Stocks To Open Down
Stocks appeared set to open lower
Monday.
Tension between the Palestinians and
Israelis escalated after twin terrorists attacked Jerusalem this past weekend
and another attacked a bus, in what was the worst attack on Israel in almost 14
months.
AON Corp has filed for a $750 million
universal shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Biotech company Cephalon
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said it plans to acquire French pharmaceutical company Group Lafon for $450
million in cash, which will allow Cephalon rights to Provigil Tablets throughout
the world.
Nvidia Corp
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sell up to 20 million shares of common stock with the SEC. The estimated value
of the sale is about $1.09 billion.
AMB Amro downgraded Ecolab
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from Add to Hold, citing worries that the company may miss Q4 analysts’ consensus
of 32 cents.
Goldman Sachs downgraded Morgan
Stanley
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Immunex
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UBS Warburg from Hold to Buy due to its valuation. However, UBS still remains
positive on the company’s fundamentals.
Robert Half International
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was downgraded by Morgan Stanley from Strong Buy to Outperform after a 44% run
by the employment placement company.
Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs have
shown they are more positive on Compaq
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PowerRating). Lehman Brothers believes the
company has shown strength in October and November, raising its price target on
the company from $10 to $13. Goldman Sachs raised its Q4 revenue estimates
from $7.6 billion to $7.8 billion.
Morgan Stanley downgraded Nucor
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from Neutral to Underperform.
Convergys
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Morgan Stanley from Outperform to Strong Buy and put a price target of $43.
Aviron
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acquired by Medimmune
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billion.