Premarket roundup: Aeropostale, Gap

Among the premarket activity stories for Friday, Sept. 19, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) _ An analyst on Friday downgraded teen apparel retailer Aeropostale Inc. to "Neutral," saying she is increasingly concerned about a sales deceleration expected in the coming months.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A Goldman Sachs analyst on Friday upgraded apparel retailer Gap Inc. to "Buy" from "Neutral," saying its results will likely improve even if traffic does not.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Concur Technologies Inc., a maker of expense reporting software, was downgraded by two analysts Friday because the stock has soared in the last few months.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An analyst on Friday downgraded greeting-card maker American Greetings Inc. to "Hold" from "Buy" following a recent run-up in its stock price.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An Oppenheimer & Co. analyst upgraded Cree Inc., saying its light-emitting diodes are at last being adopted as a mainstream lighting product.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) _ Shares of VeraSun Energy Corp. jumped more than 50 percent in premarket trading Friday after the ethanol producer said late Thursday that it has retained Morgan Stanley to help it evaluate strategic alternatives.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An analyst said Friday's Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s aggressive international openings and other long-term focused investments could pressure sales and margins, and started coverage of the teen apparel retailer with an 'Underperform' rating.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An Oppenheimer & Co. analyst cut the price targets of Ameristar Casinos Inc. and Boyd Gaming Corp. Friday, citing increased competition in the Chicago area.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An analyst downgraded Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. Friday, saying the stock's current performance is not likely to hold up given economic conditions and credit concerns.