STOCKS NEWS US-Fear index tops 30 suggests more turmoil

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1117 ET 15June2009 CBOE VIX tops 30, suggests wider swings
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The CBOE Volatility Index .VIX jumped above the 30 mark for the first
time since June 8. The so-called VIX, a 30-day risk forecast priced off of
Standard & Poor's 500 index .SPX options, was up 8.60 percent to 30.57,
signaling expectations of wider stock market swings. The VIX moved inversely to
the underlying S&P 500, which fell 2.48 percent to 922.12 in late morning
trade.

This puts a large gap between the VIX and historical volatility for the S&P
500, which for the past 30 days stood at 25 percent and for 10 days is down at
16 percent, said optionMonster.com analyst Chris McKhann. This is another sign
that traders are concerned about a pullback in the market, he said.

In addition, the premium for June VIX futures, which settle on Wednesday,
is below spot VIX at 29.90 while July futures is at 31.05, pointing to higher
volatility. August futures are 30.90 with September at 31.25. The fact that the
futures premium has also narrowed compared to levels last week suggests further
declines. VIX call buyers last week appeared to betting on a correction as
well, he said.
1110 ET 15June2009-Goldman upgrades 3 IT services companies
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Goldman Sachs on Monday upgraded a trio of companies in the information
technology services sector, arguing that growth prospects in the group would
improve in 2010, though growth would remain elusive in 2009.

Both Accenture (ACN.N) and Solera Holdings (SLH.N) were upgraded to buy
from neutral while Sapient (SAPE.O) was lifted to neutral from sell.

The firm continues to rate the transaction processing coverage group
attractive and remained neutral on the consulting and outsourcing coverage
group. Despite that, it said it remained "guarded" on the Indian IT sub-sector
with a "cautious" coverage view.

For details, see [ID:nBNG443017]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1103 ET 15June2009-Markets fall on weak commodities, Wal-Mart
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Major U.S. indexes fell on Monday, pressured by a drop in commodity prices,
as well as a Goldman Sachs downgrade of Wal-Mart (WMT.N). Tech stocks also fell
heavily.

For details, see [ID:nN15186753]

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 2.3 percent to 8,596.02 while
the S&P 500 .SPX lost 2.4 percent to 923.29 and the Nasdaq .IXIC was off
2.8 percent to 1,807.06.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1056 ET 15June2009-IMF says stimulus will ease recession this year
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The International Monetary Fund on Monday said that a heavy dose of
stimulus would ease the U.S. recession this year and lift growth marginally in
2010.

"The combination of financial strains and ongoing adjustments in the
housing and labor markets is expected to restrain growth for some time, with a
solid recovery projected to emerge only in mid-2010," the IMF said at the
conclusion of annual discussions with the U.S.

The Fund expects the U.S. economy to contract by 2.5 percent this year,
with a modest expansion in 2010 of 0.75 percent. This compares to the IMF's
April forecast for the United States, which projected the economy to shrink by
2.8 percent in 2009 and show zero growth next year.

For details, see [ID:nN15190828]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net; Editing by
Theodore d'Afflisio
1052 ET 15June2009-Goolsbee: Important that reform gets done in 2009
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White House economic adviser Austan Goolsbee said on Monday it was "pretty
important" that financial regulation reform gets done this year.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, he said consolidation in
financial reform was needed and that proposals for reform hadn't been scaled
back because of concerns from lawmakers or regulatory agencies. [ID:nWEN0527]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1048 ET 15June2009-Map Pharma soars after Leerink upgrade
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Shares of Map Pharmaceuticals (MAPP.O) soared on Monday, advancing 17
percent to $11.80 after Leerink Swann upgraded the stock to outperform from
market perform. The firm wrote that survey feedback from 105 neurologists
suggested strong market opportunity for the company's Levadex drug in acute
migraine treatment.

It also wrote that the shares provided an attractive entry point for
investors.

For details, see [ID:nBNG448787]

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