Company/Estimate
- (YUM)/.45
Alcoa Inc. (AA): The world's second-largest aluminum company said it secured a $3.25 billion credit facility to be used for general corporate purposes. Alcoa shares rose $1.13 to $38.79 on Oct. 5.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNI): Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. boosted its holdings in Burlington Northern, the second-largest U.S. railroad, to 60.8 million shares, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Burlington Northern Santa Fe shares rose $4.79 to $86.78 on Oct. 5.
Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH): Shares of the second-biggest U.S. drug distributor are a good buy and may rise to $74 in a few years because of the company's lean structure and high operating margins, Barron's reported, citing no one. The stock climbed $1.13, or 1.8 percent, to $63.32 in regular trading.
Consol Energy Inc. (CNX): The third-biggest U.S. coal producer said it bought Tri-River Fleeting Harbor Services Inc. and Tri-River Marine Inc. for an undisclosed price, adding eight vessels. Consol Energy shares rose 74 cents to $46.08 on Oct. 5.
Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER): The world's largest brokerage was downgraded by both Credit Suisse Group and JPMorgan. Credit Suisse analyst Susan Roth Katzke cut Merrill to ``neutral'' from ``outperform.'' JPMorgan analyst Kenneth B. Worthington lowered his rating for Merrill to ``neutral'' from ``overweight,'' saying ``we see Merrill's results as being particularly poor.'' Merrill said Oct. 5 that it will report a third-quarter loss of as much as 50 cents a share. Merrill shares gained $1.89, or 2.5 percent, to $76.67 on Oct. 5.
Wyeth (WYE) rose 12 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $47.81. The company's new menopause pill, combining the hormone estrogen with a bone-loss remedy, reduced hot flashes by 80 percent in a study, suggesting it will be doctors' first choice if approved by U.S. regulators, according to results presented at a medical meeting in Dallas. Wyeth said it intends to file for U.S. marketing approval for the drug, called Aprela, in the second quarter.Watch CBH, NOK, CHL for long breakouts.
Watch ZZ, DSW, BGG for short breakdown.
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