Premarket Roundup: Oracle, American Apparel

Among the premarket stories for Thursday, March 19, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Oracle Corp. climbed in premarket trading Thursday after the business-software maker posted fiscal third-quarter profit and sales above Wall Street's expectations amid healthy contract signings despite the economic downturn.

NEW YORK (AP) — American Apparel Inc.'s risk profile has significantly improved since the clothing maker secured an $80 million investment from a private equity firm, said an analyst on Thursday, who lifted the stock to a "Buy" rating.

NEW YORK (AP) — Analysts remained upbeat about Nike Inc.'s outlook early Thursday even after the athletic apparel and footwear maker reported weaker-than-expected orders.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — An analyst cut his profit estimates for Cintas Corp. Thursday, a day after the corporate uniform supplier said its fiscal third-quarter profit fell 12 percent due to the slowing economy.

NEW YORK (AP) — Asbury Automotive Group Inc. has cut costs and shown itself to be profitable despite the weak automobile market, a Deutsche Bank analyst said in upgrading shares of the auto retailer.