News Summary (HPQ, DTV, GOOG, GS)

According to James B Stewart, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) still has plenty of questions to answer. Some of the questions that need answering are the company’s justification for paying a $35 million exit package to Mark Hurd after forcing him to resign for reasons that have still not been made public. Until HPQ clarifies these questions, Stewart thinks that traders should not have confidence in the company’s board and the stock should be avoided.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and DirecTV (NYSE: DTV) have signed a partnership deal that lets the search giant sell ads on some cable networks even during prime time. The deal is part of GOOG’s attempts to diversify its ad media. The company exited the radio ad business in February 2009.

Contrary to first impressions, financial reform may help instead of hindering Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS). Senior Goldman executives are said to be informing analysts that the new law is unlikely to cost the bank any revenue. According to an analyst, “The statement was perhaps surprising in its level of conviction, but we’ve learned to take such judgments from GS very seriously.”

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