RPT-STOCKS NEWS US-Firm sees another quarter of volatility

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

 U.S. stock market report [.N]
1142 ET 01Dec2008-Firm sees another quarter of volatility
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 DA Davidson Monday said that market would remain "very
volatile" for at least another quarter, or until investors see
positive results from a variety of moves made by the Federal
Reserve and the U.S. Treasury to stabilize the markets. The
firm said that with market indices now 10 percent above the
cyclical lows last week, "many investors may feel more
confident that the worst is over for the decline in stock
prices and begin to seek to selectively bargain hunt among
wonderful companies now trading at 10-year or more valuation
lows."

 DA Davidson cautioned against being too optimistic, saying
that economic news "likely will get much worse in coming months
than we are reading about today."

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