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U.S. stock market report 0737 EST 16Nov2009-Abbott drug seen safer than Merck's Zetia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abbott Laboratories' Niaspan appeared to be more effective and safer than Merck & Co's Zetia as a supplementary cholesterol treatment to statins, according to a small study that is likely to further tarnish Merck's damaged cholesterol franchise.

The damage, however, may be limited by the limitations of the study itself, which included data from just 208 patients and was criticized in a major medical journal.

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Shares of Abbott closed Friday at $52.95 while Merck, a Dow component, fell 1.1 percent to $32.75 in premarket trading.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net 0732 EST 16Nov2009-Barron's sees China exposure helping FedEx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shares of FedEx Corp could advance on the company's exposure to such overseas markets as China, Barron's wrote in its Nov. 16 edition.

The company is well-positioned to make the most of the economic recovery, and its considerable operating leverage means that when its revenue starts to rise, costs won't rise as quickly, the financial publication wrote.

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FedEx shares closed Friday at $81.97.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net 0725 EST 16Nov2009-Futures rise as weak dollar helps commodities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. stock index futures were up on Monday, as a weak dollar gave a lift to commodities and natural resource stocks.

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Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 55 points while S&P 500 futures gained 8.5 points and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 9.5 points.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net 0722 EST 16Nov2009-Hoenig: US economy faces "significant weaknesses" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thomas Hoenig, the Kansas City Fed president, on Monday said that the U.S. economy still faced "significant weaknesses."

He also urged policymakers to allow large financial institutions to fail if needed.

"We still have significant weaknesses to work through in the economy in the U.S. and coupled with a rapidly rising level ... (of) debt and enormous moral hazard issues, we have a great deal of work ahead of us," he said.

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Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net 0719 EST 16Nov2009-Crude oil rises as dollar weakens ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December crude futures rose on Monday, lifted as the U.S. dollar drifted lower.

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The contract gained 1.1 percent to $77.19 per barrel.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net 0716 EST 16Nov2009-Barron's sees 20 pct upside for Exxon Mobil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exxon Mobil Corp shares could advance 20 percent in 2010 if energy prices increase as expected, Barron's wrote in its Nov. 16 edition.

The financial publication noted that the oil giant has lagged rivals this year, but futures contracts anticipate higher energy prices next year that would be a major boost to the company.

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Shares of Exxon, a Dow component, closed Friday at $72.47.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net 0707 EST 16Nov2009-Champion Enterprises files for Ch. 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Champion Enterprises Inc said on Sunday the company and its domestic operating subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy, and that it hopes to go through a court-supervised sale of its U.S. operations.

The factory-built construction company said it obtained a $40 million debtor-in-possession credit facility from lenders, a portion of which would be used for operations outside the United States.

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Shares of Champion closed Friday at 20 cents.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net Keywords: MARKETS STOCKSNEWS

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