Commerce One's Stock Tumbles Despite the Company's Assurances

Updated from 12:48 p.m. ET

Commerce One's (CMRC Quote) shares were off sharply Friday on rumors the business-to-business software maker would have trouble hitting Wall Street's fourth-quarter estimates.

The stock came back somewhat, but it still was down $7.50, or 14%, at $45.81 recently. The concerns about the slowing sales also are coming just after company executives sold shares.

Commerce One offered a strong-worded rebuttal to the rumors, saying its business is on track for the current quarter and next year. Analysts expect the company will post a fourth-quarter loss of 7 cents a share and a profit of 2 cents a share next year, according to First Call/Thomson Financial. ...