** Shares of UnitedHealth UNH.N fall 7.35% to $297.95 premarket
** Brokerage HSBC cuts stock to 'reduce' from 'hold', slashes PT to $270 from $490
** UNH has secretly paid nursing homes thousands in bonuses to help slash hospital transfers for ailing residents as part of a series of cost-cutting tactics that saved co millions, but at times risked residents' health, The Guardian reports
** Co did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment
** Healthcare conglomerate's shares have been under pressure following its CEO's exit, the suspension of its annual forecast and WSJ report of criminal probe for possible Medicare fraud
** Shares have fallen ~36% YTD
(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru)
((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))

