Agilent Calls Rise; Market Eases

Profit concerns for technology stocks and the ongoing election stalemate left
stocks uninspired Friday, as all three major inices finished slightly lower.
Retailers were the strongest group while telecom iwere the weakest.

At the close, the VIX had decreased .38 to 28.00.

The OEX 710 calls finished down 7 to 21 1/2.

Among bigger movers on heavier-than-average volume:

Agilent
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rose 5 3/4 to 47 3/8 ahead of next week’s earnings
announcement. The Agilent November 45 calls gained 1 15/16 to 2 3/16 on five
times the average volume.

Nokia
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rose 1 5/16 to 41 5/16 as selct techs rebounded. The Nokia
December 40 calls rose 1/2 to 3 5/8 on more than 10,000 contracts.

Oracle
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gained 1 7/16 to 28 13/16 to help keep the Nasdaq above
3000. The Oracle January 01 25 calls rose 1 1/8 to 6 7/8 on more than 11,000
contracts.

America Online
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closed up .71 to 49.56 while the AOL November 50
puts ended down 1 to .50 on more than 21,000 contracts.