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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

Gilead to Buy CV Therapeutics

In a surprise move this morning, Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire CV Therapeutics, often referred to as "CVT" (NASDAQ: CVTX) for $1.4 billion, or $20 per share. The news comes a month after CVT rejected an unsolicited bid from Astellas Pharmaceuticals for $1.0 billion, or $16 per share. Once the deal closes, CV Therapeutics will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead.

We are surprised by the announcement this morning considering the move is outside Gilead's core focus of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. CV Therapeutics' leading product, Ranexa, is indicated for the treatment of chronic angina.

Boeing Buffeted by Obama Budget

It seems apocalyptical that President Obama's spending plan -- which is intended to save the country from ruin and despair -- has now being dubbed the "787 budget" by some pundits. That may not sit well with The Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) and us folks in the Pacific Northwest.

First, Boeing encountered humongous problems getting the 787 Dreamliner to fly. Then, the economy nosedives and airlines cancel or, at the very least, defer orders for new airplanes because they don't need them and/or can't get financing. Now, there is word from Washington that several defense contracts for which Boeing is vying (or has already won) may be delayed or terminated.

It appears that the program to replace existing aging aerial refueling tankers -- the KC-135s and KC-10s -- may be delayed for 5 years. Boeing had lost that program to Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE: NOC), but then the government relented and now it's in limbo. In 5 years, the 767 -- the basis for Boeing's offering -- may have gone the way of the 757, et al: it will be out of production.

Notes on eBay's Analyst Meeting

On March 11, eBay Inc.