STOCKS NEWS US-U.S traded Mechel shares fall on downgrade

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

 U.S. stock market report [.N]
1125 ET 01Dec2008-U.S. traded Mechel shares fall on downgrade
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 U.S traded shares of Mechel (MTL.N) fell nearly 24 percent Monday after
Credit Suisse cut its rating on the stock to neutral from outperform and
lowered its price target to $12 from $27.

 The Dow Jones U.S. Iron and Steel .DJUSST index was down more than 10
percent to 137.85. Among the components, Nucor (NUE.N) fell 8.6 percent to
$32.62, U.S. Steel (X.N) slid over 11 percent to $27.02 and Steel Dynamics
(STLD.O) dropped more than 13 percent to $7.15.

 Reuters Messaging:rm://Charles.mikolajczak.reuters.com@reuters.net
1117 ET 01Dec2008-UnitedHealth up after outlook, peers fall
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 Shares of UnitedHealth Group (UNH.N) rose Monday after the company raised
the low end of its 2009 revenue outlook, though it kept its profit outlook
unchanged. [ID:nN01494883]

 UnitedHealth shares surged 4.8 percent to $22.02. Among the company's
peers, Aetna (AET.N) fell 4.7 percent to $20.80, Cigna Corp (CI.N) shed 5
percent to $11.51 and Humana Inc (HUM.N) dropped 3.3 percent to $29.23.

 Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1107 ET 01Dec2008-Ford may sell Volvo division, shares up
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 Shares of Ford Motor (F.N) rallied on Monday after the company said it was
reviewing strategic options for its Volvo brand, including a possible sale of
the Sweden-based division. The company said the move was prompted by a
significant decline in the global auto industry and severe global economic
instability. [ID:nN01387204]

 The stock added 5.2 percent to $2.83 on Monday.

 Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1056 ET 01Dec2008-Markets extend losses in late-morning trade
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 Major U.S. markets extended their losses on Monday, dropping more than 4
percent after a report showed further contraction in a gauge of manufacturing
activity, adding to worries about the state of the economy.

 The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 4.3 percent to 8,444.90
while the S&P 500 .SPX was down 5.1 percent to 850.87 and the Nasdaq .IXIC
shed 4.8 percent to 1,461.62.

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

 1052 ET-01Dec2008  CBOE VIX vaults above 60 reading as stocks fall
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 The CBOE Volatility Index, the implied volatility measure of the S&P 500
options, vaulted past a 60 reading early in the session as U.S. stocks tumbled
on worries over the health of the U.S. economy. The VIX advanced 12.05 percent
to 62.57. December 60 and 70 calls were the most actively traded VIX options on
Friday, said WhatsTrading.com analyst Frederic Ruffy. Open interest in both
contracts rose by more than 2,100 and some of that seemed linked to bullish
spreads on the VIX, he said. After a record four-day run lower, VIX closed up
at 55.84 on Friday, and the spread appeared to be in anticipation of a rally in
VIX futures between now and December options expiration, Ruffy added. VIX
options are priced off of VIX futures.

 Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1039 ET 01Dec2008-Delta to adjust Boeing orders: WSJ
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 Shares of both Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and Boeing Co (BA.N), a Dow
component, fell on Monday after the Wall Street Journal reported that Delta
plans to scale back an order for Boeing's delayed 787 Dreamliner aircraft. [ID:
nBNG274679]
The order was made by Northwest, which Delta bought earlier this year.

 Delta is also planning to expand a Boeing order for the 777-200LR aircraft,
but no final decisions have been made, the report said.

 Delta shares slid 6 percent to $8.28 while Boeing shares were off 3.7
percent to $41.07.

 Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
1026 ET 01Dec2008-Emerson: Oct order rates fall 5-10pct
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 Emerson Electric (EMR.N) Monday said that order rates slowed dramatically
in October as the strengthening dollar eroded the value of sales outside the
U.S. The rates rose in both August and September, but were down 5 percent to 10
percent in October, the company said. [ID: nN01288762]

 Emerson shares tumbled 13 percent to $31.19 on Monday.

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