PVN Providian Financial

MORNING UPDATE: Man Securities Issues Alerts for AMAT, CTXS, PVN, COGN, and AAI CHICAGO, March 26 /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 AMAT, CTXS, PVN, COGN, and AAI, Market Overview, Today's Economic Calendar, and the Quote Of The Day. QUOTE OF THE DAY "When a terrorist event has happened ... the market reacts negatively and then tends to bounce back as the fear of the unknown dissipates. It allowed investors to turn off CNN and turn on CNBC again." -- Gordon Fowler, chief investment officer, Glenmede Trust. New PriceWatch Alerts for AMAT, CTXS, PVN, COGN, and AAI... PRICEWATCH ALERTS - HIGH RETURN COVERED CALL OPTIONS -- Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) Last Price 21.73 - JUL 20.00 CALL OPTION@ $2.85 -> 5.9 % Return assigned* -- Citrix Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) Last Price 22.19 - JUN 20.00 CALL OPTION@ $3.00 -> 4.2 % Return assigned* -- Providian Financial Corp. (NYSE:PVN) Last Price 12.27 - MAY 12.50 CALL OPTION@ $0.60 -> 7.1 % Return assigned* -- Cognos Inc. (NASDAQ:COGN) Last Price 30.60 - APR 30.00 CALL OPTION@ $1.75 -> 4 % Return assigned* -- AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) Last Price 11.41 - MAY 10.00 CALL OPTION@ $1.80 -> 4.1 % 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 offering a mixed picture with extremes set by gains in the Nikkei and losses suffered in the Denmark Copenhagen Stock Index. Currently seven of the 15 markets that we track are positive. The cumulative average return on the group stands at a minus 0.062 percent. The Nikkei exploded overnight by 240 points to close out the week with a 3.1 percent gain. The index is currently higher by 10.25 percent on the calendar year and sits at levels only touched briefly back in May 2002. Not so good news out of Germany as a survey demonstrating German business sentiment deteriorated for the second straight month in March, with companies increasingly unsettled about weak domestic demand. The German Ifo business sentiment index fellto 95.4 from 96.4 in February, just beneath forecasts for a 95.6 and in line with the long-term average of 95.0. Of particular concern is the indicator of the current business situation, which has declined for the first time in six months. The current conditions sub-index decreased to 92.1 from 92.6 in February. European politicians and central bankers caution that weak domestic demand, combined with a stronger euro and high oil prices, could be hampering growth. The deterioration in German business sentiment in March is likely to fan fears that the economic upturn in Europe's largest economy may be more modest than previously expected. The German economy is currently expected to expand between 1.5 percent and 2.0 percent in 2004, but some investment banks have already started to cut their forecasts. Surprisingly enough the Frankfurt DAX is one of the indexes on positive ground this morning. The somewhat disappointing Ifo report, may well open the door for the European Central Bank (ECB) to offer up an interest rate cut when it meets again on April 1. Before the market opens today, February Personal Income is expected to show an increase of 0.3 percent, improving further over January's 0.2 percent rise. This report historically has thepotential to demonstrate inflationary pressures creeping into the economy, but that is unlikely at this point in time considering the lackluster employment picture. The companion report, February Personal Spending is expected to match last month's rise of 0.4 percent. Next on the agenda, at 9:00 a.m., Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan speaks to the monetary conference in Washington. Not much out of yesterday's appearance, so today could prove to be a yawner. At 9:45 a.m., the Final March University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is expected to slip slightly to 93.9. If so, this would continue a trend lower from January's final 96.8, but still better than the final December reading of 91.7. Unless we see a pop back toward 97 or a decline below 90, the report should have little impact on today's session. 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 2004 is shaping up to be the "Year of Online Fraud." Think of the number of times a deadly web virus has hit, together with elaborate e-mail scams designed to trick people into releasing valuable personal details. This nasty crime is known in the business as "phishing," and a report out from the Association for Payment Clearing Services in Britain says it is on the rise. Recently, customers of major UK banks Barclays, Natwest and Lloyds-TSB have suffered at the hands of online thieves, and while the National High-Tech Crime Unit is working hard to combat the criminals, the Internet offers many hiding places. So it's essential that authorities and companies continue to fight this costly crime. Seven million Americans became victims of identity theft in 2003, at an average cost of $90,000 per case -- billions of dollars. The worldwide cost of attacks last year was $82 billion. And 2004 could be the worst in history for viruses. Studies show that 90,000 different viruses spread across the Internet each day. One in five computers is infected -- and most users never know it. The Value Edge group has written a special report on the growing problem of identity theft in America. The report focuses on one company in particular, whose cutting edge technology is already being used by Microsoft to protect its new software. Read the FREE REPORT here immediately: http://www.investorsobserver.com/agora5 TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR 8:30 a.m.: February Personal Income (last plus 0.2percent). 8:30 a.m.: February Personal Spending (last plus 0.4 percent). 9:00 a.m.: Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan speaks to the monetary conference in Washington. 9:45 a.m.: March Final University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (February final 94.4, preliminary March 94.1). 12:00 p.m.: Treasury Secretary Snow speaks to U.S. Small Business Administration conference in Washington. 2:00 p.m.: Federal Reserve Governor Gramlich speaks to models and monetary policy conference in Washington. 7:00 p.m.: Federal Reserve Governor Kohn speaks to models and monetary conference in Washington. 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 800-837-6212or 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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