Updating Bank of America, The Boeing Co., General Mills, Inc., and Intel Corp.

Article Excerpt

BANK OF AMERICA $47 (New York symbol BAC) aims to complete its acquisition of MBNA CORP. $27 (New York symbol KRB) in January 2006. The merger seems certain to go through, so MBNA stockholders should tender their shares to avoid paying brokerage fees. Bank of America is a buy. THE BOEING CO. $71 (New York symbol BA) has raised its quarterly dividend 20%, from $0.25 a share to $0.30. The new annual rate of $1.20 yields 1.7%. But high fuel costs could slow demand for new planes. Hold. GENERAL MILLS, INC. $50 (New York symbol GIS) raised its quarterly dividend 3.0%, from $0.33 a share to $0.34. The new annual rate of $1.36 yields 2.7%. Earnings should grow 6% in the current fiscal year, despite rising marketing and other costs. Buy. INTEL CORP. $27 (Nasdaq symbol INTC) has formed a joint venture with Micron Technology Inc. to make flash memory chips for consumer electronics, data storage and communications devices. Demand and prices for…