-- WITH LOGO -- TO BUSINESS EDITOR:

CHICAGO, Dec. 18 /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 TWX, ADPT, SLR, MWD, and JBL, Market Overview, Today's Economic Calendar, and the Quote Of The Day.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Everybody's watching jobless claims because unemployment is the number one economic indicator on everybody's mind."

-- Tom Schrader, managing director, Legg Mason Wood Walker

New PriceWatch Alerts for TWX, ADPT, SLR, MWD, and JBL...

PRICEWATCH ALERTS - HIGH RETURN COVERED CALL OPTIONS

-- Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) Last Price 17.54 - APR 17.00 CALL OPTION@ $1.40 -> 5.3 % Return assigned*

-- Adaptec Inc. (Nasdaq: ADPT) Last Price 8.44 - APR 7.50 CALL OPTION@ $1.45 -> 7.3 % Return assigned*

-- Solectron Corp. (NYSE: SLR) Last Price 6.02 - APR 5.00 CALL OPTION@ $1.35 -> 7.1 % Return assigned*

-- Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MWD) Last Price 57.63 - APR 55.00 CALL OPTION@ $5.00 -> 4.5 % Return assigned*

-- Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) Last Price 26.80 - MAR 25.00 CALL OPTION@ $3.30 -> 6.4 % 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: 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 generally positive as 11 of the 15 markets that we track are above their respective flat-line values. The cumulative average return on the collective stands at a plus 0.233 percent. Japan's production of crude steel fell 0.3 percent on the year to 9.28 million tons in November, marking a third consecutive monthly decline. The November production figure also marked a 1.6 percent drop from October, which could suggest that the steel maker's output may be peaking in this relatively saturated market.

Before the market open today, the weekly status on Initial Jobless Claims is expected. For the week of December 13, experts see an 8,000 decline to a seasonally adjusted 370,000 claims, partially reversing the prior week's 13,000-surprise jump. Despite the advance, the prior week marked the 10th consecutive week of claims beneath the mesmerizing 400,000 level. At 10:00 a.m., November Chicago Fed National Activity Index will be released. In October the index declined to a plus 0.01 from the plus 0.16 in September. The index, which was first released in March 2001, is a compendium of 85 different economic indicators grouped into four broad categories (reduced from five last month). Readings below zero indicate an economy growing below its long-term trend rate, with less of a potential for rising inflationary pressures ahead. If the index is above zero, it indicates an economy expanding above trend with the potential for inflation to build. Also at 10:00 a.m., the Conference Board will release the November Leading Economic Indicators. In October the index rose 0.4 percent to 113.6. Analysts expect a 0.3 percent rise in the November report. For reference purposes, the index was equal to 100 in 1996. At noon, the December Philadelphia Fed Business Index is seen declining to 25.0 from November's 25.9, which marked a decline from October's 28.0. Is there a trend brewing here?

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

8:30 a.m.: Initial Jobless Claims for the week of December 13 (seen at minus 8,000, last plus 13,000).

10:00 a.m.: DJ-BTM Business Barometer for the week of December 6 (last minus 0.4 percent).

10:00 a.m.: November Chicago Fed National Activity Index (last plus 0.01).

10:00 a.m.: November Leading Economic Indicators (seen at plus 0.3 percent, last plus 0.4 percent).

12:00 p.m.: December Philadelphia Fed Business Index (seen at 25.0, last 25.9).

4:30 p.m.: Money Supply.

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.mansecurities.com/mu.html .

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: www.investorsobserver.com/must

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

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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