Rumors have circulated that Apple could make the long-awaited announcement that songs from the Beatles catalog will finally be added to iTunes for download. To be sure speculation about the Beatles inclusion in iTunes is a well-worn Apple rumor, but some have noted that if such an announcement came today, it would coincide with the launch of the Beatles-based version of Rock Band as well as digitally remastered CD versions of the Beatles catalog, both to be officially launched today.
(For our money, we’re not betting on a Beatles announcement. Especially since the email invitation sent to reporters showed the dancing silhouette of a person with an iPod and the words: “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” a clear reference to the Rolling Stones anthem.) There was also some talk that Apple could potentially introduce a long-awaited tablet device. But most essentially expect a refresh of Apple’s iPod line with a version that includes a camera. Such low expectations might damp any push to sell Apple shares, says Chris Whitmore, a Deutsche Bank analyst covering Apple.
Yesterday, Barron’s Steven Sears reported that options traders had been taking bullish positions in the stock. But he noted, “even though investors are positioning for stock gains, traders are also setting up a “buy the rumor, sell the news” trade should case Apple’s announcement fall short of the hype.” “If there is any selling the news today, I’d expect it to be modest and short lived. We’re buyers on any pullback and view $225 as a reasonable medium-term target,” he wrote in an e-mail to MarketBeat.
