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Feb 8 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Friday:
WALL ST TO OPEN HIGHER AFTER POSITIVE ECONOMIC DATA
U.S. stock index were set for a slightly higher open onFriday after a trio of positive economic data points, but gainswere expected to be modest, with the benchmark S&P index nearfive-year highs. S&P 500 futures added 1.8 points andwere slightly above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricingby taking into account interest rates, dividends and time toexpiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures gained 6 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 9.5points.
** MCDONALD'S CORP, $94.88, up 0.3 pct (0943 ET)
The company said January sales at established restaurantsaround the world fell 1.9 percent, a steeper decline thanexpected as fast-food chains fight for diners.
** ENTEROMEDICS INC, $1.25, down 55 pct (0943 ET)
The company said its experimental device to treat obesitydid not meet pre-defined efficacy targets in a late-stage study.
** ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH INC , $4.56, up 27pct (0944 ET)
The company said a mid-stage trial of its experimental lungcancer drug showed that 95 percent of the patients experienced areduction in the size of their tumors.
** NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS INC, $20.38, down 17 pct(0944 ET)
The speech recognition software maker forecastsecond-quarter revenue below analysts' estimates, citing a fallin demand for its products in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
** TRANZYME INC, $0.61, up 11.4 pct (0944 ET)
The drugmaker said it will explore a possible sale of thecompany, less than two years after it went public and shortlyafter it stopped trials of one of its most advanced drug indevelopment.
** RIVERBED TECHNOLOGY INC, $17.20, down 14.4 pct(0945 ET)
The network gear maker's quarterly profit fell 76 percent oncosts associated with its $1 billion acquisition of OpnetTechnologies Inc, and the company forecast current-quarterprofit below estimates.
At least two brokerages downgraded the stock.
** LINKEDIN CORP, $146.28, up 18 pct (0945 ET)
The professional social networking company extended its hotstreak on Thursday, announcing both blow-out quarterly profitsand a bullish forecast for the new year that exceeded WallStreet's already lofty expectations.
At least five brokerages - J.P. Morgan Securities, BarclaysCapital, Canaccord Genuity, Evercore Partners and CantorFitzgerald - raised the target price on the company's stock.
** SKULLCANDY INC, $6.39, down 3.3 pct (0946 ET)
The headphones company forecast full year 2012 earnings atthe lower end of between $1 and $1.04 per share, and said ChiefExecutive Jeremy Andrus will step down.
** ACTIVISION BLIZZARD INC, $13.19, up 9.4 pct(0946 ET)
The company's earnings beat Wall Street expectations afterits "Call of Duty" and "Skylanders" titles had blockbusterholiday sales, shoring up investor confidence in the world'slargest videogame publisher despite a cautious forecast for2013.
** COINSTAR INC, $48.27, down 7.5 pct (0946 ET)
The operator of Redbox video rental kiosks forecastcurrent-quarter results significantly below analysts' estimatesdue to a slower movie release schedule.
** RADIOSHACK CORP, $3.26, up 4.8 pct (0947 ET)
The U.S. electronics retailer named Walgreen executiveJoseph Magnacca chief executive, hoping to boost sales bytapping his merchandising and marketing experience.
** MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC, $36.39, up 7.2 pct(0947 ET)
The chipmaker forecast a larger-than-expected profit andrevenue for the current quarter after reporting third-quarterresults that beat Wall Street expectations on higher sales ofits microcontroller chips.
** AOL INC, $34.67, up 10.4 pct (0947 ET)
The online company's quarterly profit jumped, boosted by a13 percent rise in advertising sales. Net income rose to $35.7million, or 41 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, from$22.8 million, or 23 cents per share, a year earlier.Advertising revenue rose 13 percent to $410.6 million, whilesubscription revenue for AOL's dial-up services fell 10 percentto $174.2 million.
** 3SBIO INC, $14.63, up 6.1 pct (0948 ET)
The Chinese biotechnology firm said it agreed to be takenprivate by Decade Sunshine Ltd for about $340 million,reflecting a wider trend of Chinese companies going private toescape U.S. regulatory scrutiny.
** APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, $23.46, up 5.9 pct(0949 ET)
The company reported a 95 percent rise in quarterly earningsas strong gains in private equity profits, driven by assetsales, more than compensated for a drop in income in its creditinvestment business.
** SUNPOWER CORP, $7.91, down 5.8 pct (0949 ET)
The U.S. solar company, which is battling a drastic drop inpanel prices due to a supply glut, said on Thursday that itexpects revenue for this year to be unchanged from 2012.
** NCR CORP, $29.48, up 5.4 pct (0949 ET)
The ATM maker reported a fourth-quarter profit of 72 centsper share, beating analysts' expectations of 70 cents per share.
** VODAFONE GROUP PLC , $27.60, up 1.8 pct(0950 ET)
BofA Merrill Lynch raised the telecom operator's rating to"buy" from "neutral."
** TARO PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD, $52.55, up3.4 pct (0950 ET)
India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries ended its agreement togain full control over its Israeli unit Taro Pharmaceutical.
** APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORP, $8.73, up 0.7 pct(0950 ET)
The chipmaker believes selling low-power processors forcloud data centers run by the likes of Facebook, Google andAmazon.com could account for half of its business within threeyears.
** ADVANCE AUTO PARTS INC, $78.46, up 1.6 pct (0951ET)
J.P. Morgan Securities upgraded the auto parts retailer'sstock to "overweight" from "neutral." The company posted afourth-quarter profit of 88 cents per share, largely beatinganalysts' expectations of 75 cents per share.
** LABORATORY CORP OF AMERICA HOLDINGS, $89.91, dpwm1.8 pct (0951 ET)
The diagnostics testing company reported a drop infourth-quarter profit on Friday and said bad weather had beenpartly to blame.
** UBIQUITI NETWORKS INC, $15.88, up 7 pct (0952ET)
The wireless equipment products maker forecast a profit ofbetween 20 and 24 cents per share, above what analysts hadexpected on an average.
** FLEETCOR TECHNOLOGIES INC, $67.45, up 13.3 pct(0953 ET)
The payments services provider reported a quarterly profitof 82 cents per share, better than the 75 cents per share that analysts on average expected.
** OPENTABLE INC, $49.89, up 1.2 pct (0953 ET)
The U.S. online restaurant reservation service providerreported quarterly results that beat analysts' estimates, helpedby an increase in the number of seated diners, and the companyexpects mobile devices to drive more revenue.
** MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL, $13.09, up 1.2 pct(0954 ET)
New Jersey regulators are set to reconsider a decision thathad forced the company to put its stake in an Atlantic Citycasino up for sale, people familiar with the matter said,according to the Wall Street Journal.
** MOODY'S CORP, $45.30, down 3.5 pct (0954 ET)
The credit rating agency, which could face a federal lawsuittied to pre-crisis ratings, said quarterly profit jumped 66percent and forecast strong 2013 earnings, as it benefits from awave of corporate debt issues. However, the company's sharesfell 4 percent as investors feared that the agency will face afederal fraud lawsuit tied to pre-crisis ratings.
** US AIRWAYS GROUP INC, $14.99, down 0.8 pct (0955ET)
** AMR CORP, $1.26, up 0.8 pct (0955 ET)
AMR Corp creditors plan to meet on Monday and could vote ona potential merger agreement between the bankrupt parent ofAmerican Airlines, and US Airways Group, several people familiarwith the matter said. (Compiled by Mridhula Raghavan in Bangalore)
