This week in mergers...and rumors by Microsoft Windows XP

Filed under: Bags, Rumors, Exxon Mobil (XOM), Private effects, Chevron Corp (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Gap Inc (GPS), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP), US Airways Troop (LCC), PetroChina Co Ltd ADR (PTR)

Some mergers and rumors this week have impacted many stocks. Here are some brief summaries of the deals worth noting with ongoing and outstanding issues:

The early early departure of BP, plc's (ADR) (NYSE:BP) CEO is fueling more M&A speculation around it and Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDA-A); but this could have major hurdles to overcome.

Zebra Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ZBRA) made a great acquisition of WhereNet to expand RFID operations and this is the sort of acquisition that can help it get its stock mojo back.

Placer Sierra Bancshares' (NASDAQ:PLSB) acquisition by Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) creates the need to revisit my old BAIT SHOP call on First Community Bancorp (NASDAQ:FCBP) that has been active since December 2005.

The Gap Inc.'s (NYSE:GPS) recent management changes might just make the company even harder to find a buyer for at an attractive price above current levels.

A fello w Bloggingstocks contributor here notes AirTran Holdings, Inc.'s (NYSE:AAI) higher bid for Midwest Air Group, Inc. (AMEX:MEH).

Another fellow Bloggingstocks contributor keyed in on this ongoing hostile takeover cat fight between US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE:LCC) and Delta Airlines, Inc. (OTC:DALRQ).

Western Digital Corp. (NYSE:WDC) was a bit of a scare earlier this week as the price was getting bruised, but keeping some discipline and not blinking kept any real change of heart from happening. This is still a fairly cheap stock that an overseas or private equity firm wouldn't get scared away from and it hasn't shown any real negative reversal that would blow-out the logic for it being a takeover targe t.

Have a great 3-day weekend.

Jon ogg is a partner in 24/7 Wall St., LLC; He does not own securities in the companies he covers.

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