IONA TECHNOLOGIES PLC, the Irish maker of software that allows companies to integrate their computer networks, hired Lehman Brothers Inc to advise it on strategic alternatives for the business including a possible merger or sale.

IBM will report net income of 98 cents a share on sales of $21.4 billion, up from three cents and $19.65 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to the average estimates of analysts polled by Thomson.

US COMPUTER-RELATED stocks rose after Oracle Corp raised its offer for software maker PeopleSoft Inc and Lehman Brothers Inc boosted its rating on three semiconductor makers.