Premarket Roundup: DR Horton, Toll Bros; Alcoa

Among the premarket stories for Tuesday, August 18, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of homebuilders D.R. Horton Inc. and Toll Brothers Inc. fell in premarket trading Wednesday after a Stifel Nicolaus analyst cut his investment rating on both companies to "Sell," citing a big run-up in the price of their shares since early July.

NEW YORK (AP) — Alcoa Inc. stock fell Wednesday after an analyst downgraded shares of the aluminum producer because their price topped his target and already weak industry fundamentals could deteriorate.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. edged lower in premarket trading Wednesday after the company's fiscal third-quarter earnings indicated weak demand for personal computers and printer ink.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Domestic steel prices are on the rise as demand increases and inventories remain weak, though investors may be cautious as prices for Chinese steel declines in the short term, an analyst said Wednesday.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — An analyst upgraded staffing company MPS Group Inc., saying it should experience stronger earnings growth than Robert Half International Inc., which he downgraded.

NEW YORK (AP) — Hold on to your boots and skinny jeans from last year. Those are among fall's biggest trends, along with leggings and loose-fitting tops, say Lazard Capital Markets analysts.

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