Stocks Set To Open Lower

Stocks appeared set to open lower
Friday.

Spectrian
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warned that
revenues for the September quarter will fall short of consensus. The company see
revenues of $18-$22 million and a loss of between 99 cents and $1.12. According to
Multex, estimates were for a revenues of $26.5 million and a loss of 84 cents a
share.

Duke Energy
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has agreed to
acquire Westcoast Energy
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for $8.5 billion in a 50% cash and 50% stock
deal.

Merrill Lynch downgraded Homestore.com
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to Near Term Neutral from Accumulate.

UBS Warburg lowered 2001 estimates on
American Express
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from $1.42 to $1.20, and 2002 estimates to $2.05 from
$2.30, citing a decrease in travel activity.

Credit Suisse First Boston lowered
estimates of Storage stocks after EMC Corp
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issued a warning yesterday.
Individual names in the sector which were lowered are Brocade
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,
Emulex
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and McData
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.

ABN AMRO lowered estimates on the
Specialty Chemicals group.

ONI Systems
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lowered Q3
revenue guidance from $75-80 million, to come in between $40-50 million with a
loss of 17 to 21 cents a share. According to Multex, expectations were for a
loss of 4 cents a share.

ABN AMRO lowered estimates on Software
stocks.

Taiwan Semiconductors
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said
Q3 earnings will come in better than expected.

SanDisk
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warned on Q3
numbers. The company sees revenues sliding 35% and views a loss of 60 cents a
share vs. prior guidance of a loss between 10 to 15 cents.

Merrill Lynch downgraded Qiagen N.V.
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from Neutral to Near Term Reduce.

Deutsche Banc Alex Brown said it is
cautious on Enterprise Software, citing slower IT spending, seasonality and the
terrorist attack.