MAF Bancorp Inc. (MAFB) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.74, compared to the $0.84 reported last year.

MAF Bancorp Inc. has been climbing steadily to the upside for the majority of Friday morning and is now higher by 1.29 at $42.98. The stock has risen to a 3-week hgh and has also re-crossed its 200-day moving average.

1/28/2005 10:51:33 AM As has been the case throughout the session, the major averages continued to hover near the flat line over the past half hour. The Dow has held to a trading range of less than 45 points through the first 90 minutes of the session. Dow -12.92, Nasdaq -0.37, S&P 500 -1.19. NYSE Adv/Dec 1425/1469, Nasdaq Adv/Dec 1219/1387.

Procter & Gamble (PG) dropped sharply at the start of Friday's trading on news that it has agreed to acquire Gillette (G) for about $57 billion. The stock came off its lows during the first 45 minutes of trading, but remains the worst performing Dow component with a loss of 2.7%. McDonald's (MCD) is also a significant decliner in the Dow, falling 1.6% on quarterly results released before the opening bell.

Earnings news sparked a sell off in Caterpillar (CAT) on Thursday, with the stock dropping to its lowest level since November. On Friday, the stock is bouncing back somewhat, rising by 1.4%. Microsoft (MSFT), which reported earnings after Thursday's close, is up by 1%, while IBM (IBM) is climbing by 1.2%.

Pixelworks Inc. (PXLW) steadily declined in the first 30 minutes of Friday's session and has dropped lower in the last few minutes. The stock is now down 1.32 at $9.52 on above average volume.

Pixelworks Inc. has dropped below a 2-week range and is now trading at a 4-month low.

KVH Industries Inc. (KVHI) has been climbing to the upside for the majority of Friday morning and is now higher by 0.60 at $10.93. Volume has begun to accelerate in the last 15 minutes.

KVH Industries Inc. is attempting to rebound off of the lower end of a 3-week range.

Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF) gapped up Friday morning, but has since moved in a narrow range. The stock has risen higher in the last 20 minutes and is now up 1.27 at $64.92.

Standard Pacific Corp. is approaching the highs of the year, around $66.65.

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) moved to the downside at the open of Friday's session and has fallen lower in the last 15 minutes. The stock is now down 0.67 at $55.50.

Adobe Systems Inc. is testing the lower end of a narrow, one-week range.

Firstwave Technologies Inc. (FSTW) is a lightly traded stock that has been climbing steadily to the upside since the open of Friday's session and is now higher by 0.76 at $2.32 on above average volume.

Firstwave Technologies Inc. is tarding at nearly a one-month high and has re-crossed both its 50 and 200-day moving averages.

Hyperion Solutions Corp. (HYSL) moved to the downside in the first 30 minutes of Friday's session and has fallen further in the last 20 minutes. The stock is now down 1.75 at $46.92.

Hyperion Solutions Corp. is pulling back from the highs of the year and may find support around its current levels.

Tuesday Morning Corp. (TUES) moved slightly lower at the open of Friday's session and has fallen further in the last 20 minutes on increased volume. The stock is now down 1.64 at $27.74.

Tuesday Morning Corp. has been pulling back from its 200-day moving average for the last week and a half and is now trading at an 8-month low.

Before the bell Friday, Beckman Coulter Inc. (BEC) announced financial results for its fourth quarter, reporting earnings that rose from last year but still came in below the analysts' estimate, despite an increase in revenues.

The Fullerton, California-based company stated that reported net earnings for the quarter were $59.8 million or $0.91 per share, compared to reported net earnings of $59 million or $0.90 per share in the same period last year.

The company's earnings missed the $0.98 per share consensus estimate of eleven analysts polled by First Call/ Thomson Financial.

Beckman Coulter reported net income for the quarter of $59.8 million or $0.91 per share, compared to net income of $70.4 million or $1.07 per share in the same period last year.

The company stated that revenues for the quarter rose 8.5% to $693 million from revenues of $638.6 million last year. Ten analysts had a revenue consensus of $685.92 million for the quarter.

For the full year 2004, Beckman Coulter said that reported net earnings were $210.9 million or $3.21 per share, compared to reported net earnings of $181.9 million or $2.82 per share in the same period last year. Eleven analysts expected earnings of $3.14 per share for 2004.

Also, the company reported net income for the year of $210.9 million compared to net income of $207.2 million last year. Beckman Coulter reported earnings per share for 2004 of $3.21, flat with last year.

In addition, Beckman Coulter noted that revenues for the year rose 9.8% to $2,408.3 million, compared to revenues of $2,192.5 million last year. Twelve analysts expected revenues of $2.40 billion for 2004.

Looking forward, Beckman Coulter stated that it expects earnings for its first quarter to be in the range of $0.59 to $0.66 per share. Twelve analysts expect earnings of $0.64 per share for the first quarter.

The company stated that it expects earnings for 2005 to be in the range of $3.55 to $3.65 per share. Fourteen analysts expect earnings of $3.62 per share for the full year 2005.

Beckman Coulter revealed that its Board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share, a 7.7% or $0.01 per share increase, payable on March 10, 2005 to stockholders of record on February 18, 2005.

John Wareham Chairman and CEO, said, "Returns, in the form of higher margin test kit sales should begin to flow late in 2005, with the most noticeable gains in 2006."

BEC is currently trading at $68.19, down $2.99.

Catapult Communications (CATT) gapped up and moved higher in the first 30 minutes of Friday's session and has climbed further in the last 10 minutes. The stock is now up 2.14 at $21.70.

Catapult Communications has risen to a 2 1/2 week high and has also re-crossed its 200-day moving average.

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IDIX) gapped up slightly Friday morning, but has since moved in a range. The stock has risen higher in the last 10 minutes on increased volume. The stock is now up 1.23 at $19.97.

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. has been gaining ground for the last week and a half and is now trading at a new high.

Mercury Interactive Corp. (MERQ) moved to the downside in the first 30 minutes of Friday's session and has fallen lower in the last 15 minutes on increased volume. The stock is now lower by 1.10 at $43.21.

Mercury Interactive Corp. is pulling back from resistance and may find support around $40.00.

NetEase.com Inc. (NTES) has been moving in a narrow range since the open of Friday's session, but has fallen lower in the last 15 minutes. The stock is now down 0.94 at $42.52.

NetEase.com Inc. has fallen below a 4-session range and is now trading at a 3-month low.

FX Energy Inc. (FXEN) has dropped below Friday's range in the last 10 minutes on increased volume and is now down 0.81 at $12.50.

FX Energy Inc. has fallen beneath a week and a half long range and is now trading at a 3 1/2 week low.