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MORNING UPDATE: Man Securities Issues Alerts for ATML, CYBX, MRK, CA, and RJR CHICAGO, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Man Securities issues the following Morning Update at 8:30 AM EDT with new PriceWatch Alerts for key stocks. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020214/MANSECLOGO ) Before the open... PriceWatch Alerts for ATML, CYBX, MRK, CA, and RJR, Market Overview, Today's Economic Calendar, and the Quote Of The Day. QUOTE OF THE DAY "We think last week's speech was the Central Bank's blatant attempt to warn the market that a hike or series of hikes is about to occur." -- Kent Engelke, capital markets strategist, Anderson & Strudwick New PriceWatch Alerts for ATML, CYBX, MRK, CA, and RJR... PRICEWATCH ALERTS - HIGH RETURN COVERED CALL OPTIONS -- Atmel Corp. (NASDAQ:ATML) Last Price 5.61 - AUG 5.00 CALL OPTION@ $0.85 -> 5 % Return assigned* -- Cyberonics (NASDAQ:CYBX) Last Price 19.58 - JUN 15.00 CALL OPTION@ $5.30 -> 5 % Return assigned* -- Merck & Company Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Last Price 46.90 - OCT 47.50 CALL OPTION@ $1.75 -> 5.2 % Return assigned* -- Computer Associates International Inc. (NYSE:CA) Last Price 27.44 - AUG 30.00 CALL OPTION@ $0.55 -> 11.6 % Return assigned* -- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings (NYSE:RJR) Last Price 59.59 - JUL 60.00 CALL OPTION@ $2.85 -> 5.7 % Return assigned* * To learn more about how to use these alerts and for our FREE report, "The 18 Warning Signs That Tell You When To Dump A Stock", go to: http://www.investorsobserver.com/mu18 (Note: You may need to copy the link above into your browser then press the [ENTER] key) ** For the FREE report, "The Secrets of Smart Election Year Investing - Insights, Stocks, And Strategies." go to: http://www.investorsobserver.com/FREEelection NOTE: All stocks and options shown are examples only. These are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. MARKET OVERVIEW Overseas markets are failing to demonstrate a unified directive as just eight of the 15 markets that we track are positive. The cumulative average return on the collective stands at a plus 0.028 percent. The Nikkei shed 104 points overnight for a third consecutive down session, but still maintains control over its 10-day moving average. Justifying the Bank of England recent rate hike, the consumer price index in the United Kingdom rose by 0.4 percent in May. On the year-over-year basis, inflation rose by 1.5 percent. Fuel prices were said to have added 0.2 percent to the annual inflation rate. A terribly busy day today, as far as economic data is concerned. Keep in mind that any item that alludes to increasing inflationary pressures and hence a more aggressive move by the Federal Open Market Committee will pressure equities and treasurys. The two weekly reports on the health of the retail sector will be released this morning. The ICS-UBS Store Sales Index for the week ending June 5 rose by 0.2 percent, while the Redbook Retail Sales for the same period rose by 0.7 percent. May Business Inventories were expected to have risen by 0.4 percent, slowing a bit from April's 0.7 percent jump. We learned yesterday that Retail sales for the month of May jumped by 1.2 percent thanks to a surge in auto sales. Even without auto sales, retail sales advanced by 0.7 percent. Go one step further and pull out gas as well as auto sales and you have a "discretionary" figure of plus 0.3 percent. Also at 8:30 a.m., a key indicator on inflation at the consumer level. The May Consumer Price Index is expected to have advanced by 0.5 percent, which is much more aggressive than the 0.2 percent rise posted in April. The core index, less food and energy, is expected to have moderated to a plus 0.2 percent, down from the prior month's 0.3 percent advance. Remember that we still have not received the Producer Price numbers for May. There is the slim possibility that those numbers could come in today. At 9:45 a.m., the June Preliminary University of Michigan Sentiment is expected to advance slightly to 91.0 from the final reading in May of 90.2. At 10:00 a.m., Fed Chairman Greenspan testifies before U.S. Senate Banking Committee on his re-nomination. This appearance is a reschedule from last week, but none the less important. Traders will again look for clues as to just how aggressive the Fed could become as far as adjusting interest rates to head off an inflationary episode. Be prepared for the investing week ahead with Bernie Schaeffer's FREE Monday Morning Outlook. For more details and to sign up, go to: http://www.investorsobserver.com/freemo DYNAMIC MARKET OPPORTUNITIES With a 29-point slide yesterday, the NASDAQ index finally dropped to its important 50-day moving average. That had market analyst Brit Ryle at the Taipan Group's Money-Flow Matrix Trader investment service asking: "Is this an omen or an opportunity?" It turned out to be neither, as the index didn't hold the moving average for long. Technical analysis is as much art as it is science. Markets have a habit of overshooting targets, and it can be difficult to time investment moves. In the current market climate, that's accentuated when you consider that despite the Federal Reserve's "measured" pace of interest rate increases, persistent inflation fears have some economists saying rates will rise sooner rather than later. The Taipan Group believes the Fed will raise rates by 0.25% at the end of the month. Anything more than that a quarter-point in the uncertain days leading up to the U.S. handing over power to the Iraqis would likely result in a big market drop. Elsewhere, despite predictions that the trade gap would narrow to about $45 billion, it actually widened another 3.8% to a record $48.3 billion. But it appears high gasoline prices haven't alarmed the consumer too much -- May retail sales rose 1.2%. Receive incisive economic/market commentary, profitable advice and access to a network of leading investment exports. Simply follow this link: http://www.investorsobserver.com/agora2 TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR 7:45 a.m.: ICS-UBS Store Sales Index for the week ending June 12 (last plus 0.2 percent). 8:30 a.m.: May Business Inventories (last plus 0.7 percent). 8:30 a.m.: June Empire State Manufacturing Index (last plus 30.2). 8:30 a.m.: May Consumer Price Index (last plus 0.2 percent). 8:30 a.m.: May Consumer Price Index, ex-food and energy (plus 0.3 percent). 8:55 a.m.: Redbook Retail Sales for the week ending June 12 (last plus 0.7 percent). 9:45 a.m.: June Preliminary University of Michigan Sentiment (expected 91.0, last 90.2). 10:00 a.m.: Fed Chairman Greenspan testifies before U.S. Senate Banking Committee on his re-nomination (rescheduled from last week). 1:00 p.m.: June NAHB Housing Index (last plus 69). 4:30 p.m.: Fed Governor Olson speaks on economic outlook in Charlotte, N.C. 6:30 p.m.: ABC/Money Magazine Consumer Confidence Index for the week ending June 12 (last minus 19). Man Financial Inc is one of the world's major futures and options brokers and has been recognized as a leading option order execution firm for individuals and institutions. Member CBOE/NASD/SIPC (CRD#6731). For more information and a free CD with educational tools to help you invest smarter, see http://www.investorsobserver.com/mancd This Morning Update was prepared with data and information provided by: InvestorsObserver.com -- Better Strategies for Making Money -> For Investors With a Sense of Humor. Only $1 for your first month plus seven free bonuses worth over $420, see: http://www.investorsobserver.com/must 247profits.com: You'll get exclusive financial commentary, access to a global network of experts and undiscovered stock alerts. Register NOW for the FREE 247profits e-Dispatch. Go to: http://www.investorsobserver.com/agora Schaeffer's Investment Research -- Sign up for your FREE e-weekly, Monday Morning Outlook, Bernie Schaeffer's look ahead at the markets. Sign Up Now http://www.investorsobserver.com/freemo PowerOptionsPlus -- The Best Way To Find, Compare, Analyze, and Make Money On Options Investments. For a 14-Day FREE trial and 5 FREE bonuses go to: http://www.poweroptionsplus.com/ All stocks and options shown are examples only. These are not recommendations to buy or sell any security and they do not represent in any way a positive or negative outlook for any security. Potential returns do not take into account your trade size, brokerage commissions or taxes which will affect actual investment returns. Stocks and options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors and investing in options carries substantial risk. Prior to buying or selling options, a person must receive a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options available from Sharon at 800-837-6212 or at http://www.cboe.com/Resources/Intro.asp . Privacy policy available upon request. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020214/MANSECLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Man Securities CONTACT: Michael Lavelle of Man Securities, +1-800-837-6212 Web site: http://www.mansecurities.com/mu.html

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