AOL Calls Rise; Stocks Edge Higher

Stocks ended higher Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting on Tuesday.
Top sectors of the day were biotechs and health care while forest and paper
products and semiconductors were the weakest.

At the close, the VIX had increased .14 to 19.56.

The OEX September 815 calls are up 2 3/4 to 18 7/8.

Among bigger movers on heavier-than-average volume:

America Online held on to early gains and finished up 1 15/16 to 56 13/16.
The AOL September 55 calls ended up 7/8  to 3 1/2 on more than 8000
contracts.

National Semiconductor
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fell 2 7/16 to 43 in a weak chip sector. The
National Semi September 45 calls ended the day down 1 7/8 to 3 1/4 on more than
4500 contracts.

MicroStrategy
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added to early gains and finished up 8 9/16 to 29
9/16. The MicroStrategy September 30 calls rose 3 to 3 1/2 on more than 4000
contracts.

Newport Corp.
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gained 7 3/4 to 147 while the Newport 130 calls
added 13 1/4 to 22 1/4 on double average volume.