Premarket roundup: General Growth Properties, GM

Among the premarket stories for Monday, March 9, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — General Growth Properties Inc. will begin asking bondholders to hold off requesting payment as the shopping center owner attempts to refinance billions in debt and avoid bankruptcy, according to a media report.

DETROIT (AP) — Shares of General Motors Co. rose in premarket trading Monday as members of the Obama administration's auto task force arrive in Detroit to tour the beleaguered company and its privately held counterpart, Chrysler LLC.

NEW YORK (AP) — Piper Jaffray analysts upgraded Amazon.com Inc.'s stock to from "Neutral" to "Buy" on Monday, saying superior customer service will allow the online retailer to take more market share.

NEW YORK (AP) — A Thomas Weisel Partners analyst cut his earnings estimates and price target for Apple Inc. on Monday, saying the weak economy is having a greater effect on computer and phone demand.

NEW YORK (AP) — An analyst upgraded bank holding company Capitol Federal Financial Monday, predicting it will outperform its troubled finance-sector peers due in part to the stable credit quality of its loans.