MARKET PULSE-Ziopharm, Goldman Sachs, RF Micro, Supervalu

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March 26 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Tuesday: WALL STREET TO RISE AS DATA SHOWS ECONOMY GROWING

Wall Street was set to rise at the open on Tuesday after data showed the economy continues to slowly improve, which could lift the S&P 500 closer to its record high.

Data could support a move higher on stocks. U.S. single-family home prices rose in January, starting the year with the biggest annual increase in six-and-a-half years in a fresh sign the housing market recovery remains on track.

** GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP , Monday close $146.11, up 1 percent premarket

** BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY , Monday close $153,784.00

Goldman Sachs and Berkshire Hathaway have amended the warrants Berkshire holds as part of the lifeline it gave Goldman during the financial crisis, a change that Goldman said would ensure Berkshire remains a long-term investor in the bank.

** INTUIT INC , Monday close $64.84, up 5.5 pct premarket

The maker of TurboTax, a tax-preparation software, reiterated its revenue growth forecast of 10 percent to 12 percent for the year ending July 31.

TurboTax is gaining market share and is favorably trending well, relative to the overall industry, Oppenheimer & Co analyst Scott Schneeberger wrote in a note.

** ZIOPHARM ONCOLOGY INC , Monday close $5.13, down 60 percent premarket

The drugmaker said a late-stage trial of its cancer drug failed to meet the main goal of improving patients' survival without the cancer worsening, and the company decided to stop developing the treatment.

** RF MICRO DEVICES , Monday close $4.91, up 5 percent premarket

Oppenheimer & Co upgraded the chipmaker's stock to "outperform" from "perform", saying the company appears to be well positioned to capitalize on expanding RF complexity with its "systems-level" approach.

** SUPERVALU INC , Monday close $5.05, down 5 percent premarket

The grocery store chain said it will cut about 1100 jobs across the country as it tries to rebuild its business after selling some of its supermarket chains.

** CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES INC , Monday close $45.99, down 6 pct premarket

The company, which sells apparel and accessories for newborns to 10-year-olds, forecast adjusted first-quarter profit below estimates, as unfavorable weather and weak macro-economic environment hurt consumer spending.

The company also said it expects negative high-single digit comparable retail sales in the current quarter.

** GORDMANS STORES INC , Monday close $14.22, down 7 pct premarket

The discount retailer posted fourth-quarter sales that missed Wall Street expectations as its merchandise did not resonate well with shoppers and the company said it expects comparable sales in the current quarter to fall to low double digits.

Brokerage Piper Jaffray & Co downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "overweight", saying that current inventory levels seem higher than were previously anticipated and the gross margin weakness could continue in future quarters if consumer spending on apparel continues to be challenged.

** PEABODY ENERGY CORP , Monday close $20.80, up 2 pct premarket

Brokerage Raymond James raised its rating on the coal miner's stock to "outperform" from "market perform", with a price target of $25, citing a rise in natural gas prices, which will prompt utilities to switch to more economic coal to generate power.

** RAYTHEON CO , Monday close $56.76

The maker of the Patriot missile defense system and other weapons said on Monday it will pare its business units down to four starting on April 1 to boost productivity and lower costs, resulting in annual savings of about $85 million and the elimination of 200 jobs.

** BAIDU INC , Monday close $85.33

China's largest search engine operator won the dismissal of a U.S. lawsuit brought by pro-democracy activists who claimed that the company, as well as the country itself, should be punished for censoring them over the Internet.

** BOEING CO , Monday close $84.85

The company's 787 Dreamliner took to the sky on Monday in a test flight aimed at showing that the plane's new lithium-ion battery system meets regulatory safety standards, a key step in ending a two-month, worldwide grounding of the high-tech jet.

** MONSANTO CO , Monday close $99.40 ** DUPONT CO , Monday close $49.11

The top global seed rivals said Tuesday that they had settled a bitter legal battle over rights to certain technology for genetically modified seeds, and would drop antitrust and patent lawsuits against each other pending in federal court.

** DELL INC , Monday close $14.51

Two of the most prominent U.S. investors could upset Michael Dell's $24.4 billion buyout bid for the PC maker, after billionaire Carl Icahn opened the door to an alliance with Blackstone Group LP to wrest control of the computer maker from its founder.

** WAL-MART STORES INC , Monday close $74.85

The world's biggest retailer has sued a major grocery workers union and others who have protested at its Florida stores, the latest salvo in its legal fight to stop "disruptive" rallies in and around its stores by groups seeking better pay and working conditions.

** ASSURANT INC , Monday close $44.00, down 2.3 pct premarket

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Federal Housing Finance Agency is cracking down on "force-placed" insurance, which has hit millions of struggling borrowers with high-price homeowners' insurance policies arranged by banks that benefit from the costly coverage. ()

Last week, the insurer settled a New York probe of this little-known practice by agreeing to pay the state a $14 million penalty, refund some homeowner premiums and reform certain business practices.

** KKR & CO , Monday close $18.31

The U.S. buyouts firm agreed to sell Intelligence Holdings to Temp Holdings for 68 billion yen ($721 million), almost double what it initially paid for the temporary staffing agency three years ago.

** CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP , Monday close $20.35

Hedge fund investors challenging the natural gas producer's plan to redeem $1.3 billion of notes without paying a $400 million make-whole payment have asked to withdraw from a lawsuit over the matter, allowing a bond trustee to argue on their behalf, according to court papers filed on Monday.

** SONIC CORP , Monday close $11.73, up 4 pct after market

The drive-in restaurant chain forecast full-year same-store sales in the low single-digit range after reporting flat comparable sales in the second quarter.

Lazard Capital Markets analyst Matthew DiFrisco raised his price target on the stock to $14 and maintained his "buy" rating, citing increased confidence in the company's full-year outlook.

** CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS LP , Monday close $39.10, down 5 pct premarket

The company, which makes lubricating oils, solvents and waxes, said it would offer 5.25 million shares in an underwritten public offering. Calumet said it intends to used the proceeds from the sale to fund its capital expenditures, acquisitions and other activities.

** AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD , Friday close $0.94

The Chinese education company said Baring Asia Private Equity has withdrawn its proposal to go private due to the resignations of the company's auditor and three independent directors.

Baring Asia had last week offered to take the company private for $1.46 per American Depositary Share.

The stock was halted all of Monday.

** HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES INC , Monday close $3.74, down 4 pct aftermarket

A class action lawsuit was filed against the oil and gas producer, alleging the company with violation of federal securities laws.

According to the complaint, the company allegedly hid information about its costs, internal controls, and its agreement with Indonesian oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero).

** APOLLO INVESTMENT CORP , Monday close $8.55, down 1 pct premarket

** PROSPECT CAPITAL CORP , Monday close $11.15, down 1 pct premarket

** MEDLEY CAPITAL CORP , Monday close $15.97, down 3 percent premarket

** TICC CAPITAL CORP , Monday close $10.08, down 1 percent premarket

** HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORP , Monday close $14.54, down 1 percent premarket

Wells Fargo downgraded the business development finance company sector to "market weight" from "overweight", citing risks in the credit market.

(Compiled by Jochelle Mendonca)

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Keywords: MARKETS USA STOCKS/PULSE