Monday Randomosity

• Texas Instruments ($TXN) to buy National Semiconductor ($NSM) for $6.5B.  Darn, I was out bid again.  In scooping up National Semiconductor, TI is getting a storied Silicon Valley company whose history stretches back more than 50 years and is known for its power-management chips  The deal is the latest example of consolidation among big players in the technology world as trends such as the explosion in smartphones have shaken up the competitive landscape.  So, don’t these sorts of things happen near the end of bull markets when companies are at their most expensive?  Not always, but…?
• Rising energy prices seems to be one of those reasons not to buy airline stocks.  Another?  How about FAA to order Boeing 737s checked?
• Oil hits 30-month high.  Can I get a “Woo hoo?”
• Ben Bernanke downplays inflation fears.  "I think the increase in inflation will be transitory," Bernanke said when asked about recent comments from Walmart (WMT) that input costs will make their way into consumer prices. He attributed the strong gain in global energy and food prices to supply and demand conditions, adding he reckons these prices "will eventually stabilize."
• He “reckons.”  Priceless.
• Alright.  Back to the NCAA game.  Cheers!