Premarket roundup: Analysts look to 'New Moon' to help Hot Topic

Among the premarket stories for Thursday, August 20, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — The "Twilight" sequel, "New Moon," should boost Hot Topic Inc.'s sales this fall, analysts said, but may not be as powerful a sales driver as the first movie.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of NetApp Inc. fell in premarket trading Thursday as an uncertain outlook from the data storage company offset strong results for the fiscal first quarter.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Huron Consulting Group Inc. moved higher Thursday after an R.W. Baird analyst upgraded the business consultancy to "Neutral" after it reported earnings and said it had completed restating financial results dating back to fiscal 2006.

NEW YORK (AP) — An analyst on Thursday upgraded his rating on Prudential Financial Inc., after a review of the sector showed the insurer has the strongest credit among its competitors.

NEW YORK (AP) — Allied Capital Corp. was upgraded Thursday by an analyst because it has reached preliminary agreements to restructure debt, which has been weighing on the stock.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Shares of Bucyrus International Inc. and Joy Global Inc. could trade lower as oil prices stagnate, an analyst said Thursday as he downgraded the two mining equipment manufacturers.

SOURCE : twilightersnet