Stocks to Watch, July 24: Barnes & Noble, Microsoft and American Express

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Monday's session are Barnes & Noble Inc., Microsoft Corp. and American Express Co.

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American Express (AXP) is expected to report earnings per share for the second quarter of 74 cents, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMLN) is expected to post a second-quarter per-share loss of 46 cents.

BellSouth Corp. (BLS) is expected to per-share earnings of 57 cents for the second quarter.

JDA Software (JDAS) is expected to post earnings per share for the second quarter of 8 cents.

Kraft Foods (KFT) is expected to report per-share income of 48 cents for the second quarter.

Merck & Co. (MRK) is expected to post earnings per share for the second quarter of 65 cents.

SanDisk Corp. (SNDK) is expected to report per-share income for the second quarter of 44 cents.

Schering-Plough (SGP) is expected to post second-quarter earnings per share of 17 cents.

Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN) is expected to report earnings per share or 47 cents for the second quarter.

On Friday, Barnes & Noble (BKS) said the Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an informal inquiry into the company's stock-option practices.

Microsoft (MSFT) said it is developing new digital-music and entertainment hardware and software products under a project called Zune. Microsoft, the world's largest software company, said the first products resulting from Zune would be available this year.

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AK Steel Holding Corp. (AKS) said union members have ratified a new 6-year labor agreement covering about 1,400 hourly production and maintenance employees at the company's Butler Works.

Allied World Assurance Co. (AWH) said it has priced an underwritten offering of $500 million of senior notes due 2016.

American International Group Inc. (AIG) director Pei-yuan Chia plans to resign in September.

ATI Technologies Inc. (ATYT) shares rose 8% on a report that Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) may be planning a $5.6-billion takeover bid for Markham, Ontario-based ATI.

AT&T Inc. (T) said its shareholders have approved the acquisition of BellSouth Corp. (BLS) in a transaction valued at $67 billion.

Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) the Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an informal inquiry into the company's stock-option practices.

Boston Communications Group (BCGI) said Friday the Securities and Exchange Commission has notified the company of an informal inquiry into certain option grants the company made between 1998 and 2002. Also Friday, the company said it will pay $55.3 million to Freedom Wireless to settle the outstanding patent litigation against Boston Communications and its carrier customers.

Graphic Packaging Corp. (GPK) said it has approved a management succession plan. The Marietta, Ga.-based company said David Scheible, the current chief operating officer, will become president and chief executive, while Steve Humphrey, the company's current president and CEO, will be become vice chairman, effective Jan. 1.

Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) and its Herbalife International Inc. indirect subsidiary said they completed refinancing an existing $225 million senior secured credit facility.

Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC unit said a review by the Food and Drug Administration's psychopharmacologic drugs advisory committee on the company's new drug application for paliperidone extended release tabloids has been canceled. The company said the cancellation came at the request of the division of psychiatry products after communicating it had not identified any issues at this time requiring advisory committee feedback.

Landry's Restaurants Inc. (LNY) said it will retain Wachovia Securities and Northpoint Advisors to assist in evaluating strategic alternatives for its Joe's Crab Shack chain. Landry's added that certain underperforming Joe's Crab restaurants have been closed, and it expects to record a charge of $5.98 million, or 27 cents per share after tax.

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