Microsoft Shares Surpass 1999 High on Cloud Computing Business

Microsoft ( (MSFT) - Get Report ) shares hit a new all time high. It's cloud business drove the gains, as sales have doubled. Microsoft ranks second in selling computer power and data storage capacity on demand over the internet, behind Amazon. Microsoft also said it expects its merger with LinkedIn ( (LNKD) ) to close in the spring. British American Tobacco said it has made an unsolicited $47 billion takeover offer for the rest of its American peer Reynolds American ( (RAI) ). The deal would create the world's largest tobacco company. The industry has been mired in litigation but at the same time, still enjoys steady profits. Qualcomm ( (QCOM) - Get Report ) could be on the verge of a massive deal. Bloomberg says the tech giant is in the final stages of negotiations to buy NXP Semicondcutrs for about $30 billion bucks.