GORAN CAPITAL (GNCNF, 8.75)- The insurer's Symons International subsidiary said it has held talks with possible buyers regarding the sale of the company's crop and auto insurance businesses.

INTELLIQUEST INFORMATION GROUP (IQST, 9.25)- The information management company reported a second quarter loss of 13 cents a share, compared to expectations of a breakeven quarter.  Revenues fell 7% to $9.3 million in the quarter.  The company also announced that it has agreed to be acquired by Kantar Group for $42.5 million plus cash on hand.

NORDSTROM (JWN, 29.81)- The retailer beat second quarter estimates by a penny as earnings rose 8.5% to 51 cents a share.  Sales fell 0.3% to $1.4 billion in the quarter, and same store sales dipped 2.4%.  Gross margins improved to 34.6% from 32.85% in the quarter.

SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA (SFA, 39.81)- The communications equipment supplier said fourth quarter earnings rose 32% to 33 cents a share, 5 cents above expectations.  Revenues increased 17% to $355.2 million, and bookings jumped 22% to $388.7 million in the quarter.

ETOYS INC (ETYS)- The Internet retailer's BabyCenter subsidiary is considering "strategic alternatives" for its Consumer Health Interactive division, including the possible sale or spinoff of the division.

IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS (IRID, 5.94)- The satellite phone operator has defaulted on $1.55 billion in loans.  The news is putting pressure on the shares of Motorola, which holds an 18% share in Iridium, in European trading.

LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR (LSCC, 62.88)- The company announced a 2 for 1 stock split.

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL (MGA, 52.25)- The automotive supplier missed estimates by 2 cents, earning $1.32 a share in its second quarter as revenues rose 44% to $2.32 billion.

PEGASYSTEMS (PEGA, 8)- The software maker surprised with a second quarter profit of 3 cents a share, compared to expectations of a loss of 7 cents.  Revenue rose 17.6% to $21.3 million in the quarter.  License revenues fell 8.3% to $9.1 million in the quarter.

PREMIER PARKS (PKS, 35.43)- The theme park operator earned 38 cents a share in its second quarter (before an extraordinary loss), beating expectations of a 17 cent profit.  Revenues rose 14.1% to $333.5 million in the quarter.

ALCAN ALUMINUM (AL, 33.63)- Alcan, Algroup, and Pechiney have agreed to merge, forming the world's largest aluminum company.  The new group will be known as A.P.A. and will be headquartered in Montreal.  Alcan shareholders will own 44% of the new company, Pechiney shareholders 29%, and Algroup shareholders 27%.  The new company expects to reduce its workforce by 5% and take a $600 million charge to cover the costs.  The company sees $600 million in annual synergies resulting from the deal.

BLOCKBUSTER INC (BBI, 15)- In a further blow to the stumbling IPO market, the video retailer's shares were priced at $15, below the expected range of $16-$18.

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING (BSY, 55.13)- The pay-TV satellite operator reported a 73% drop in 1999 earnings to 2.6 pence a share, in the mid range of analysts' estimates.

CISCO SYSTEMS (CSCO, 58.75)- The network equipment company beat estimates by a penny, earning 21 cents a share in its fourth quarter as revenues rose 48% to $3.55 billion in the quarter.  The shares rose 2 points in after hours trading and the better than expected results could spark a relief rally in other tech shares today.

GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER (GMP, 12.88)- The utility lost 10 cents a share in its second quarter.  The company blamed the weak showing on higher power costs and higher capacity costs.

PCOM INC (PCMS, 4.25)- The maker of telecom network access systems reported a wider than expected seocnd quarter loss of 35 cents a share, compared to estimates of a 20 cent loss.  Revenue tumbled 43% to $36 million in the quarter.

GATEWAY INC (GTW, 78.25)- The PC maker announced a 2 for 1 stock split.

GERBER CHILDRENSWEAR (GCW, 7.5)- The apparel maker earned 11 cents a share in its second quarter, a drop from last year's 23 cents and 6 cents below expectations.  Revenues fell to $58.8 million from $63.9 million in the second year.  The company blamed higher than expected inventory levels and lower gross margins for the shortfall.

HILLENBRAND INDUSTRIES (HB, 42.5)- The casket maker warned that third quarter earnings will be $0.25-$0.39, compared to analysts' expectations of a 64 cent profit. The company said the shortfall was a result of lower than expected sales of medical equipment as a result of uncertainty related to Medicare cuts, and slower sales of caskets due to "a lower death rate this summer".

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES (INSS, 47.43)- Forbes is reporting that the networking company is in talks with Lucent Technologies to be acquired for $55 a share in a $3.7 billion deal.

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL (LXK, 62.88)- The maker of printers will join the S&P 500 on August 12th.

MICHAEL FOODS (MIKL, 23.56)- The egg and refrigerated potato products distributor has hired an investment banker to explore strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.

OFFSHORE LOGISTICS (OLOG, 13.13)- The oilfield services company beat estimates by 3 cents, earning 15 cents a share in its first quarter, a decline from last year's 29 cents.  The company aid its results are still being negatively impacted by unfavorable industry conditions.

AT&T (T, 51.68)- The telecom operator was the subject of a negative story in this weekend's Barron's.  According to the article,  several money managers  believe the company could be facing increased competition and that the stock could decline 20%.

CISCO SYSTEMS (CSCO, 62.25)- The company plans to invest $1 billion in the consulting arm of KPMG, giving it a stake of just under 20%.

DATA GENERAL (DGN, 13.19)- The company has agreed to be acquired by EMC Corp in a $1.1 billion stock deal, giving the shares a value of $19.50 a share based on Friday's close.  The shares are up 5 in pre-open trading.

GIANT CEMENT HOLDING (GCHI, 22.5)- The company received a favorable mention in Barron's.  A money manager sees the shares hitting $40 next year.