BEV Beverly Enterprises

MORNING UPDATE: Man Securities Issues Alerts for DIS, HCA, MGAM, PETM, and BEV CHICAGO, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Man Securities issues the following Morning Update at 8:30 AM EST with new PriceWatch Alerts for key stocks. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020214/MANSECLOGO ) Before the open... PriceWatch Alerts for DIS, HCA, MGAM, PETM, and BEV, Market Overview, Today's Economic Calendar, and the Quote Of The Day. QUOTE OF THE DAY "At some point, I've got to start getting more delegates or I'm not going to be the nominee." -- John Edwards, Senator New PriceWatch Alerts for DIS, HCA, MGAM, PETM, and BEV... PRICEWATCH ALERTS - HIGH RETURN COVERED CALL OPTIONS -- Disney (The Walt) Holding Co. (NYSE:DIS) Last Price 26.87 - JUL 25.00 CALL OPTION@ $2.85 -> 4.1 % Return assigned* -- HCA Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Last Price 41.20 - MAY 40.00 CALL OPTION@ $2.80 -> 4.2 % Return assigned* -- Multimedia Games Inc. (NASDAQ:MGAM) Last Price 22.39 - MAR 22.50 CALLOPTION@ $1.00 -> 5.2 % Return assigned* -- PETsMART, Inc. (NASDAQ:PETM) Last Price 26.65 - JUL 25.00 CALL OPTION@ $3.30 -> 7.1 % Return assigned* -- Beverly Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:BEV) Last Price 7.71 - MAR 7.50 CALL OPTION@ $0.50 -> 4 % 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 intoyour 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 have managed to put on a happy face this morning, as 12 of the 15 markets that we track are currently positive. The cumulative average return on the group stands at a positive 0.325 percent. In Germany, Retail Sales for January improved by 3.1 percent over the prior month, besting forecasts for a more muted 1.2 percent rise. On a year-over-year basis, real (inflation adjusted) sales actually declinedby 1.0 percent, highlighting the fragile nature of the German consumer. The jobless rate in the Euro-Zone remained unchanged for an 11th consecutive month in January at 8.8 percent. There were 12.3 million jobless in the region. Spain headed up the pack with a jobless rate of 11.2 percent. Before the market open today, the two weekly reports on the health of the retail sector will be released. The ICS-UBS Store Sales Index for the week ending February 21 posted a decline of 0.2 percent, while Redbook Retail Sales for the same period rose by 1.0 percent. The S&P Retail Index has indeed been a stellar performer, having risen by almost 65 percent from its March 2003 low. The index set yet another all-time high in yesterday's session at 402.53. Since the end of January the sector has outperformed the broad market as represented by the SPX. At 12:30 p.m., Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan speaks at the Economics Club luncheon in New York. Less than 20 companies populated the earnings calendar today, but they are diverse in the sectors represented. 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 These are upbeat times for Merriman Curhan Ford Company, a securities investment group trading on the American Stock Exchange. After the firm's announcement that revenues surged 88% over the past two years, insiders have piled into the stock recently, buying 194,000 shares. When insiders buy, that's when Ian L. Cooper and Erin Beale, trading experts at the Profit Hog Insider (PHI) investment team, take notice. That was two weeks ago. Having recommended Merriman to their investors on February 17, the duo walked away with a 125% gain on the first half of the position yesterday morning. According to Cooper, "It's a good thing we bought when we did, otherwise we'd have missed the initial 72% rise in the first few days." Merriman's solidnumbers have led to acquisition rumors recently -- speculation reflected in the company's stock activity. Volume was seven times higher than normal yesterday alone. The PHI team sees no reason to sell the remaining portion of the position just yet. As Cooper states, "Insiders don't just fork over their own cash like this if they believe the stock has a one-way ticket down the drain." The stock hit a high of $3.10 today and the group maintains a $5 target price. Read more incisive investment recommendations like this, plus astute and witty economic/market commentary, and access to a network of leading financial analysts in the Taipan Group's FREE daily e-mail -- the 247Profits e-Dispatch. Follow this link to sign up for free today: http://www.investorsobserver.com/agora2 TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR 7:45 a.m.: ICS-UBS Store Sales Index for the week ending February 28 (last minus 0.2 percent). 8:55 a.m.: Redbook Retail Sales for the week ending February 28 (last plus 1.0 percent). 10:00 a.m.: February Challenger Layoff Survey (last plus 26 percent). 12:30 p.m.: Fed Chairman Greenspan speaks at the Economics Club luncheon in New York. 6:30 p.m.: ABC/Money Magazine Consumer Confidence for the week ending February 28 (last minus 13). 7:30 p.m.: Fed Governor Bernanke speaks on economic policy in Lexington, Virginia. 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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