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April 18 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Thursday:
FUTURES SIGNAL HIGHER OPEN
Index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on WallStreet. Futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones andthe Nasdaq 100 were up 0.1 to 0.2 percent.
** PEPSICO INC, Wednesday close $78.85, up 1 pctpremarket
The maker of Pepsi sodas, Tropicana juices, Frito-Lay snacksand Quaker oatmeal reported better-than-expected first-quarterearnings, as price increases helped margins.
** NOKIA , Wednesday close $3.58, down 13pct premarket
A big fall in sales of the company's basic phonesovershadowed a stronger performance from its Lumia smartphonesin the first quarter, and it said it expected operating marginsto deteriorate.
Chief Executive Stephen Elop said tougher competition wasthe main reason behind the fall in sales of regular mobilephones.
** AMERICAN EXPRESS CO, Wednesday close $64.13, down1.5 pct after market
The credit card company's first-quarter revenue came inbelow analysts' expectations as cardmember spending growthremained muted.
** UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC, Wednesday close $62.03
The nation's largest health insurer said its first-quarterprofit had fallen, in part because of lower government paymentsfor its private Medicare services and prescription plans forolder Americans.
** SELECT COMFORT CORP, Wednesday close $17.56,down 15 pct after market
The specialty mattress maker said it would revert to itsearlier marketing strategy after a shift in advertising reducedexposure of its products to already cautious customers and hitsales.
** ALLISON TRANSMISSION HOLDINGS INC, Wednesdayclose $21.16, up 9 pct after market
The maker of fully-automatic transmissions said late onWednesday that investment funds affiliated with Carlyle Group LP and Onex Corp would not proceed with a secondaryoffering of Allison Transmission's common stock due to marketconditions.
** SANDISK CORP, Wednesday close $55.72, up 3 pctpremarket
The company raised its forecast for revenue this year andsaid it expects higher prices for its NAND memory chips, whichare used in smartphones and tablets.
** EBAY INC, Wednesday close $56.10, down 3.6 pctpremarket
The e-commerce company gave a disappointing earningsforecast for the second quarter and said Europe was weak,pushing its shares lower in after-hours trade.
** ROPER INDUSTRIES INC, Wednesday close $120.54,
The diversified U.S. manufacturer said it would buyhealthcare services company Managed Health Care Associates Incfor $1 billion in an all-cash deal to expand its presence in thehealthcare market.
** THERAVANCE INC, Wednesday close $28.01, up 18pct after market
An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationhas recommended that the agency approve an experimentaltreatment for smoking-related lung damage made by Britain'sGlaxoSmithKline Plc and Theravance.
** VALE SA ADR >, Wednesday close $15.82,up 2.5 pct after market
The top global iron ore miner's mega ship called at a portin eastern China this week, marking the first entry of thevessels since Beijing banned them in January2012.
** KEYCORP, Friday close $9.53
The bank reported first-quarter results which marginallybeat estimates helped by lower expenses and commercial loangrowth.
** ACCURAY INCORPORATED, Wednesday close $4.44
The radiation oncology company said it started on March 19voluntary recalls of two separate components from itsradiotheraphy product line CyberKnife. "The affected parts aremanufactured by third-party suppliers and are being removed fromthe system because they failed to meet the company'sspecifications and standards for quality," Accuray said in astatement.
** SINOVAC BIOTECH LTD, Wednesday close $4.13, up 2pct premarket
The pharmaceutical company said the Mexico health regulatorgranted marketing approval to its seasonal flu vaccine, namedAnflu. Sinovac said the certificate of commercial approval isvalid from April 1, 2013 to April 1, 2018. (Compiled by Aditi Shrivastava; Editing by Joyjeet Das)
