Apple, Google Fight The Battle Of Image

By Wall Street Titan:Both Fuel Cell Energy (FCEL) and First Solar (FSLR) are alternative energy companies that manufacture large power plants to provide clean energy in the megawatt class market. They both compete with the grid and seek to partner with utilities and also supply green energy solutions to large business.

There was a time when e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar stores existed in separate worlds. Then came high-speed wireless and powerful smartphones, and the retailing world has never been the same.

By Dana Blankenhorn: I own shares in both Google (GOOG) and Apple (AAPL) and both have done well for me, so I don't necessarily have a dog in this fight.But over the last three months I have noticed the trend of GOOG outperforming AAPL, Google continuing to race toward new highs while Apple remains stubbornly under $700/share.

By Dana Blankenhorn: First Solar (FSLR) is the solar company Wall Street loves to hate.

By Dana Blankenhorn: The First Solar (FSLR) roller coaster has lately been tilted upward.After riding through the great recession at prices upward of $190/share, FSLR shares fell steadily through 2011 and at one point last year were as cheap as $12.80. Since then there has been a steady rise, peaking at over $55. They are now at about $51.So what is it? What's going on?

I've often noted how trade disputes have a habit of reproducing in other jurisdictions, and with the United States and China duking it out over trade in solar panels and other "green" technologies, it was only a matter of time before other countries got into the mix.   But even I'm a little surprised at just how fast India has gotten involved:

By Dana Blankenhorn: As I've said many times here, solar technology is currently very bad for sellers and very good for buyers. So long as you can't amortize the power a cell generates against its carrying cost and get a profit against grid energy, this will be the case. Solar companies will be struggling for buyers, finding motives for them to clear out their inventory at some price.

By Dana Blankenhorn: Most reporting on the Apple (AAPL) vs. Android (GOOG) patent war make it a two-way affair. Apple is suing Android OEMs, but they're suing back. That is about to end.