1.   He Declined to make projections about fourth quarter earnings.

2.   Amazon is scheduled to report its third quarter earnings next Tuesday.

3.   Analysts said most U.S. computer makers will probably report higher third quarter earnings, as lower prices and faster chips trigger increased demand for personal computers and business systems.

4.   Analysts said concern about second quarter earnings, which are expected to show slower growth that last year, weighed on many smaller stocks.

5.   Analysts said investors are opting to wait for first quarter earnings, due later this month, to determine what to put in their portfolios.

6.   Analysts said the acquisition will bring extra cash to Reynolds and possibly improve its third quarter earnings.

7.   And Thomas Doerflinger, an investment strategist at Paine Webber, is forecasting a rebound in earnings next year despite his belief that earnings last quarter were flat.

8.   Applied Materials announced last night that demand for computer chips helped it to more than double its earnings last quarter.

9.   Apple Computer Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Gilbert Amelio resigned a week before the struggling computer maker is set to report its third- quarter earnings.

10.   Argentine stocks rose for a sixth day, led by companies expected to disclose rising profits when they report third quarter earnings next week.