1801 ET 24Nov2009-US equities short interest rises in early Nov

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Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq edged higher in

early November, data from the exchanges showed on Tuesday, signaling that some

investors are betting the equity run-up might hit some turbulence as 2009 winds

down.

While this year may go down as one of the worst for short-sellers --

investors who seek to profit by betting stocks will fall -- the growing unease

about the pace of the economic recovery may provide some solace.

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1519 ET 24Nov2009-Tech sector poised for more gains -T.Rowe Price

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Technology shares should have another stellar run heading into 2010 as the

economic recovery takes hold, boosting both revenue and profits, says Kennard

Allen, lead portfolio manager for T.RowePrice's Science&Technology Strategy.

'Technology fundamentals have been better than expected in 2009 and the

outlook has improved,' he told a briefing on the 2010 investment and economic

outlook in New York.

He said dollar weakness would be a major tailwind for tech revenue growth,

and strong balance sheets added to the sector's appeal, along with a push for

innovation. Even so, investors would still have to be prudent about their

allocations, Allen added. 'Good stock picking will be even more important in

2010. You don't want to be caught on the wrong side of the volatility.'

His holdings feature: Microsoft, Accenture, Nintendo , International Business Machines Corp and McAfee.

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1441 ET 24Nov2009 Option players shop for eBay call options

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A number of players are shopping for eBay Inc bullish options as

the shares of the global e-commerce and payments company were steady and traded

up to $23.51 in afternoon trade. About 33,000 call options changed hands in

eBay, more than double their average daily call volume and five times the

number of puts, according to Trade Alert.

The January 2010 $29 call strike is leading the charge with 11,450

contracts earlier traded and 93 percent of the volume hitting ask-side, said

WhatsTrading.com option strategist Frederic Ruffy. ISEE data on the

International Securities Exchange indicate that 11,000 calls or 89 percent of

eBay call volume on the options exchange, were opening customer buyers.

The stock's average implied volatility eased to 31.75 percent and is

falling to new 52-week lows, he added. There was no apparent catalyst to

explain the heightened call activity.

Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net

1433 ET 24Nov2009-Equity valuations are 'reasonable' -- T.RowePrice

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Although the benchmark S&P 500 has jumped more than 60 percent

since hitting a 12-year closing low in early March, stocks remain reasonably

priced relative to 12-month forward earnings, a leading money manager said on

Tuesday.

'To us valuations look reasonable. P/E levels are below the median and the

mean,' John Linehan, co-director of U.S. equities at T.RowePrice told a

briefing on the 2010 investment and economic outlook in New York.

According to his analysis, in the period between Jan. 1, 1988 through Oct

31, 2009, the S&P 500 had a long-term mean P/E of 18.47, while its long-term

median P/E was 16.34. Currently, the index is trading at a forward P/E multiple

of 15.31.

Reuters Messaging rm://ellis.mnyandu.reuters.com@reuters.net

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