Traders Crank Up the Cisco Chatter

Cisco(CSCO Quote) isn't due to report earnings for another month yet, but already traders can't stop talking about the networking giant's fiscal third-quarter numbers.

Two days of speculation have sent the stock bounding every which way, dropping 8% Tuesday and rising 5% Wednesday. Each day Cisco was among the most actively traded shares on the Nasdaq.

The swings have taken place as investors, longs and shorts alike, have thrown up their hands and given up trying to find the right entry point on the stock. This week has provided a handy illustration of the dilemma, as Tuesday's vague rumors of a shortfall were answered Wednesday by a volley of squishy reassurances from Wall Street analysts. ...