Biogen, Hartford, Multi-Fineline, Toyota: U.S. Equity Preview

By Cristina Alesci

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of the following companies may have unusual fluctuations in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and prices are as of 8:40 a.m. in New York.

Bankrate Inc. (RATE US) lost 11 percent to $27.57. The online provider of personal-finance services said earnings excluding some items were 33 cents a share in the fourth quarter. That was 1 cent less than the average analyst estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB US) lost 6.5 percent to $49.80. The world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs reported fourth-quarter sales of $1.07 billion, or 1.6 percent less than the average analyst estimate.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG US) slumped 22 percent to $11.74. The insurer slashed its dividend by 84 percent, reported an $806 million loss and missed its own capital target.

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IDIX US) gained 5.6 percent to $6.80. GlaxoSmithKline Plc gained worldwide rights to an experimental HIV treatment developed by Idenix.

JDS Uniphase Corp. (JDSU US) retreated 5.1 percent to $3.90. The maker of phone equipment forecast sales of $300 million at most in the fiscal third quarter, or 16 percent less than the average analyst estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc. (MFLX US) fell 14 percent to $16.40. The maker of flexible circuit boards for mobile devices forecast sales of $190 million at most in the fiscal second quarter, or 5.4 percent less than the average analyst estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

Skechers USA Inc. (SKX US) tumbled 25 percent to $7.55. The California shoemaker forecast as much as 18 percent less 2009 sales than analysts estimated on average and reported an unexpected loss for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Skyworks Solutions Inc. (SWKS US) advanced 14 percent to $5.74. The maker of chips for mobile phones reported fiscal first-quarter profit of 17 cents a share, or 9.7 percent more than the average analyst estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

Toyota Motor Corp. (TM US) dropped 4.3 percent to $65.85. The world’s largest carmaker said its loss this year may be three times earlier estimates as car sales in the U.S. and Japan plunge and a stronger yen erodes earnings.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cristina Alesci in New York at calesci2@bloomberg.net.