-- WITH LOGO -- TO BUSINESS EDITOR:

CHICAGO, Dec. 16 /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 ORCL, NOVL, TLAB, IPG, and SOV, Market Overview, Today's Economic Calendar, and the Quote Of The Day.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Oracle's quarter represents the most significant evidence of improving demand for corporate software that we have seen so far this recovery."

-- Gary Rollo, analyst, Morgan Stanley

New PriceWatch Alerts for ORCL, NOVL, TLAB, IPG, and SOV...

PRICEWATCH ALERTS - HIGH RETURN COVERED CALL OPTIONS

-- Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq: ORCL) Last Price 12.70 - MAR 12.50 CALL OPTION@ $1.05 -> 7.3 % Return assigned*

-- Novell Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) Last Price 9.14 - FEB 7.50 CALL OPTION@ $1.95 -> 4.3 % Return assigned*

-- Tellabs Inc. (Nasdaq: TLAB) Last Price 7.94 - MAR 7.50 CALL OPTION@ $1.00 -> 8.1 % Return assigned*

-- Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) Last Price 13.89 - APR 12.50 CALL OPTION@ $2.00 -> 5.1 % Return assigned*

-- Sovereign Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: SOV) Last Price 22.56 - JAN 22.50 CALL OPTION@ $1.25 -> 5.6 % 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: 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: 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 unanimously negative as none 15 of the bourses that we track are currently in the green. The cumulative average return on the group stands at a minus 0.857 percent. The Nikkei finally got to respond to yesterday's global market reversal, shedding two percent of its Monday's three-percent gain. The selling occurred despite the Bank of Japan holding tight on its current monetary policy and upgrading its assessment on the Japanese economy for a fourth consecutive month. Consumer prices in November in the United Kingdom surprisingly declined by 0.1 percent on the month. Analysts had expected a 0.2 percent rise. On a year-over-year basis, consumer prices were higher by 1.3 percent in November on expectations for a 2.7 percent rise.

An extremely full calendar of economic data today should give participants a little something to ponder. Before the market open the two weekly reports on the health of the retail sector will be released. The previous ICSC-UBS Chain Store Sales report booked a 2.5 percent decline, while Redbook Retail Sales declined by 1.0 percent. These reports may well give us a clue if online shopping could compensate for the inability of snowbound shoppers to hit the malls in person. At 8:30 a.m., the November Consumer Price Index is seen holding at unchanged. The Core Index, less food and energy, is seen rising by just 0.1 percent, versus October's 0.2 percent rise. November Housing Starts are once again expected to show a decline from record levels. This time analysts are looking for a 3.1 percent decline. In October a two- percent decline was predicted, which turned out to be a 2.9 percent rise. Recall also that October building permits rose by 5.2 percent in October. This should have offered an idea of "pipe-line" new construction. We shall see. Also before the market open, Third-Quarter Current Account is expected to have declined to a minus $136.2 billion from the prior estimate of minus $138.7 billion. A surprise to the upside would seem to be dollar negative. At 9:15 a.m., November Capacity Utilization is seen rising to 75.3 percent of capacity, up from October's 75.0 percent utilization rate. The November Industrial Production is seen up by 0.5 percent. October's figure rose by 0.2 percent.

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

TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR

7:45 a.m.: ICSC-UBS Chain Store Sales for the week of December 13 (last minus 2.5 percent).

8:30 a.m.: November Consumer Price Index (seen unchanged, last unchanged).

8:30 a.m.: November Consumer Price Core Index, less-food and energy (seen at plus 0.1 percent, last plus 0.2 percent).

8:30 a.m.: November Housing Starts (seen at minus 3.1 percent, last plus 2.9 percent).

8:30 a.m.: Third-Quarter Current Account (seen at minus $136.2 billion, last minus $138.7 billion).

8:55 a.m.: Redbook Retail Sales for the week of December 13 (last minus 1 percent).

9:15 a.m.: November Capacity Utilization (seen at 75.3, last 75.0 percent).

9:15 a.m.: November Industrial Production (seen at plus 0.5 percent, last plus 0.2 percent).

6:30 p.m.: ABC News/Money Magazine Consumer Confidence Index (last minus 11).

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This Morning Update was prepared with data and information provided by:

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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 or at http://www.cboe.com/Resources/Intro.asp . Privacy policy available upon request.

SOURCE  Man Securities