STOCKS NEWS US-Hartford call volume swells, bullish bets build

Stocks on the move [HOT-RTRS] Real-Time Equity news [E U]

U.S. stock market report [.N]
1134 ET-05Dec2008 Traders grab Hartford calls betting on more near-term gains
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Option traders scooped up bullish call options in Hartford Financial
Services Group Inc (HIG.N), reflecting optimism on the insurance sector after
the company raised its 2008 profit forecast and said it had strong capital to
withstand further deterioration in the equity markets. Its shares surged 59.92
percent to $11.53 near midday. According to Trade Alert, about 48,000 calls and
12,000 puts traded in Hartford, three times the normal combined volume. "The
December calls dominate the trade, as they should, given the shot on a pop next
week, which clearly falls within December expiry," said Optionmonster.com
founder Jon Najarian in comments on the Web site. The demand for Hartford
options sent its December volatility to 180 percent up from the implied median
volatility of 125 percent as investors brace for more share swings.

Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1127 ET 05Dec2008-Brown-Forman surges after Q2, higher outlook
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Shares of alcoholic beverage company Brown-Forman (BFb.N) rallied on Friday
after it reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations and raised its
2009 earnings outlook. The company said its results were helped by higher sales
of Jack Daniel's. [ID:nN05442701] The issue's class B shares gained 7 percent
to $46.97. Among other drinks companies, Boston Beer (SAM.N) was up 1.2 percent
to $29.69 while Molson Coors (TAP.N) fell 1.4 percent to $39.50.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1103 ET 05Dec2008-Berry Petroleum falls on downgrade
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Shares of Berry Petroleum (BRY.N) tumbled on Friday after Morgan Keegan
downgraded the stock to a market perform from an outperform, citing
lower-trending oil prices and high debt levels that would likely discourage
investors. The firm also cut its ratings on Gasco Energy (GSX.A) to
underperform and Bill Barrett Corp (BBG.N) to a market perform.

Berry Petroleum shares fell 23 percent to $6.76. Gasco Energy slid 7.3
percent to 38 cents while Bill Barrett shares dropped 11.4 percent to $15.41.

Reuters Messaging:rm://Charles.mikolajczak.reuters.com@reuters.net))
1057 ET 05Dec2008-Obama: econ will get worse before it gets better
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President-elect Barack Obama Friday said that the economic crisis was
likely to get worse before it gets better, as he called for a stimulus plan
designed to create jobs over the next two years.

"There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years
in the making," Obama said. [ID:nN05443876]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1040 ET-05Dec2008- Options traders load up on bullish Intel bets-analyst
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Option traders have shrugged off the decline in Intel Corp (INTC.O) shares
as they load up on bullish bets in anticipation of a bounce, said Schaeffer's
Investment Research analyst Jocelynn Drake on the Web site. Schaeffer's
put/call open interest ratio has dropped from 0.65 on Nov. 25 to its current
perch of 0.59, as calls have been added at a faster pace than puts among
near-term options. The reading is lower than 74 percent of all those taken
during the past year. Looking at the stock's December open interest, Schaeffer
found peak call open interest was at the $14 strike, with more than 35,000
lots. The $15 Dec call also has more than 35,000 existing open contracts. Drake
said the hefty accumulation of bullish bets not only suggests investors have
high hopes for the shares, but the call buildup can serve as options-tied
near-term resistance, keeping the shares capped. Intel shares fell 2.43 percent
$12.46.

Editing by Kenneth Barry
1027 ET 05Dec2008-Markets extend losses after jobs data, Boeing
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Major U.S. markets extended their losses on Friday, falling after data
showed the economy lost more than half a million jobs in November. Investors
were concerned about Dow component Boeing (BA.N), on worries the company would
again delay its new 787 Dreamliner line. [ID:nN05453085]

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 2.3 percent to 8,176.57 while
the S&P 500 .SPX slid 2.5 percent to 823.79 and the Nasdaq .IXIC was off
2.4 percent to 1,410.42.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1018 ET 05Dec2008-Boeing down, expected to delay 787 line again
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Shares of plane maker Boeing Co (BA.N) fell Friday after it was reported
that the company was expected to announce further delays to its 787 Dreamliner
aircraft after taking into account the damage of a labor strike by its
machinists, as well as a number of production problems in the program. The
company's announcement is expected next week or shortly after. [ID:nN04392685]

News of the expected announcements came out late Thursday.

Shares of the Dow component slid 6.7 percent to $36.57.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1013 ET 05Dec2008-Big Lots outlook weighs on peer companies
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Shares of discount retailers fell on Friday after Big Lots Inc (BIG.N)
reported third-quarter earnings that fell from the prior year and cut its
fourth-quarter outlook, saying it expected sales to fall. [ID:nN05440509]

The stock tumbled 12 percent to $14.35. Among the company's rivals, Target
Corp (TGT.N) was down 5.3 percent to $32.11, Dollar Tree (DLTR.O) was down 2.6
percent to $39.06 and Family Dollar (FDO.N) shed 7.3 percent to $22.44.

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