TradingMarkets' 7 Stocks You Need To Know For Friday

Stocks fell Thursday, with the Dow off for the fourth straight day, although a program-driven rally in the final 15 minutes lessened the losses. Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher again warned on inflation. This, combined with uncertainty about the upcoming earnings season and concern about energy prices, sent stock prices lower. The Semiconductor HOLDRs (SMH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) have also fallen for four straight days. Crude oil fell to a 2-month low.

Year to date, the Dow is off 4.6% and the Nasdaq is down 4.2%.

Jobless claims for the week of 10/1 rose 21,000 to 390,000

Now, here are a few stocks to watch on Friday:

Accenture (ACN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) beat by 0.02 and beat on revenues.

American Eagle (AEOS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) announced an additional 2.5 million share stock buyback.

Meritage (MTH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) reiterated last week's guidance of $8.25 -$8.50 for 2005 and said the dollar value of sales orders has risen 51%. Watch the other homebuilders like, KBH, LEN, PHM, too.

Oxford Industries (OXM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) beat by 0.18 but issued mixed guidance for the second quarter and for 2006.

ExxonMobil (XOM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) closed in a doji (indecision) just above its 200-day moving average. I wrote this one up last night. It appeared to be trying today, but still closed down.

Schlumberger (SLB | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) also closed in a doji.

The Oil Service HOLDRs (OIH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) are down five days in a row and due for a bounce, statistically speaking. Note also the volume increase this week.

Brice Wightman