Can HP Sway Apple's Tim Cook?

The waiting game in Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HPQ search for a new leader took an unexpected twist Tuesday on speculation that the beleaguered tech giant may be eyeing Apple Inc.'s AAPL well-regarded chief operating officer, Tim Cook, according to The Wall Street Journal. The rumor helped spike HP's stock by 1.1% while Apple's stock fell around 1%. Not everyone is convinced that HP would have the persuasive powers to woo Cook away, including Gleacher & Co's Brian Marshall who denies these rumors, saying "[Cook] obviously loves Apple and he's not going anywhere," Marshall in a phone interview. Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster also doesn't believe in the rumor, saying "Tim Cook is not going to leave Apple. He doesn't need money. He is the second most powerful guy in technology after Steve Jobs." HP and Apple have made no comments surrounding the rumors.