Stocks in the news: Bank of America, J.M. Smucker, Vonage, Pier 1

The following post rounds up the companies making headlines today:

Google Inc. (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT) -- the tension between the two rivals continues to grow as the bing search engine continues to grow its market share and after Microsoft claimed Wednesday that a Google application disables a key function in Microsoft's Outlook email program.

Bank of America Corp. (BAC) has been paying millions in bonuses in order to lure talent and retain investment bankers the company views as vital, the New York Post reported.