STOCKS NEWS US-Source: deal on Greece aid agreed in principle

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1139 ET 09Feb2010
Stocks rise;source: deal on Greece agreed in principle

U.S. stocks rose after a source said euro zone countries have decided in principle to help debt-stricken Greece.

'The decision on help for Greece has been taken in principle within the euro zone,' said a senior German ruling coalition source.

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1120 EST 9Feb2010-Healthcare sticky issue among the wealthy
survey

Health care remains a persistent concern in wealthy households, a survey by Ipsos Mendelsohn showed on Tuesday.

The Mendelsohn Affluent Survey showed 39 percent of wealthy households were concerned about healthcare in January, down only modestly from a 40 percent in November. A year ago 33 percent cited the issue.

U.S. President Barack Obama is engaged in a divisive struggle to reform health care. The issue was cited among reasons for the shock defeat of Obama's Democratic Party candidate in Massachusetts's Senate race in January.

The survey, which queried 1,362 adults with a household income $100,000 or more, says the economy remained the top concern among that demographic, but the percentage of those citing it fell to 43 percent in January from 60 percent a year ago.

Over the past year world stock markets have bounced sharply as the economy has improved. But with unemployment still high the job market was the third most cited concern, raised by 31 percent of respondents, virtually unchanged over the year.

In January 52 percent of respondents were positive about the economy compared to 49 percent in April when the question was first introduced.

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1050 EST 9Feb2010
Toreador shares drop after offering priced

Oil and gas company Toreador Resources Corp said its offering of 3 million shares was priced at $8.50 apiece, a 16 percent discount to the stock's Monday close.

The company intends to use the net proceeds of $23.5 million to buy back convertible notes, with some holders expected to exercise their right on Oct. 1.

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The stock dropped 14.1 percent to $8.74.

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1031 ET 09Feb2010
Cell Therapeutics Feb $1 put draws interest

Cell Therapeutics Inc options continued to trade heavily, notably the stock's February $1 put option. U.S. drug reviewers questioned effectiveness data from its experimental lymphoma drug pixantrone and said the medicine had substantial side effects, according to documents released on Monday. Cell Therapeutics shares rose 14 cents to 78 cents on Tuesday after falling 42 cents to close at 64 cents on Monday. A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel review of the drug, originally slated for Wednesday, was postponed as the Washington area dug out from a storm. For details, see . Meanwhile, the February $1 put was one of the most actively traded equity options contract, with more than 66,000 contracts changing hands in the first hour of trade, according to Trade Alert. 'Some investors might be liquidating positions after the plunge in the share price yesterday,' said WhatsTrading.com option strategist Frederic Ruffy. One top trade was 10,000 contracts on the bid at 30 cents, he added.


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