Premarket Roundup: Jamba, J. Crew

Among the premarket stories for Friday, May 28, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — Spending on smoothies appears to be a low priority to consumers given the downturn in the economy, an analyst said, following a disappointing first-quarter report from Jamba Inc., which owns and franchises Jamba Juice stores.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of J. Crew Group Inc. jumped as analysts hiked their earnings estimates and stock price targets on the apparel retailer a day after it posted surprisingly strong results for the first quarter.

NEW YORK (AP) — Computer maker Dell Inc. salvaged its fiscal first-quarter by holding the line on prices and keeping a tight lid on expenses despite another weak period for sales, analysts said.

NEW YORK (AP) — An analyst upgraded Morgan Stanley, citing an improving operating environment potential growth tied to the merger of its wealth management business with Smith Barney.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — An analyst reduced his estimated 2009 earnings loss for Quanex Building Products Corp., seeing some approaching bright spots in the second half of the year for the building components maker.