More Sound and Fury From Cisco

Take a deep breath. Cisco (CSCO Quote) says the world is returning to normal, which surely must mean good things for its weather-beaten stock.

(For a look at Cisco's market share, click here.)

CEO John Chambers pleased Wall Streeters at the annual two-day analyst meeting, saying that November orders weren't marred by big cancellations and that numbers so far throughout the fourth quarter have been generally within expectations. With a nod to the need for hard-hitting techspeak, the executive cryptically characterized the month's results as "linear." ...