Stocks to watch for Friday, January 25, 2008:

• Amgen (AMGN) reported 4Q profit of $835 million, or 76 cents a share, compared with $833 million, or 71 cents, in the year-earlier period. Revenue fell to $3.74 billion from $3.94 billion. In a new trial comparing its brittle bone drug denosumab against Merck's (MRK) Fosomax, denosumab was found to be superior.
• AT&T (T) yesterday reported that its wireless business was much stronger than analysts had expected. Though, some parts of the business were affected by a slowing economy. The company added a less than expected 396,000 high speed internet customers and it also lost a higher number of landline customers than expected.
• Microsoft (MSFT) reported fiscal 2Q net income of $4.7 bln, or 50 cents a share, up from $2.6 bln, or 26 cents a share a year ago, a 79% jump. Revenue rose 31% to $16.37 billion. The company said the lift was due in part to strong sales of its Vista operating system.
• Morgan Stanley (MS) has plans to lay off about 1,000 people, reducing its workforce by about 2%. The company's wealth-management unit, primarily in the U.S. based back-office employees in technology, operations, and support functions will be affected.
• Ameriprise Financial (AMP) reported 4Q net income of $255 million, or $1.08 a share, up from $171 million, or 69 cents, a year earlier. The company said  revenue increased to $2.32 billion from $2.14 billion because of strong growth in management and financial advisory fees.
• Honeywell International (HON) reported 4Q net income of $689 mln, or 91 cents a share, up 18% from $585 mln, or 72 cents a share a year ago. Revenue rose 12% to $9.28 billion.
• KLA-Tencor (KLAC) reported fiscal 2Q net income $83.9 million, down from $90 million a year ago. On a per-share basis, earnings rose to 45 cents from 44 cents on fewer shares outstanding. Revenue dropped to $635.8 million from $649.3 million.

Market Recap

• Asian trading closed with the Hang Seng +6.73%, Nikkei +4.10%, Sensex +6.62%, Taiwan +2.96% and Shanghai +0.93%.
• A quick look across the pond finds the CAC +1.14%, DAX +1.89%, FTSE +1.03%, ATX +1.80%, Swiss Mkt. +1.23% and Stockholm +1.07%.
• Commodities are also trading higher with crude oil +0.60 to 90.01 and gold surging +15.9 to 921.7 this morning.

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