11.   Canadian stocks may open lower, led by Loewen Group Inc., on expectations third quarter corporate profits will fall short of expectations.

12.   Chilean stocks rose for the ninth day, amid optimism over first quarter profits, especially in the telecommunications industry, analysts said.

13.   CANADIAN stocks rose, sent higher by Northern Telecom Ltd., as investors expect second- quarter profits will meet or exceed expectations.

14.   Companies doing business related to semiconductors fell on worries that Asian economic woes will eat into fourth quarter profits.

15.   Compaq, on the other hand, is scrambling to clear out inventory, a move that will wipe out its first quarter profit.

16.   Even Bezos had not predicted a legitimate profit this quarter.

17.   Fleet said Suretrade, whose technical offices are in Lincoln, R.I., would turn its first profit this quarter.

18.   Following the close of trading, Whirlpool said its second quarter profit may not match its year-earlier earnings.

19.   General Electric, however, is unwilling to do the same because it is an earnings-per-share company, aiming to show real profits each quarter.

20.   Goldman is the first big securities firm to announce second quarter profits.