Flat To Lower Opening

Stocks appear set to open flat
Friday
on a worse-than-expected employment report moving the unemployment rate
to its highest in the last five years.

Merrill Lynch upgraded Golden West
Financial
(
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from Accumulate to Near-Term Buy.

Computer Science Corp.
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was
upgraded by Merrill Lynch from Neutral to Accumulate.

Biomarin Pharmaceuticals
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and Genzyme
(
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reported positive findings from their analysis of Phase
3 clinical trials of Aldurazyme.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Computer
Associates
(
CA |
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from Outperform to Neutral.

Merrill Lynch lowered its rating on
Compaq Computers
(
CPQ |
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from Accumulate to Near Term Neutral.

BEA Systems
(
BEAS |
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was downgraded
by Credit Suisse First Boston from Strong Buy to Buy.

Homestore.com
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was
downgraded by ABN AMRO from Add to Hold.

ABN AMRO upgraded Broadcom
(
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from Hold to Add.

Coffee chain Starbucks
(
SBUX |
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reported that October same-store sales increased 1%. Sales increased 19% to $224
million.

XL Capital Limited
(
XL |
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priced 8
million shares in a secondary offering at $89.00.

Greg