an unadjusted basis, which does not include data on foreclosures, the index fell 0.4%. The decline in the unadjusted price is double analysts' expectations of a 0.2% decline.

Defying all logic, shares in some home builders jumped in 2009. The government incentives to home buyers and the low mortgage interest rates certainly contributed most to that rise. The SPDR Homebuilders ETF (XHB) gained 27.7% in 2009. But KB Home (KBH) reported a loss in the first quarter of 2010 nearly equal to its loss in the first quarter of 2009. Lennar Homes (LEN) reduced its year-over-year losses in the quarter by nearly 90%, putting a little glow back in the industry. Another builder with headaches is Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL).

Shares in Apple Inc. (AAPL) hit a new 52-week high this morning on a report from the Wall Street Journal that the company will introduce a CDMA-compatible version of the iPhone in late summer 2010. If the report pans out, the big winner will be Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications (VZ) and Vodafone. The big loser will be AT&T (T).

First, India goes wild over Domino's Pizza (DPZ). Now, Yum! Brands (YUM) is seeing runaway success in the region with its Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut chains. It seems like fast food companies from McDonald's (MCD) to Burger King (BKC) to Wendy's/Arby's (WEN) are eating up emerging markets.

Dividends, especially reliable dividends, are crucial to many investors. And five dividend stocks that are the most likely to maintain or boost payouts in 2010 are Altria (MO), AT&T (T), CenturyTel (CTL), Merck (MRK) and Verizon (VZ).

China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (SNP), better known as Sinopec, reported its 2009 annual earnings this morning and the results are much better than a year ago. EPS more than doubled to $0.10 although revenues fell by nearly $200 billion compared with 2008.

Internet stocks are on fire. Furious buying over the past several trading sessions in many of the sector's biggest names, including Amazon.com (AMZN), Expedia (EXPE), Google (GOOG) and Priceline.com (PCLN), have pushed the Dow Jones Internet Composite index to new 52-week highs. The Internet index now is approaching its 2007 highs, a clear signal that the bellwether tech sub-sector has long forgotten the depths of despair it sunk to in 2008.

If you're a movie lover, you now paying more cash to see your favorite flicks. Effective last weekend, many theater operators will charge up to 26% more per ticket to see the latest film releases. The rate hike isn't just relegated to one theater operator or one major city. The ticket price increases will take effect in markets across the country in theatres owned by Cinemark Holdings (CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (RGC) and privately-held AMC Entertainment.

Depending on when a customer ordered a new iPad from Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL), that customer will be able to pick up her new iPad on April 3rd, as planned, or will have to wait until April 12th. It appears that Apple has changed the ship date in response to heavy demand for the new tablet.

A week ago Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM) reported strong fourth quarter 2009 earnings and the share price jumped more than $3. The stock hit a 52-week high the day after an analyst downgraded Williams-Sonoma shares from 'Buy' to 'Hold'. Bed Bath and Beyond Inc. (BBBY) will release fourth quarter earnings next week.

When it comes to "going green," the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't children's toys. But Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) want to change that. According to a recent report by Bloomberg News, sales of green toys may balloon to $1 billion, which represents about 5% of the total toy sales over the next five years.

In late March, video game icon Nintendo (NTDOY) let the world know of its plans for a 3D-capable portable gaming device. And despite all the hullabaloo over 3D technology in the flat screen TV market, this could very well be the first real connection between 3D entertainment and a viable consumer market.

Toyota Motors (TM) is expected to sell 182,100 new cars in March, up more than 32% from March 2009, and up a whopping 82% from February 2010, according to Edmunds.com. General Motors sales for March are predicted to be 22% higher than a year ago and 39% higher than last month. Ford Motor Co. (F) should see a nearly 50% increase from a year ago and a 43% jump from last month. March sales comparisons are adjusted to account for an additional sales day in March 2010.

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is proving to investors today that, despite a significant run up and despite a significant bullish bias, valuations may be catching up to even the best of the stocks out there. This earnings report showed many issues out there lurking for SAP AG (SAP), Cisco Systems (CSCO), and perhaps even IBM (IBM). And let's not leave out Microsoft (MSFT), EMC (EMC) or VMware (VMW).

Just days after RadioShack Corp. (RSH) reported fourth-quarter 2009 earnings, rumors started flying that the company was a possible takeover target. Shares rose to a new 52-week high until today, when RadioShack shares jumped again to a new high after just half an hour of trading.

Systemax (SYX), owner of the online electronics clearinghouse Tiger Direct, is jumping into the brick-and-mortar retail game. That's a bit of a surprise, since this may not exactly be the economic environment to make a big push into any segment of retail. But the real shocker is that Systemax is making the move under two defunct big box brands: Circuit City and CompUSA.

Everybody loves the romance of an IPO -- a company going public with the potential to deliver huge profits to those investors on the ground floor. But the reality of initial public offerings are very different than the storybook version some traders believe. Trying to research these tiny upstarts can give investors fits, and sometimes even a stock that looks good on paper can fall flat on its face right out of the gate.