HEADLINE STOCKS-Some U.S. stocks to watch on Oct 30

NEW YORK, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Friday: CHEVRON CORP, $77.27, down 2.2 percent The second-largest U.S. oil company posted a 51 percent drop in quarterly profit on Friday, hit by the steep decline in oil and natural gas prices and the anemic margins for refineries. ITT Corp, $50.89, down 6.4 percent The diversified manufacturer posted lower quarterly net income after a charge tied to asbestos liability, but raised its full-year outlook, citing improved operations as it controlled costs. NISOURCE INC, $12.95, down 2.7 percent The energy holding company reported adjusted earnings of 7 cents per share and a loss of 3 cents a share on a GAAP basis. The Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S estimate was for a 1 cent per share loss. NiSource also reaffirmed its 2009 adjusted earnings view of $1.00 to $1.10 per share. DUKE ENERGY CORP, $15.91, down 1.2 percent The power company posted a 49 percent drop in third-quarter profit as the weak economy sapped demand for electricity, but said it was on track to meet its full-year earnings target. NYSE EURONEXT, $26.02, down 5.7 pct NYSE Euronext said it is selling a "significant equity interest" in its derivatives exchange NYSE Liffe U.S. unit as it posted a 28 percent drop in third-quarter earnings. AON CORP, $38.66, down 6.1 pct The world's largest insurance brokerage reported quarterly adjusted income from continuing operations of 65 cents per share versus 69 cents per share in the year-ago period and Wall Street expectations of 66 cents. MCAFEE INC, $40.70, down 7 percent The No. 2 U.S. security software maker reported quarterly revenue that missed Wall Street estimates as sales to consumers grew at their slowest rate in almost two years. ESTEE LAUDER COS INC, $44.03, up 7 percent The cosmetics maker posted a quarterly profit nearly three times as large as a year earlier, and raised its 2010 forecast as retailers stocked up on new products and the company cut spending. CISCO SYSTEMS INC $22.86, down 2.8 pct Cisco is mulling options, including withdrawing or raising its $3 billion bid for Tandberg SA, a person familiar with the matter said, as the standoff between the networking gear maker and some Tandberg shareholders intensifies. Citigroup Inc $4.10, down 4.9 percent Shares tumbled after CNBC television reported Calyon's bank analyst Mike Mayo said the bank was likely to have a $10 billion fourth-quarter writedown of deferred tax assets. HARMAN INT'L INDUSTRIES INC $38.70, up 17.3 pct Shares jumped a day after the company reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, prompting at least one analyst to upgrade the stock. OFFICEMAX INC, $11.47, up 5 pct Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral," a day after the office products retailer reported adjusted third-quarter earnings that missed expectations and forecast a fourth-quarter loss. WEYERHAEUSER CO, $36.13, down 3.7 pct The timber developer and home builder reported better-than-expected quarterly results, though sales in all units tumbled. (Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by James Dalgleish) Keywords: MARKETS STOCKS HEADLINES Keywords: MARKETS STOCKS HEADLINES ([e-mail]; Tel: [phone]; Reuters Messaging: rm://[e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

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