TradingMarkets 7 Stocks You Need to Know for Friday

Stocks were broadly higher on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading the way on a percentage basis. The Dow was up by 52.19 by the end of trading today. The Nasdaq Composite closed up 21.62. And the S&P 500 finished Thursday’s session ahead by 7.42.

Here are 7 Stocks You Need to Know for Friday

Countrywide Financial
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spiked higher on Thursday as the company set a date at which shareholders will vote on the planned buyout by Bank of America
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.

Evergreen Solar
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was cut from “neutral” to “sell” by Merrill Lynch, which cited concerns about overcapacity for the company’s solar panel parts.

Falling by more than 9% on Thursday, Men’s Wearhouse
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disappointed investors with quarterly earnings that were below analyst estimates.

Mastercard Inc.
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rallied to a new record of $309.00 on Thursday as the company announced that it was increasing its profit target due to consumer demand for credit.

Profits that beat expectations and raised guidance for the fiscal year 2009 lead to big gains for Big Lots
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on Thursday

Shares of Exxon
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were off moderately on Thursday as an attempt to split off the company chairmanship from the job of the chief executive officer failed.