The Stocks Wall Street Is Watching

The following stocks may be
impacted due to significant news as noted:

Computer maker Dell Computer‘s
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CEO Michael Dell told reporters that he is seeing improvement in overall demand
for computer hardware.

Drug maker and Dow component Merck Co.
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has been upgraded by Bank of America to “buy” from “market perform”.

Also upgraded in the Dow are Citigroup
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,
Hewlett-Packard
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, and Eastman Kodak
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.

Drug and biotech company Amgen
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has announced positive results in its latest study for its drug Enbrel for
treating psoriatic arthritis.

Capital goods manufacturer Cummins
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announced that it miscalculated its earnings for the third quarter and
earned $0.96 per share vs. the $1.00 initially reported.

Retailer JC Penny
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raised its
third-quarter earnings expectations to $0.21 per share vs. the Multex consensus
of $0.19 per share.

Scientific and technical instrument company
Beckman Coulter

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has been downgraded by Banc of America to “market
perform” from “buy”.