Palm Calls Rise; Stocks Slide

Concerns about energy prices are weighing on stocks Wednesday with all three
major averages drifting into the red. Oil services and integrated oils are the
top sectors of the day while semiconductors and telecom are the weakest.

At mid-day, the VIX has increased .98 to 23.09.

The OEX October 800 calls are down 3 1/8 to 9 5/8.

Among bigger movers on heavier-than-average volume:

3Com spinoff Palm
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is up 2 3/4 to 53 9/16 and is avoiding the tech
pullback. The Palm October 60 calls are up 1 to 2 1/8 on triple average volume.

Dell Computer
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is posting a slight gain, up 7/8 to 37 3/16. The
Dell October 35 calls are up 5/8 to 3 3/8 on heavier-than-average volume.

Nite Trading Group
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has added 1 13/16 to 37 1/8 while the Nite
October 40 calls have climbed 7/8 to 2 3/8 on heavier-than-average volume.

Lehman Brothers
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has risen 1 5/16 to 146 after it announced
better-than-expected earnings and a 2-for-1 stock split. The Lehman October 145
puts have fallen 6 7/8 to 8 1/4 on heavier-than-average volume.