Premarket roundup: Auto dealers, Bed Bath & Beyond

Among the premarket stories for Monday, Jan. 26, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) _ A recent survey of auto dealers shows that nearly half of them plan to pare back their vehicle orders as a result of the continued slump in demand.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An analyst downgraded shares of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. on Monday and said gains from Linens 'n Things liquidating its merchandise are being overestimated amid higher competition and a tough economy.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Fearing potential losses on exposure to European hybrid securities, a Deutsche Bank analyst on Monday cut his rating on health and life insurer Aflac Inc.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Weakness in emerging markets caused an analyst to cut his price target on Philip Morris International Inc. and remove the tobacco company from a list of preferred stocks on Monday.

HOUSTON (AP) _ Cal Dive International Inc., which provides manned diving, platform installation, pipe burial and related services to offshore oil and gas companies, said it will buy back $86 million worth of the company's common stock from its majority stockholder Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc., cutting Helix's stake in Cal Dive to 51 percent from 57 percent.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A recent sell-off of Lennar Corp. related to fraud allegations against the homebuilder is overdone, an analyst said Monday as he upgraded the company to "Buy."

LOS GATOS, Calif. (AP) _ Netflix Inc. already alerted investors the recession is helping to lure more people to its online DVD rental service. Investors will find out much the Los Gatos, Calif.-based company is profiting from the trend when Netflix releases its fourth-quarter results after the stock market closes Monday.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A monthly forecast of economic activity is expected to fall for the third straight month in December as the recession festers.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A new report is expected to show that existing home sales fell for the third straight month in December, wrapping up the worst year in at least a decade for the troubled housing sector.