The Stocks Wall Street Is Watching

The following stocks may be impacted due to significant news as noted:
Morgan Stanley has cut its estimates on semiconductor equipment stocks due to lack of demand in the industry. Among the stocks downgraded are
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CYMI |
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HELX |
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KLAC |
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KLIC |
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LRCX |
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LTXX |
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NVLS |
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PLAB |
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TER |
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, and
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VSEA |
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.

Healthcare facilities company Lifepoint Hospitals
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has been upgraded by Merrill Lynch to “buy” from “neutral” based on valuation.

Drug maker Schering Plough
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has reduced its earnings guidance for the
third quarter to $0.28-$0.29 a share vs. the Multex consensus of $0.35. The company has also cut estimates for the rest of 2002 and 2003.

Regional bank Northern Trust
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has announced earnings short of expectations with profits of $0.43 vs. the Multex consensus of $0.55.

Also in the semiconductor business, DuPont Photomask
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has cut its
first quarter outlook to a loss of $0.30-$0.32 vs. the Multex consensus for a loss of $0.06.