“Software company Red Hat Inc. was up US$1.14, or 14%, at
US$9.56, after rising 17% Tuesday and software company Caldera
Systems Inc. jumped 56 cents, or 21%, at US$3.19, after jumping 17%
Tuesday.”
“Keith Bachman, an analyst at ABN Amro, said, ‘We’re seeing
continued enthusiasm from the IBM news.’ The IBM investment
combined with Nasdaq’s robust but short-lived rally and sentiment
that the stocks have been pounded all boosted Linux companies, Mr.
Bachman said.”
But Mr. Bachman noted, ‘Although it is perceived as good for all
in the space, Wall Street should not overlook the fact that IBM is
a competitor of Linux.’ Computer giant IBM has been a strong
supporter of the Linux operating system, which is widely seen as an
alternative to Microsoft Corp.’s Windows, as well as to the host of
proprietary Unix operating-system variants sold by IBM’s
rivals.