Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Amazon loss on e-book pricing could fuel trend
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (2)
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Heavy rain in Miami forces changes in Super Bowl plans
01 Feb 2010
UPDATE 1-US missile test mimicking Iran strike fails
01 Feb 2010
WRAPUP 1-Australia cenbank skips a hike, in huge surprise
12:00am EST
U.S. seeks calm as China fumes over Taiwan arms
| Video
01 Feb 2010
U.S. expanding missile defenses in Gulf
31 Jan 2010
Pork better for sex than Viagra?
28 Jan 2010
Big banks' risky trading should be curbed: Volcker
01 Feb 2010
Dealmaking back in fashion, as CEOs buy growth
01 Feb 2010
Can fish oil help guard against schizophrenia?
01 Feb 2010
Heavy rain in Miami forces changes in Super Bowl plans
01 Feb 2010
Amazon loss on e-book pricing could fuel trend
Alexandria Sage
SAN FRANCISCO
Mon Feb 1, 2010 6:50pm EST
Related News
RPT-UPDATE 1-Amazon gives in to Macmillan on e-book pricing
Sun, Jan 31 2010
Amazon blows by estimates, sees strong first quarter
Fri, Jan 29 2010
UPDATE 3-Amazon holiday profit beats, sees strong 1st qtr
Thu, Jan 28 2010
Instant view: Microsoft, Amazon post strong quarters
Thu, Jan 28 2010
Apple pitches $499 iPad, takes on Amazon
Thu, Jan 28 2010
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A pricing battle lost by Amazon.com Inc to a top publisher may herald pressure from other publishers, compromising low e-book prices which could potentially hit sales volume growth for its Kindle e-reader.
Technology | Hot Stocks | Media
The news highlighted for the first time that the world's largest online retailer, and its market-leading Kindle, could soon be challenged by new rival Apple Inc in the mass transition to digital books.
Amazon's shares fell as much as 9 percent in the regular session before closing down 5.21 percent. It fell another 2.4 percent to $115.98 after hours.
"The thought is: Will other publishers now want to re-price their offerings on Amazon.com, which could affect their entire business model," said TD Ameritrade chief derivatives strategist Joe Kinahan.
The advent of Apple's highly touted iPad into the burgeoning digital book market has already set off a chain reaction, with publishers anxious to protect their profit margins against Amazon's desire for low prices.
On Sunday, Amazon alerted customers that it had bowed to pressure from publisher Macmillan, which insisted on charging $12.99 to $14.99 for its books sold at the Kindle e-reader bookstore rather than Amazon's standard $9.99.
The pricing reflects terms agreed upon by five of the six top publishers for selling e-books on Apple newly unveiled iPad multimedia tablet, the New York Times reported.
Amazon has long touted low prices and selection as its primary appeal to consumers, who helped push Amazon's revenue up 42 percent in its most recent fourth quarter.
Book pricing has been key to pushing growth of the Kindle since its launch in 2007, but has also put Amazon at odds with publishers. Major publishing houses have complained that low prices on digital versions of its titles will cannibalize sales of higher-priced hardback copies.
Amazon's dominance in e-books gave it the clout to demand lower prices; that is, until Apple emerged on the scene with the iPad and an iBookstore last week.
BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis called the concession to Macmillan "just the first repercussion to Amazon's Kindle and e-book franchise from the recently announced Apple product."
For its part, Amazon may have set itself up for disappointment by touting the Kindle's success, without providing supporting data. Last month, Forrester analyst James McQuivey told Reuters the stock could fall as much as 20 percent at the hint of Kindle's weakness.
On Monday, market watchers were surprised at Amazon's steep descent.
"The stock has technically broken down and it's just a matter of sellers piling up on sellers," said Michael James, senior trader at Wedbush Morgan in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, shares of Amazon rival Barnes & Noble, the bookseller whose Nook e-reader hit the market just before Christmas, rose 17 percent in after-hours trade on Monday after investor Ronald Burkle sought to raise his stake.
SELL-OFF OVERDONE?
Amazon does not disclose sales or profit data about the Kindle, only saying that millions of people have bought the device.
Some analysts believe Amazon sells the $9.99 titles at a loss, and recoups that through sales of its readers. That means that the higher sale price demanded by Macmillan will boost Amazon's e-book profit margin, noted at least two analysts who believe the sell-off in shares appeared overdone.
"Though Kindle revenue growth could be negatively impacted, higher prices would improve profitability," wrote UBS analyst Brian Pitz, adding that Amazon's "significant" pricing leverage should not be underestimated.
"The iPad is still untested as a reading device and we believe there is room in the market for dedicated eReaders," he said, reiterating a constant refrain from Amazon that Kindle customers are for dedicated, rather than casual, readers.
J.P. Morgan's Imran Khan, meanwhile, wrote that if prices on e-books were to rise to $14.99 from $9.99, volume would have to fall by more than a third in order for revenue to decline.
"We don't expect a material EPS impact," he wrote.
An Amazon spokesman cited the company's policy not to comment on share movement.
Apple rose 1.4 percent to $194.73 on Nasdaq.
(Additional reporting by Doris Frankel; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Maureen Bavdek and Richard Chang)
Technology
Hot Stocks
Media
Comments
See All Comments (2) | Post Comment
Feb 01, 2010
Duh, if the price went from 9.99 to 14.99 the volume would have to decrease by > 50% for revenue to decline. So the article is correct, but vastly underestimates the needed decline.
phillman5
Report As Abusive
Feb 01, 2010
At $9.99, I found it easy to click “buy” and have purchased more books since getting my Kindle than at any other time. Raise the price to $14.99 — or even $12.99 and I’ll be more inclined to visit my local library and haunt the used bookstores. MacMillan may yet discover that it is a Pyrrhic victory.
deathpixie
Report As Abusive
See All Comments (2)
Add a Comment
More from Reuters
Big banks' risky trading should be curbed: Volcker
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House adviser Paul Volcker will urge Congress to curb the risks taken by large banks to help prevent them from being treated as "too big to fail," according to testimony obtained by Reuters on Monday.
Asia shares rebound; resource stocks surge
| Video
Jan retail sales seen up, clues sought on Q1
Boeing sees aircraft order book shrinking
Obama's 2010 budget: deficit soars amid job spending
| Video
Nikkei rises 1.6 percent on yen and Toyota
» More Top News
ANALYSIS:
Clampdown fears stalk China
Global markets got jittery when China tightened its lending, but investors are ignoring one important thing. Full Article
What's next for China monetary policy?
Five risks to watch in China
Fretting over inflation in Asia
Global Markets
The powers driving India Inc.
One's a media baron who took on Rupert Murdoch -- and won. Another founded a company ranked with Facebook in global influence. Meet the business icons of India. Commentary
India factories buzzing, recovery intact
India
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts.com
Buyouts Europe:
Buyouts Conferences:
Venture Capital Journal
EVCJ
International Financing Review
International Securitisation Report
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Tuesday, 2 February 2010 Iran's judiciary chief refuses to speed executions
Hacker attack shuts website of Russian opposition newspaper
ExxonMobil profit at 6 billion dollars in fourth quarter
Macmillan raising e-book prices, Amazon opposed
A look at Iraq's March parliamentary vote
Attacks by female suicide bombers in Iraq
Nokia cuts phone prices as market growth returns
Fico favorite as Slovakia sets June 12 poll
|
Suicide bomber kills 41 Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq
Northern Ireland parties hopeful deal can be done
|
Yiddish poet Abraham Sutzkever, 96, dies in Israel
NATO pressing for more training for Afghan forces
|
Iran top judge rejects "political" hanging pressure
Berlusconi: Bring Israel into the EU
Ukraine's Tymoshenko revels as rival shuns TV clash
|
Female suicide bomber hits Iraq pilgrims, kills 54
Pope confirms Britain visit, attacks equality bill
|
Nokia cuts phone prices as market growth returns
7 US, European scientists win Israel's Wolf Prize
4 NATO troops, 1 from US, die in Afghan fighting
Pakistani Taliban promise proof leader is alive
Prosecutors quizz Japan ruling party heavyweight
Taiwan tunnel project cleared of typhoon deaths
Pakistan offers to train Afghan security forces
Obama budget would impose host of tax increases
Rival Koreas' talks sputter; North's guns quiet
Plane reporting on traffic lands on NJ Turnpike
Ore. faith healing case: Jury deliberations resume
States seeking to ban mandatory health insurance
Pakistan detains American man near Afghan border
Obama to visit Indonesia, Australia in March
Sri Lanka opposition complains of gov't pressure
NY grand jury indicts father of man in terror plot
Sri Lanka in biggest military purge after coup fears
Strong economy to help Thailand face protests: PM
Blaze that killed 5 in NYC is ruled arson
Obama seeks $192B for wars
US envoy say Iraqi vote must be accepted as fair
Without groundhogs, Alaska to celebrate Marmot Day
FACTBOX-Five political risks to watch in New Zealand
Obama seeks boost in Pakistan aid
60th Berlin film fest goes back to East-West roots
Rising exports boost India manufacturing activity
Etta James remains hospitalized in Riverside
Transformers, Bullock among Razzie contenders
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
CBS sells out Super Bowl advertising spots
Egypt tightens penalties for relics robbers, smugglers
UK pop sale for Haiti raises $80,000 so far
|
Rip Torn appears in Conn. court on burglary charge
CBS sells out Super Bowl advertising spots
|
France honors actors Jim Carrey and EwaMcGregor
'Transformers', 'Land of Lost' top Oscar 'flops'
Pauly Fuemana of How Bizarre fame dies
|
Stars gather to cover 'We Are the World' for Haiti
National Portrait Gallery hangs image of Salinger
Pauly Fuemana of "How Bizarre" fame dies
Marine deaths underline US struggle in Afghanistan
HRW calls on Russia to stop blocking 'peaceful' demos
US-TECH Summary
French court seeks answers on deadly Concorde crash
Google News tunes into favored topics
South Korea rules out payoff for summit with North
|
Obama answers questions from YouTube users
U.S. fails to hit missile mimicking Iranian strike
Sony Pictures Entertainment cuts 450 jobs
'Mutiny' hits elite Russian riot police: report
U.S. seeks calm as China fumes over Taiwan arms
|
Russian economy shrinks almost 8 percent in 2009
Iraq: Key figures since the war began
Ukraine's Yanukovich skips televised election debate
Berlusconi says Israel should join EU
ExxonMobil profit at 6 billion dollars in fourth quarter
Abbas offers talks with Israel if building halted
|
Israelis disciplined in attack on UN warehouse
1,400 Twitter users tweet about democracy in US contest
Obama seeks to create jobs, cut deficit in 2011 budget
Russia arrests deal a blow to free speech: U.S.
|
Bill Clinton to coordinate Haiti relief efforts
|
Amazon, Macmillan in public tussle over e-book prices
"Alarming" rise in cyberattacks at social networks: Sophos
Somali pirates release cargo ship, ransom paid
|
Pope confirms Britain visit, attacks equality bill
|
Amazon loss on e-book pricing could fuel trend
|
Smartphone competition to bite in 2010 after Q4 boom
|
Audio shows slain Ariz. officer was wary at stop
Leaked Lost episode spurs surprising fan reaction
|
TX store sells $144 million-winning lottery ticket
Stars gather to cover 'We Are the World' for Haiti
Judge denies feng shui master Wang fortune
Obama unveils budget for tough times
China investigates as melamine-tainted milk reappears
Google launches Chinese holiday travel map amid row
Backhoes, dogs search snow for Iowa State student
Australia PM warns of 'tight' elections
First woman set to lead California National Guard
Protester throws excrement into Thai PM's house
Gates to announce senior-level review on gay ban
Arrest of Americans deepens Haiti adoption debate
Malaysia's Anwar to call PM to sodomy trial
HK feng shui master loses bid for tycoon's fortune
Hong Kong 'referendum' sets China on edge
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
China launches emergency sweep for tainted milk
Stars gather to cover 'We Are the World' for Haiti
China ore standoff shows limits to economic clout
Toyota denies electronic problems in recall
S.Korea T-bond futures turn up after RBA decision
SKorean currency reserves hit fresh record high
PAKISTAN
Star power: celebrity endorsements surge at Grammys
|
It's top-10 time as Oscars reveal expanded lineup
S.Korea fund to buy stake in British airport
Oscars then and now: A look at 1939's 10 nominees
|
China's interests may limit sanctions on US firms
Orlando Bloom to star in Good Doctor
|
US jazz supremo Metheny re-invents one-man band in France
HBO eyes biopic about anti-gay activist Bryant
Toyota gears up for mass faulty pedals fix
Olivia Wilde lassos role in Cowboys and Alien
|
Leaked Lost episode spurs surprising fan reaction
|
Oscars then and now: A look at 1939's 10 nominees
S.Korean bonds fall on U.S. lead, firmer shares
Transformers, Bullock among Razzie contenders
|
HBO eyes biopic about anti-gay activist Bryant
|
Korean pension fund to buy 12 pct stake in Gatwick airport -FT
Captain of 'Deadliest Catch' ship suffers stroke
Leaked "Lost" episode spurs surprising fan reaction
Rip Torn headed for rehab after arrested drunk in bank
|
Grammy TV audience biggest in six years
|
Star power: celebrity endorsements surge at Grammys
Matthew Broderick heads to "Beach" for TV pilot
Colbert faces off with Ford Jr. over NY residency
Afghan leader seeks Saudi help with Taliban
|
Iran to hang nine more over election unrest
Univision launches YouTube channel
China warns U.S. on Dalai Lama, says to punish arms firms
|
Concorde trial starts in France 10 years after crash
|
Iran: US missile system meant to sow Gulf division
CORRECTED
Iran to hang nine more over election unrest
|
Mousavi says he will fight for Iranians' rights
Ex-UK minister says Blair lied over Iraq war
|
Dictatorship exists in Iran despite revolution: Mousavi
Afghan drug trade fuels insurgency
Iran criticizes U.S. missile deployments in Gulf
|
West eyes Iran central bank in sanction push
Witness links Berlusconi associate to top mobster
|
Americans held in Pakistan complain of torture
|
Half population of south Sudan short of food -U.N.
|
Crisis-hit Greeks scramble for tax receipts
|
Google pushes Chrome browser as PC battle looms
|
Online gamers set for consolidation wave in 2010
|
Karzai to talk Taliban reconciliation with Saudis
US official: China overreacted to Taiwan arms sale
Man who spent 3 months in Tokyo airport to leave
Use of Twitter, Facebook rising among gang members
Concorde crash trial to open in France
Americans held in Pakistan complain of torture
Sioux reservation struggling after winter storms
Indonesia to probe villas built in national park
'Terminal' activist to keep campaigning in China
Obama team pitching budget, jobs plan on Hill
Republican, Democrat hopefuls target Obama Senate seat
US to Japan: Solve int'l child custody problems
Philippine survey shows Aquino rival catching up
Pakistani rupee firms; o/n rates down; stocks flat
Upbeat US figures boost Asian markets
Violence erupts in N.Korea as hunger woes mount
Hollywood counts down to Oscar nominations
Nomura in black for third straight quarter
Siemens to invest $346mln in India
China faces risks from bank lending surge: OECD
Costco to spend about $940 mln in Taiwan expansion
Violence erupts in North Korean markets: reports
Avatar, Hurt Locker lead groundbreaking Oscars
|
OECD recommends stronger Chinese currency
Sandra Bullock poised for first Oscar
|
Toyota fears greater damage from latest recall
Stars remake We Are The World for Haiti victims
|
Danica Patrick to appear on 'CSI: NY'
Leung: Wong Kar-wai's kung fu biopic action-packed
Jaws producer David Brown dies at 93 in New York
|
Obama to show family his Indonesian past on visit
"Avatar" tightens its grip on UK box office
Cigarette-maker repents over exploding product
Simon Cowell's Haiti single hits airwaves
|
Simon Cowell's Haiti single hits airwaves
Orlando Bloom to star in "Good Doctor"
US to change military gay ban: report
Olivia Wilde lassos role in "Cowboys and Alien"
Bordeaux wine industry rallies to survive in US
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights