Adobe Systems

Digital media, wireless pay terminals, and fuel cell technology -- sounds like the ingredients for a plot to take over the world, or, at the very least, the stuff that will dominate high-tech headlines in the coming days. The five companies behind these technologies will loom large in the news this week. Here's what to watch.

Adobe Systems's fiscal third-quarter earnings beat analyst expectations, but share prices plunged in after-hours trading after the largest maker of graphic-design software released lower-than-expected guidance for the fourth quarter.

Housing data is in the financial spotlight this week, along with an FOMC meeting, the leading economic indicators index and quarterly reports from a number of companies including Adobe, AutoZone and Lennar.

Did tech giants Apple, Intel, Google, and Adobe enter into "no-poach" agreements with each other? The Department of Justice is wrapping up its year-long investigation, which centers on whether such agreements may have kept wages artificially low.

Adobe Systems posted a higher-than-expected 34% gain in second-quarter revenues to $943 million, fueled by strong growth from its Creative Suite 5. Net income climbed 17.8% to $148.6 million. Adobe also approved a share buyback of up to $1.6 billion in common stock.

No one likes tossing out cookies, but privacy gurus say clearing them off your hard drive is one of the best ways to protect your ID from falling into the hands of online thieves. But if Adobe Systems has anything to do about it, keeping your browser's cupboard free of cookie crumbs is going to...