Weak Opening

Stocks appear set to open lower
Tuesday after the long holiday weekend.

Hewlett Packard
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has announced
that it will acquire computer maker Compaq Computers
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for $25 billion
in stock.

Merrill Lynch reported results on
Johnson & Johnson’s
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stent study. The report says that the
“data is compelling and that the 0% rate of restenosis is better
than expected."

UBS Warburg upgraded Terayon
Communications
(
TERN |
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from Buy to Strong Buy.

Sanmina
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lowered the
company’s Q4 outlook to zero cents to 1 cent a share. Analysts’ consensus was for
9 cents a share.

Bear Stearns upgraded Dell Computer
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from Attractive to Buy.

Broadcom
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was upgraded by
Salomon Smith Barney from Neutral to Outperform.

Robertson Stephens upgraded Openwave
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from Buy to Strong Buy.

UBS Warburg lowered forecasts on U.S.
telecom capital spending in 2002.

Supermarket giant Albertson’s
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reported Q2 earnings of 45 cents a share, beating analysts’ expectations by a
penny.

Qwest Communications
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was awarded
a three-year contract worth $108 million to supply voice communications service to
interXchange Limited.

The FDA approved Ortec International’s
(
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OrCel, a bi-layered cellular matrix used for healing donor area wounds
in burn victims.

Aviron
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received a formal
response letter from the FDA on its FluMist. The letter stated that it would
like additional information and clarification with respect to the clinical and
manufacturing data.

Motorola
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presented a new
material for semiconductors that could lessen the expense in optical
communications, high-frequency radio devices and high-speed microprocessors.

Greg