Video game blogs have been spouting rumors as of late about Sony (SNE) instituting a $50 a year premium online gaming service for its PlayStation console that could include a downloadable game each month. This would be a bit of hybrid between the Microsoft (MSFT) Xbox Live online gaming service and Nintendo (NTDOY) with its Wii Shop channel to download games for varying prices. On the heels of some huge success by Activision Blizzard (ATVI) to forge ahead with ATVI online video game sales through its latest Call of Duty expansion pack, more gaming companies are looking to the web to boost profits and earnings.

Gold bullion prices are making headlines every day as volatility in the yellow stuff continues. Just three months ago, gold prices bottomed out at around $1,050 in February and now we are once again pushing $1,200 an ounce for the precious metal. Not surprisingly, the investment continues to garner attention as gold bullion investors ask the question, "Is gold going lower, or are gold prices going higher?"

Consulting firm Booz and Co. has issued its report on CEO succession for the past decade, which includes data gathered from the top 2,500 global companies about the 3,719 CEO turnovers between 2000 and 2009. The report notes that new CEO appointments are dominated by insiders, that the roles of CEO and chairman are more often being split, and that turnover rates are increasingly consistent regardless of geography.

Jack A. Ablin, chief investment officer over at Harris Private Bank in Chicago, is one of my favorite thinkers in the portfolio manager community. He put a good note out this week on employment that I would like to share with you because I think it's accurate and helps explain my view on why U.S. stocks have an opportunity to work well this year unless they're sidetracked by other problems.

When it comes to discount retailers, there are usually two investment camps. One prefers the style and low prices offered by Target (TGT), and the other investment strategy will trade a little less style for the better prices offered by retail giant Walmart (WMT). This week we saw just how well each retail stock fared in terms of their most-recent earnings (Get more detail on Target earnings and Walmart earnings)

By now, every techie under the sun knows that Apple Inc. (AAPL) chief executive Steve Jobs has issues with Adobe (ADBE) and its Flash software. Some of the highlights of the Apple leader's open letter on Flash include how its performance, reliability and security are all shoddy. All are reasons that Apple has decided not to support Flash on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. But a recent survey of Apple iPad users indicates that Steve Jobs may have missed the mark when it comes to his AAPL customers and Adobe Flash. According to ChangeWave research, the top complaint among the first Apple iPad owners is the lack of Flash capability on the AAPL device.

When Apple Inc. (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs took the stage in January with an iPad in hand, he declared that the device was the next generation in personal electronics, a 'magical and revolutionary product' that would bridge the gap between multiple devices. And according to a May survey by ChangeWave Research, that vision has proven to be a reality – at least among initial users.

When Apple Inc. (AAPL) formally unveiled its groundbreaking iPad tablet computer in January, gadget junkies were agog with the device and high demand was anticipated. It was supposed to be a laptop, an e-reader like the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle, a multimedia platform for movies and music and a video game console like the Nintendo (NTDOY) Ds all rolled into one. Every geek wanted one.

The respective first-quarter earnings numbers for the world's two largest home improvement stores are in, and the results show that do-it-yourself consumers are back to spending big bucks. On Tuesday, No. 1 home-improvement retail stock Home Depot (HD) came out with a strong first-quarter earnings beat. One day earlier, rival and No. 2 home-improvement retail stock Lowe's (LOW) bested its first-quarter earnings estimates. Both HD and LOW stock saw improved sales as a result of the government's first-time home buyer credit and rebates for energy efficient appliances. And while both retail stocks Home Depot and Lowe's enjoyed solid Q1 performances in their earnings, the battle between these two titans is far from equal.

Germany's ban on naked short selling sent a tremor through the markets today, increasing fears that the euro was going to weaken further. Heavy machinery makers like Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE), Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE: CAT), and CNH Global N.V. (NYSE: CNH) which could take a hit from reduced construction overseas, watched share prices drop between 2% and 5% even though Deere reported that it beat EPS and revenue expectations.

Discount retailer Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) beat analysts' earnings estimates of $0.86 EPS today, hitting a record $0.90 for a non-holiday quarter. The company's sales revenues came in at $15.2 billion, below expectations of $15.58 billion. Retailer BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) also reported earnings that exceeded expectations this morning. BJ's earnings per share rang in at $0.49, higher than analysts' estimates of $0.43. Sales totaled $2.55 billion, below estimates of $2.61 billion. Yesterday's earnings report from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) beat estimates of both EPS and revenues

Ford Motor Co. (F) has been on the resurgence in the past year or so. It's chief domestic rival General Motors has yet to make a return to Wall Street, Japan auto maker Toyota (TM) has been beset by recalls and Honda (HMC) has struggled for the past six months as the auto industry looks to the future.

There's nothing like a steaming-hot cup of coffee to get you started in the morning; and for investors, there's nothing like a freshly brewed pot of profits to get a stock going. These two pleasures in life can be found in one company -- Starbucks (SBUX). The worldwide dominator in the coffee space is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, and with strong sales and earnings Starbucks story is now a case study in how to run a successful specialty beverage operation.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-B, BRK-A) just released its portfolio -- albeit belatedly. Warren Buffett's company has shown its investment holdings as of the end of the first quarter. The one thing that stands out in Berkshire Hathaway's holdings list for the quarter is a clear movement away from health care -- including outright sells of positions in healthcare stocks United Health Group (NYSE: UNH) and Wellpoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP). Buffett also reduced Berkshire's position in health care stock Johnson and Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Pharmaceutical stocks GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Sanofi Aventis SA (NYSE: SNY) both remained steady.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted earnings today that included EPS of $0.88 on revenues of $99.1 billion this morning, beating EPS expectations of $0.83 and revenue estimates of $98.3 billion. The company also guided its second fiscal quarter EPS higher, from $0.88 last year to $0.93-$0.98. Analysts were already expecting EPS for the quarter to hit $0.98. Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) reports quarterly earnings tomorrow and analysts are expecting EPS of $0.86, up from $0.69 a year ago, and revenues of $15.58 billion, up from $14.83 in the first quarter of 2009.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted earnings today that included EPS of $0.88 on revenues of $99.1 billion this morning, beating EPS expectations of $0.83 and revenue estimates of $98.3 billion. The company also guided its second fiscal quarter EPS higher, from $0.88 last year to $0.93-$0.98. Analysts were already expecting EPS for the quarter to hit $0.98. Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) reports quarterly earnings tomorrow and analysts are expecting EPS of $0.86, up from $0.69 a year ago, and revenues of $15.58 billion, up from $14.83 in the first quarter of 2009.

McDonald's (MCD) is increasingly becoming a fast beverage stock instead of a fast food stock. And with the non-alcoholic beverage business in the U.S worth $153 billion, there are plenty of profits to share with restaurants like Starbucks (SBUX), Burger King (BKC), Caribou Coffee (CBOU) and others.

Shares of Chinese solar IPO JinkoSolar (JKS) are trading down today, as are many of the solar wafer makers including YGE, LDK and TSL.