S&P 500 Leaders & Laggards: MON MTG

Monsanto Helps Send Standard & Poor's 500 to a Higher Close, Following Higher Earnings Outlook

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged higher Tuesday, helped in part by Monsanto Co., which spiked after lifting its outlook.

The S&P 500 gained 3.11 points to 1,352.99.

Monsanto rose $10.28, or 9.9 percent, to $114.54. The agricultural products company boosted its earnings forecast for the second quarter and 2008, partly on strong performance in its herbicide business.

General Growth Properties Inc. rose $2.74, or 7.2 percent, to $41. To repay debt, the real estate investment trust plans to sell 22.8 million shares at $36 apiece.

Oil services provider BJ Services Co. rose $1.70, or 6.9 percent, to $26.43.
Among the decliners, shares of MGIC Investment Corp. dropped $1.05, or 7.9 percent, to $12.25. The nation's largest mortgage insurer said it will boost its public offering by 20 percent to raise additional cash.

Clear Channel Communications Inc. declined $1.89, or 5.5 percent, to $32.56, following a report that its buyout by private-equity firms may not follow through as planned.
Public Storage lost $4.29, or 4.5 percent, to $90.21, following a downgrade of the self-storage company.