STOCKS NEWS US-U.S. economic diary for Wednesday

Stocks on the move [HOT-RTRS] Real-time Equity news [U E] [RESF/US]

U.S. stock market report [.N]
1730 ET 26May2009- U.S. economic diary for Wednesday
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The day's economic agenda includes the National Association of Realtors
(NAR) report on existing home sales for April at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT).

Also, Redbook releases its Retail Sales Index of department and chain store
sales for May versus April, 8:55 a.m. (1255 GMT).

For more please double click [ECI/US]

Reuters Messaging rm://caroline.valetkevitch.reuters.com@reuters.net
1634 ET 26May2009 US STOCKS-Market gains over 2 pct on confidence data, Apple
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U.S. stocks climbed more than 2 percent on Tuesday as data showing the
biggest monthly jump in consumer confidence in six years lifted hopes of an
economic rebound, and a brokerage upgrade of Apple Inc drove sharp gains on the
Nasdaq.

For more please double click [.N]

Reuters Messaging rm://caroline.valetkevitch.reuters.com@reuters.net
1414 ET 26May2009-Credit Suisse upgrades Occidental, Noble
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Credit Suisse on Tuesday upgraded both Occidental Petroleum (OXY.N) and
Noble Energy Inc (NBL.N), saying it was more positive on oil-focused
exploration and production companies compared to natural gas-focused ones.

"Large cap oil in particular looks like good value, having lagged gas peers
significantly despite the strength in the oil curve and falling gas prices,"
Credit Suisse wrote.

As part of its call, the firm also downgraded both EOG Resources (EOG.N)
and Ultra Petroleum (UPL.N).

"Gas equities look quite vulnerable to us currently, having already
discounted a 2010 recovery," it wrote.

For details, see [ID:nBNG502186]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1406 ET 26May2009-Markets rally after consumer confidence data
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Major U.S. indexes rallied on Tuesday, lifted after the release of data
that showed a sharp rise in consumer confidence. Tech stocks also rose after a
broker upgrade of Apple Inc (AAPL.O).

For details, see [ID:nN26498754]

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 2.6 percent to 8,490.78 while
the S&P 500 .SPX gained 2.8 percent to 911.59 and the Nasdaq .IXIC was up
3.5 percent to 1,751.19.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1357 ET 26May2009-StanCorp rises after FBR upgrade
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Shares of StanCorp Financial Group (SFG.N) soared on Tuesday, after the
company was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Friedman Billings
Ramsey, which said the insurer had enough of a capital cushion to absorb
remaining credit losses.

StanCorp's very small amount of delinquencies and ability to work out
mortgages with borrowers make it a relative outperformer when applying loss
assumptions, the brokerage wrote to clients.

The stock gained 10.3 percent to $31.48.

As part of its call, FBR also upgraded Principal Financial (PFG.N) to
outperform, also citing a capital cushion. [ID:nBNG356965]

Shares of Principal rose 1.2 percent to $20.83.

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