December 2008 Archives

Analysts expect Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) to introduce lower priced iPhones and MacBooks next year.  The stock price lost 94 cents to close at $85.35.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Labopharm Inc.'s (Nasdaq: DDSS) once a day extended release pain medication RYZOLT sending shares of the pharmaceutical soaring 47 cents to close at $1.82.

Shares of VeriFone Holdings Inc. (NYSE: PAY) tumbled 69 cents to close at $4.90 after the maker of checkout-line payment terminals and software delayed its annual report filing to make goodwill accounting adjustments due to a decline in business.

American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) asked the Federal Reserve to ease its payment terms on $60 billion in loans while what was once the world's largest insurance company continued to liquidate assets.  The stock price eased 4 cents to $1.52.

Washington state regulators approved the pending sale of Puget Sound Energy (NYSE: PSD) for $7.4 billion to a New York-based investment group held by Canadian and Australian investors.  Shares of the electric company leaped $4.26 to $27.43.

 

Akorn Inc. (Nasdaq: AKRX) received FDA approval for generic versions of an antibiotic sending the stock price soaring 44 cents to $2.39.

Bargain hunters snapped up shares of JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq: JASO), whose stock price has tumbled over the last few months.  Shares of the solar cell maker leaped 99 cents to close at $4.42.

Wells Fargo Cuts 53 Jobs

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Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) announced the elimination of 53 positions due to the company's upcoming merger with Wachovia (NYSE: WB).  Shares of Wells Fargo gained 97 cents to close at $28.80 while Wachovia stock rose 27 cents to close at $5.73.

Flextronics International Ltd. (Nasdaq: FLEX) announced that it accepted approximately $259,999,000 in aggregate principal amount for its cash tender offer.  The stock price climbed 24 cents to close at $2.51.

 

Apex Silver Mines Ltd. (NYSE: SIL) received a noncompliance notice that may delist the stock due to substantial losses.  The stock price plummeted 63 cents to 66 cents.

Savient Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SVNT) received fast-track approval from the FDA for its drug treatment of gout sending the stock price soaring 79 cents to $5.71.

 

Total assistance going to the auto industry rose to $23.4 billion after GMAC's application to become a bank holding company was approved by the Federal Reserve making the company eligible for financial rescue funds.  Shares of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) rose 17 cents to $3.77.

 

Standard Pacific Upgraded

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UBS upgraded homebuilder Standard Pacific Corp. (NYSE: SPF) to lift the stock price 16 cents to close at $1.56.
AgFeed Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: FEED) suspended its share repurchase plan and will raise $8.8 million through the sale of 5 million shares of common stock to institutional investors sending the stock price tumbling 70 cents to close at $1.52.

Despite the cancellation of a $17.4 billion joint venture with the Kuwaiti government, Dow Chemical Co.'s (NYSE: DOW) proposed acquisition of Rohm & Haas (NYSE: ROH) will move forward but analyst expect terms of the deal to change.  Shares of Dow plunged $3.60 to close at $15.32 while Rohm & Haas stock plummeted $10.22 to close at $53.34.

A Barron's article said that despite falling natural gas and oil prices, Linn Energy LLC (Nasdaq: LINE) will continue to make its quarterly cash distributions to shareholders, which offer a yield of 20%.  The stock price surged $2.17 to close at $14.15.

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Capstone Turbine Corp. (Nasdaq: CPST) filed a $150 million shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission sending the stock price tumbling 20 cents to close at 91 cents.
Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: SRZ) entered a standstill agreement with two of its subsidiaries and its lender sending the stock price soaring 38 cents to close at $1.74.

John Dvorak of MarketWatch spotlighted Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) as a 10-bagger stock, one whose stock price is expected to surge by a factor of ten over a two year period.  Shares of the semiconductor rose 19 cents to close at $2.18.

GMAC Becomes Bank

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The Federal Reserve approved GMAC's application to become a bank, which now allows the auto finance company to apply for government loans. General Motors (NYSE: GM) stock surged 41 cents to close at $3.66.

Jones Apparel Group Inc. (NYSE: JNY) consolidated and reduced its $1.25 billion lines of credit into a single $600 million line of credit with more flexibility sending the stock price soaring $1.73 to close at $5.62.

Record Sales For Amazon.com

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Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) reported that the 2008 holiday shopping season was the best for the online retailer with over 6.3 million items ordered on its peak day.  The stock price added 34 cents to close at $51.78.


 



 

Shares of KV Pharmaceutical Co. (NYSE: KV-A) continued falling by dropping another 72 cents to close at $1.99 after the company recalled one production lot of a painkiller and halted shipments of all tablet drugs yesterday.
CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) completed its debt exchange offer which replaced certain debt with more favorable debt instruments.  Shares of the bank dropped 45 cents to close at $3.81.

Bargain Hunters Lift GM

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Bargain hunters snapped up shares of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM).  The stock price gained 25 cents to close at $3.25.

Micron Widens Losses

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Although Micron Technology Inc. (NYSE: MU) widened first quarter losses to 91 cents per share compared with losses of 34 cents per share in the year ago period, revenue topped estimates lifting the stock price 23 cents to close at $2.59.

YRC Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: YRCW) cancelled a debt tender offer and announced a $150 million contract to sell and lease back some of its facilities.  The stock price dropped 60 cents to close at $2.64.


Industrial real estate investment trust ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) sold its Chinese operations and Japanese equity stakes for $1.3 billion in cash sending the stock price soaring $3.18 to close at $13.28.


Standard & Poor's cited the difficult retail environment for downgrading the credit ratings on Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ).  The stock price plunged 70 cents to close at $2.28.

Standard & Poor's downgraded the credit ratings of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F).  Shares of GM tumbled 52 cents to close at $3.00 while Ford stock dropped 40 cents to close at $2.19. 
KV Pharmaceutical Co. (NYSE: KV-A) voluntarily suspended shipments of all drugs in tablet form and recalled a production lot of its pain management medication Hydromorphone.  The stock price skidded $2.68 to close at $2.71.


American Greetings Corp. (NYSE: AM) swung to a third quarter loss of $4.25 per share compared with income of 52 cents per share in the year ago period due to significant charges and lower revenue amidst a slumping economy.  Shares of the greeting card company plummeted $3.42 to close at $6.40.

PLD To Sell Properties

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ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) announced plans to sell its Chinese properties and its stake in Japanese property funds to Singapore's GIC Real Estate for approximately $1.3 billion.  Shares of the real estate investment trust climbed 94 cents to close at $10.10.


 

FDA Approves Epix's Vasovist

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The Food and Drug Administration approved Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (Nasdaq: EPIX) magnetic resonance angiography blood vessel imaging agent Vasovist sending the stock price soaring 46 cents to close at $1.66.

Mortgage defaults continue rising in all loan categories including loans that have been modified sending shares of Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) tumbling $1.94 to close at $27.42 and Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) down 21 cents to close at $5.45.
The Wall Street Journal reported that General Growth Properties Inc. (NYSE: GGP) agreed to seek the consent of certain lenders before making any significant decisions in order to extend the deadline for debt payment.  Shares of the real estate investment trust plunged 40 cents to close at $1.35.

LSI Lowers Outlook

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Shares of LSI Corp. (NYSE: LSI) continued to fall by dropping another 69 cents to close at $3.19 after lowering its fourth quarter forecast last week.

Private equity firm Elevation Partners will invest $100 million in Palm Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) in exchange for Series C preferred stock that is convertible to common stock as well as warrants to purchase 7 million shares of common stock.  The stock price rose 48 cents to $2.97.

SINA To Buy Focus Media

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SINA Corporation (Nasdaq: SINA) announced a $1.2 billion deal to buy substantially all of the assets of Focus Media Holding Ltd.'s (Nasdaq: FMCN) digital out-of-home advertising networks.  Shares of SINA plummeted $4.39 to $24.85 while Focus Media stock plunged $1.99 to $8.99.

 

GM Falls

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Shares of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) fell 78 cents to $3.71 on expectations that shareholders will hold little to no equity in the automaker.  Analysts focused on the company's inability to pay back loans. 

Homebuilder Standard Pacific Corp. (NYSE: SPF) confirmed rumors that it was in discussions with rival TOUSA.  Shares of Standard Pacific plunged 62 cents to close at $1.36.
PDL BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: PDLI) was removed from the S&P MidCap 400 index after it spun off its biotechnology busines into a separate unit sending the stock price plummeting $2.25 to close at $6.75.

Provident Bankshares Corp. (Nasdaq: PBKS) agreed to be acquired by M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) for approximately $401 million in an all stock deal.  Shares of Provident Bankshares leaped $3.53 to close at $9.33 while M&T Bank stock tumbled $3.76 to close at $55.96.

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq: EGLE) will suspend its dividend and slash capital spending by approximately $363 million or 33% sending the stock price plunging $2.34 to $6.59.

Shares of medical device maker ArthroCare Corp. (Nasdaq: ARTC) skidded $9.08 to $7.15 after its CFO resigned over accounting issues related to the company's acquisition of DiscoCare.

 

Shares of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) climbed 39 cents to $4.05 and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) added 4 cents to $2.88 even as a number of factories began shutting down in order to cut expenses and reduce inventory.  The federal government announced a $17.4 billion bailout of the auto industry.

Stone Energy Corp. (NYSE: SGY) lowered its fourth quarter production outlook as oil prices continued falling sending the stock price plummeting $2.43 to close at $9.54.

Take-Two Widens Losses

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Shares of video game developer and publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO) plummeted $3.16 to close at $8.91 after reporting higher revenues and a wider fourth quarter loss of 20 cents per share compared with a loss of 10 cents per share last year.

Jefferies & Co. analyst Adam Benjamin downgraded Atheros Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHR) after the semiconductor maker lowered its fourth quarter outlook.  The stock price plunged $2.81 to close at $13.19.

 

XL Capital Ltd. (NYSE: XL) opened a regional office in Atlanta for its insurance operations to lift the stock price 85 cents to $4.41.
Micron Technology Inc. (NYSE: MU) developed with Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: JAVA) a new technology that extended the lifespan of flash-based storage.  Shares of Micron leaped 53 cents to $2.70 while Sun stock edged up 7 cents to $4.26.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) denied reports that it has reopened merger talks with Chrysler.  Both automakers were at risk of going bankrupt without a government bailout.  Shares of GM tumbled 55 cents to $3.82.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV) chief executive Ara Hovnanian expects the housing market to continue to be challenging in 2009 and called upon the government to enact a stimulus package to shore up home prices.  Shares of the homebuilder tumbled 38 cents to close at $2.27.

Constellation Rebuffs Buffet

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Constellation Energy Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CEG) rebuffed Warren Buffet's offer to purchase the company for $4.7 billion choosing instead to sell half of its nuclear energy business to Electricite de France SA.  The stock price plummeted $5.74 to close at $23.00.

Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M) amended its $2 billion credit agreement making it more flexible sending shares of the department store operator surging $1.54 to close at $10.01. 

Leggett & Platt Inc. (NYSE: LEG) warned of a fourth quarter loss and cut its full year guidance due to weak demand.  The stock price dropped $1.44 to $14.08.

Rubbermaid Slashes Outlook

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Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL) blamed the slumping global economy for slashing its fourth quarter as well as its full year outlook.  The company also announced job cuts and salary freezes sending the stock price plummeting $3.79 to $9.39.

Shares of Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE: SAY) leaped $2.74 to $8.45 after the India-based company cancelled a very unpopular acquisition plan.

Altria Group Falls

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Shares of Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) fell 67 cents to close at $14.54 despite a Court of Appeals rejection of a product liability claim against tobacco companies.
Barclays Capital lowered its price target and cut its fourth quarter outlook as well as 2009 earnings expectations for Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) but the stock price climbed 99 cents to close at $15.10 after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates.

Conexant Warns Of Losses

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Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CNXT) warned of a first quarter loss due to disappointing demand and slashed its revenue guidance for the first quarter.  The semiconductor company also announced the departure of chief financial officer Karen Roscher sending the stock price plunging 53 cents to close at 81 cents.


 

Genworth Advances

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Shares of Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) continued surging by gaining 53 cents to $3.33 over expectations that the insurer will become eligible for the government's capital purchase plan after completing its acquisition of InterBank.

Satyam To Buy Maytas

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Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE: SAY) proposed to buy out Maytas Properties and acquire a 51% stake in listed Maytas Infra for a total cost of $1.6 billion, according to a Dow Jones report.  The stock price plummeted $7.44 to $5.11.

Best Buy Co. (NYSE: BBY) reported lower third quarter profits of 13 cents per share compared with 53 cents per share in the year ago period and offered buyout packages to nearly all of its corporate employees with the goal of cutting spending by 50%.  Shares of the consumer electronics retailer leaped $3.90 to $27.37.

Shopping center owner Developers Diversified Realty Corp. (NYSE: DDR) will not be able to sell thirteen assets by mid-December as originally announced sending the stock price tumbling 99 cents to close at $4.70.

OceanFreight Downgraded

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Oppenheimer downgraded OceanFreight Inc. (Nasdaq: OCNF) after the dry bulk shipper announced a suspension of all future dividend payments and cut the charter rates for its M/V Augusta carrier.  The stock price plummeted $1.21 to close at $3.23.

The board of Liberty Media Capital (Nasdaq: LCAPA) approved plans to spin off its Liberty Entertainment Group (Nasdaq: LMDIA) business.  Shares of Liberty Media eased a penny to close at $3.01 while Liberty Entertainment stock surged $3.14 to close at $16.10.

Gaylord Undervalued

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A Barron's article said that hospitality and entertainment company Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE: GET) stock is undervalued and should be worth $50 prompting an upgrade.  The stock price leaped $1.90 to $10.95.

Huntsman Acquisition Off

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Chemicals maker Huntsman Corp. (NYSE: HUN) would no longer be acquired by Hexion Specialty Chemicals sending the stock price plummeting $2.92 to $2.93.  The collapse of the $6.5 billion deal triggered a $1 billion legal settlement with Hexion's private-equity owner, Apollo Global Management LP.

MGM Sells Treasure Island

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Casino operator MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) announced the sale of the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino to billionaire Phil Ruffin for a much-needed $500 million in cash.  The stock price rose 61 cents to $11.30.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani cut his fiscal 2009 outlook for Flextronics International Ltd. (Nasdaq: FLEX) and lowered his price target due to a slump in demand sending the stock price tumbling 18 cents to close at $2.21.
Shopping center operator Macerich Co. (NYSE MAC) announced that more than half of the sites previously occupied by bankrupt Mervyns will be taken by Forever 21 or Kohl's.  The stock price surged $2.48 to close at $14.29.

The Department of Justice said that 61 branches of National City Corp. (NYSE: NCC) must be sold before PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) will be allowed to acquire National City.  Shares of National City climbed 14 cents to close at $1.86 while PNC stock soared $2.51 to close at $49.16.



 

Waters Lowers Outlook

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Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) lowered its 2009 outlook.  Analysts promptly downgraded the medical equipment maker sending the stock price plunging $5.37 to $36.51.
Exelixis Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) which will make an upfront cash payment of $195 million to develop two drugs to slow cancer cells.  Shares of Exelixis surged 89 cents to $4.62 while Bristol-Myers stock gained 86 cents to $22.30.

Investors were optimistic that troubled mall owner General Growth Properties Inc. (NYSE: GGP) may be able to negotiate an extension on $900 million in debt.  The stock price soared 36 cents to $1.80.

Lululemon Warns

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Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Nasdaq: LULU) reported higher third quarter earnings of 13 cents per share compared with 11 cents per share that topped expecations but warned that fourth quarter as well as full year results will fall short of estimates prompting a downgrade.  Shares of the sportswear maker skidded $3.38 to close at $7.08.

Urban Outfitters Inc. (Nasdaq: URBN) reported flat November same store sales and warned that sales will most likely fall prompting analyst to cut their price targets for the lifestyle specialty retailer.  The stock price plummeted $3.88 to close at $14.98.

 

Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) will seek FDA approval for the once a week diabetes drug exenatide LAR the company developed with Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) and Alkermes (Nasdaq: ALKS).  Shares of Amylin surged $1.50 to close at $10.05 while Eli Lilly stock rose 61 cents to close at $35.62.  Alkermes stock soared $1.24 to close at $9.94.

 

 

Emcore Corp. (Nasdaq: EMKR) reported a wider than expected fourth quarter loss of $19.4 million compared with losses of $17.5 million last year despite higher revenue as gross margin tumbled.

Gildan Trims Outlook

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Apparel maker Gildan Activewear Inc. (NYSE: GIL) curtailed its earnings outlook due to the higher cost of cotton sending the stock price plummeting $4.98 to $9.19.

 

Shares of American Italian Pasta Co. (Nasdaq: AIPC) surged $4.70 to $21.25 after the nation's largest pasta maker posted higher fourth quarter revenues and profits that tripled to 36 cents per share from 10 cents per share in the year ago period.

Bloomberg News reported that XL Capital Ltd. (NYSE: XL) retained the services of Goldman Sachs to explore a possible sale of the company.  The stock price plummeted $1.89 to close at $3.90.
Ivory Investment Management, which owns 1.5% of Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), urged the Internet services provider to set aside differences and reopen negotiations with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) in order to sell its search operations to Microsoft.  Shares of Yahoo climbed $1.21 to close at $13.40 while Microsoft stock edged up a penny to close at $20.61.


 

Focus Media Holding Ltd. (NYSE: FMCN) will close its wireless advertising business which will result in a $20 million impairment charge and will also take a $200 million noncash restructuring charge in the fourth quarter for its in-store advertising network.  The stock price surged $1.30 to close at $8.54.

Shares of Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS) wilted $3.28 to $16.07 after the video game publisher lowered its 2009 outlook while announcing plans to cut 6% of its workforce.
Shares of DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq: DRYS) rallied again by soaring $1.31 to $10.76 after the company cancelled plans to acquire 4 carriers.  The stock has more than doubled in price in a week.


 

Shares of Office Depot Inc. (NYSE: ODP) edged up 24 cents to $2.67 after the company announced plans to shut down 112 stores.

 

Shareholders of National City Corp. (NYSE: NCC) have filed lawsuits to halt the sale of the commercial bank to PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) saying that the sale price was too low.  Shares of National City dropped 16 cents to close at $1.98 while PNC stock plunged $3.63 to close at $52.12.

Callon Petroleum Co. (NYSE: CPE) announced that production has resumed at most of its Gulf of Mexico facilities after hurricane damage shut down processing sending the stock price soaring 50 cents to close at $2.01.

Fitch lowered its ratings for Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: HST) last week due to sharply lower travel and hotel stays as the economy continues to flounder.  The stock price plunged $1.37 to close at $7.15.

 

Con-Way Cuts Outlook, Jobs

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Trucking company Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW) cut its 2008 profit outlook and announced the elimination of 1,450 jobs as shipping demand continues to fall.  The stock price tumbled $3.62 to $22.15.

Dry Bulk Shippers Rise

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Hopes that early iron ore price negotiations in China will revive dry bulk shipping markets lifted shares of DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq: DRYS) $3.27 to $10.44, TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq: TBSI) 65 cents to $6.78 and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq: EGLE) $1.62 to $5.98.


FedEx Lowers Guidance

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FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) lowered its 2009 guidance and promised to cut costs.  Analysts promptly downgraded the company and the transportation sector sending the stock price plummeting $10.27 to $64.16.

As part of a restructuring plan to save $700 million annually, Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) announced the closure of 20 facilities and the elimination of 5,000 jobs.  The stock price gained $1.37 to close at $20.37.
Regulatory changes to life insurers' capital requirements could free billions to increase cash reserves lifting shares of Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) 66 cents to close at $2.24.


PMI's Ratings May Be Cut

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Standard & Poor's is considering lowering the ratings of mortgage insurer PMI Group Inc. (NYSE: PMI) saying that the housing market continues to spiral downwards.  The stock price lost 29 cents to close at $1.53.

Hartford Reaffirms Outlook

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Shares of Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: HIG) continued to rally by climbing another $1.38 to $15.97 after the insurer reaffirmed its outlook for the year.
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) cancelled a previously-announced stock offering and will sale assets to raise capital.  The stock price leaped $3.17 to $14.49.

Shares of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) climbed 64 cents to $4.72 and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) gained 46 cents to $3.18 on expectations that Congress will likely give the automakers a lifeline for the next few months in exchange for aggressive concessions.

Berry Petroleum Downgraded

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Morgan Keegan analyst Chris Pikul downgraded Berry Petroleum Co. (NYSE: BRY) citing falling crude oil prices as well as the company's high debt levels.  The stock price plunged $2.09 to close at $6.69.

Genworth Surges

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Shares of mortgage insurer Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) surged 22 cents to close at $1.58 over a possible plan by the Treasury Department to lower interest rates to 4.5%.

 

Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU) will sell its stake in Wachovia Securities to Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) and has applied to participate in the government's capital purchase program.  Shares of Prudential leaped $7.35 to close at $28.52 while Wells Fargo stock climbed $2.39 to close at $29.94.

 

AES Unit Sued

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Argentina sued a unit of AES Corp. (NYSE: AES) alleging that the electricity distribution company improperly transferred debt which rendered the company underfunded.  The stock price dropped 88 cents to $6.03.

Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: OREX) halted mid-stage clinical trials of two experimental weight loss drugs in order to have enough resources to continue late-stage studies.  The stock price plummeted $2.41 to $2.99.

Shares of Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: HIG) nearly doubled by surging $6.80 to $14.01 after the insurer raised its current quarter and full-year outlook.

Although Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD) reported sharply lower second quarter earnings of 3 cents per share compared with 13 cents per share in the year ago period that fell short of estimates, the pork producer said that its liquidity was strong, pork volumes rose and is expected to continue rising as consumers seek less expensive meat.  The stock price climbed 97 cents to $7.10.


YRC Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: YRCW) chief executive Bill Zollars reassured investors that proposed wage cuts between $225 million to $250 million and other cost cutting measures to save another $200 million will be enough to keep the company afloat.  Shares of the transportation services provider climbed 73 cents to $5.57.

 

Earnings Rise For Synopsys

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Synopsys Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) reported higher revenues and earnings of 32 cents per share compared with 27 cents per share last year despite a weak global economy and reaffirmed its outlook for 2009.  Shares of the company that provides software used in semiconductor design and manufacturing soared $1.98 to $17.07.

Mining company Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) suspended its dividend and announced production cuts due to slumping metals prices sending the stock price plummeting $3.77 to close at $18.05.
Speculation that Toshiba is considering acquiring SanDisk Corp. (Nasdaq: SNDK) lifted shares of the chip maker $1.81 to close at $9.02.


 

Marvell Posts Profit

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Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: MRVL) reversed year ago losses to post a better than expected profit of 11 cents per share compared with a loss of a penny per share last year as revenue rose.  Shares of the chip maker leaped $1.04 to close at $6.13.


 

Palm Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) warned of sharply lower second quarter revenue and announced job cuts as well as the consolidation of offices in order to trim expenses sending the stock price tumbling 35 cents to $1.67.

Infineon Widens Losses

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Infineon Technologies AG (NYSE: IFX) posted a wider fourth quarter loss and projected losses for 2009.  Shares of the semiconductor maker plummeted 75 cents to $1.28.

Shares of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. (Nasdaq: RIMM) added 65 cents to $37.97 in early trading even as the company lowered its outlook below analysts' estimates.

Skyworks Lowers Outlook

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Skyworks Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: SWKS) blamed falling demand for lowering its earnings and revenue outlooks for the current quarter sending the stock price tumbling 83 cents to close at $4.35.
General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) announced job cuts as well as a restructuring of its finance business and warned that fourth quarter results will be at the low end of its previous guidance.  The stock price surged $2.11 to close at $17.61.


 

The Wall Street Journal reported that the former chief executive of AOL, Jonathan Miller, was attempting to raise capital to purchase all or part of Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) for $28 billion to $30 billion.  The stock price rose 76 cents to close at $11.50.

Williams-Sonoma Upgraded

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Cowen and Co. analyst Laura Champine upgraded Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) citing the company's valuation.  The stock price has tumbled approximately 66% since September.  Shares of the specialty home products retailer surged $1.69 to $7.81.

Biotech company XenoPort Inc. (Nasdaq: XNPT) reported disappointing results for its midstage trial of its reflux disease drug treatment.  The stock price plummeted $9.02 to $19.90.

 

Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (NYSE: MRX) settled a patent dispute over a generic acne drug with Impax Laboratories sending the stock price soaring $2.77 to $13.89.


 

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) will unveil reorganization plans for its financial unit GE Capital on Tuesday.  Analysts expect the company to lower its 2009 earnings outlook as well.  The stock price fell $1.67 to close at $15.50.

Sandler O'Neill analyst Richard Repetto expects a 20% drop in daily average revenue trades from online traders E-Trade (Nasdaq: ETFC) and Charles Schwab Corp. (Nasdaq: SCHW) in November.  Shares of E-Trade dropped 26 cents to close at $1.09 while Charles Schwab stock plunged $2.78 to close at $15.55.

UAL To Raise $200 Million

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United Airlines parent UAL Corp. (Nasdaq: UAUA) will raise $200 million through the sale of common stock.  Credit Suisse analyst Daniel McKenzie dropped his price target on the airliner from $17 to $13 sending the stock price plummeting $2.31 to close at $8.94.

 

Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (NYSE: PPC) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection sending the stock price plummeting 53 cents to 62 cents.  Falling meat prices and debt associated with the acquisition of Gold Kist has hurt the chicken producer.

One of Citigroup Inc.'s (NYSE: C) funds agreed to take over a Spanish highway operator in a deal valued at $10 billion which includes $6.3 billion in debt.  Shares of Citigroup tumbled $1.33 to $6.96.


 

Shares of Mentor Corp. (NYSE: MNT) nearly doubled by soaring $14.43 to $30.58 after Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) offered more than $1 billion in cash to buy the cosmetic product and breast implant maker.  Johnson & Johnson stock dropped $2.31 to $56.27.

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