STOCKS NEWS US-GE shares on loan hit all-time high in late Feb

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U.S. stock market report [.N]
1145 ET 04March2009-GE shares on loan hit all-time high late Feb:DataExplorers
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The percentage of shares held short in General Electric (GE.N) hit an
all-time high late last month, but short sellers have been covering their
positions since then, according to short selling data research firm,
DataExplorers.

DataExplorers, which tracks the number of shares out on loan to short
sellers and other investors, said that as of Feb. 20, 1.75 percent of General
Electric shares were out on loan -- an all time high.

But its most recent data showed that shorts had been covering some of their
positions as on Wednesday, the company said its data showed only 1.33 percent
of GE shares were out on loan.

That figure is still nearly double the amount on loan on January 1, when
0.7 percent of GE shares were out on loan, Data Explorers said. DataExplorers
loan data is delayed by a day or so, but is among the most recent short data
available.

According to NYSE Data, about 166 million shares of GE were held short as
of Feb. 13, or about 1.6 percent of its shares outstanding.

Reuters Messaging: deepa.seetharaman.reuters.com@reuters.net
1121 ET 04March2009-Crude stockpiles unexpected fell last week: EIA
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U.S. crude oil stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week, falling as refiners
pushed up run rates to meet recovering demand for gasoline, according to the
Energy Information Agency.

The EIA reported that crude stockpiles fell by 700,000 barrels last week,
compared with the analyst expectation for a rise of 1.2 million barrels.
Gasoline stockpiles rose by 200,000 barrels, compared to the forecast for a
decline of 800,000 barrels. [ID:nN04387070]
Following the release of the data, April crude futures surged 8.3 percent to
$45.14 while the S&P Energy Index .GSPE advanced 4.8 percent to 322.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1110 ET 04March2009- U.S. dividend cuts hit those dependent on income
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The biggest U.S. companies have slashed dividends to cut costs as the
recession's grip tightens, but the savings are stripping cash-strapped
investors of billions of dollars in income.

Thirty-seven S&P 500 companies have cut their dividend since January,
amounting to a record $33 billion in payout reductions, said a Standard &
Poor's analyst on Tuesday.

For details, see [ID:nN03622479]

Reuters Messaging: deepa.seetharaman.reuters.com@reuters.net
1057 ET 04March2009-RehabCare results top estimates, lift rivals
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Shares of RehabCare Group Inc (RHB.N) rose on Wednesday after the company
reported fourth-quarter earnings of 32 cents a share on revenue of $194.2
million, topping analysts' estimates of 26 cents a share and $187.7 million in
revenue.

The healthcare and rehab facility operator also forecast 2009 revenue of
$140 to $150 million for its hospital division.

Shares jumped nearly 20 percent to $14.92. Rivals HealthSouth Corp (HLS.N)
gained 5 percent to $7.14 and Kindred Healthcare (KND.N) added 1.1 percent to
$13.78.
(Reuters Messaging:rm://Charles.mikolajczak.reuters.com@reuters.net))
1045 ET 04March2009-Kaspar Villiger named new chairman of UBS
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UBS (UBS.N) (UBSN.VX) named Kaspar Villiger chairman, completing a
clear-out of top management that is designed to pull the Swiss bank out of a
deep crisis.

Villiger was formerly a finance minister for the Swiss government. He
succeeds Peter Kurer.

UBS has been under pressure by the global financial crisis, as well as a
U.S. tax probe, for which UBS has agreed to pay a $780 million fine and
disclose the identity of about 300 of its U.S. clients in order to avert
criminal charges. [ID:nL427555]

U.S.-listed shares of UBS rose 3.2 percent to $8.62 on Wednesday.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1038 ET 04March2009-Service sector contracts again in Feb: ISM
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The U.S. service sector shrank in February, according to the Institute for
Supply Management, though the contraction was less than analysts had expected.

The ISM said its non-manufacturing index came in at 41.6 in February,
compared with 42.9 in January. Any reading below 50 represents contraction.

Analysts were looking for a reading of 41. [ID:nWEN5463]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net