IBM (IBM) posts $2.05, vs. $1.68, third quarter EPS on 5% revenue rise. Results were in-line with firm's preannouncement last week. S&P maintains strong buy.

Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB) posts $1.25, vs. $1.09, third quarter EPS on 22% revenue rise. Street was looking for $1.25. Notes that the overall impact of the hurricane season on SLB was estimated at $0.04 per share; without this effect, EPS would have been $1.29.

Ambac Financial Group (ABK) rises 0.83 to 3.49. S&P says unconfirmed reports on Bloomberg quote ABK CEO Callen saying ABK and other bond insurers are working on a plan to ask the U.S. Treasury to buy some of their troubled assets. S&P maintains hold on ABK.

Pilgrim's Pride (PPC) falls 0.76 to 2.47 after the company says it did not expect to file for bankruptcy protection, but new concerns over the ability of the company to meet debt obligations sent its shares sharply lower, according to Reuters. The article also says PPC faces an Oct. 28 deadline on a credit covenant and has an interest payment of nearly $26M due at start of next month.

AIG (AIG) falls 0.33 to 2.10. AIG plans to provide New York Attorney General's Office with an accounting of all compensation paid to its senior executives and has agreed to assist the Attorney General's Office in recovering any illegal expenditures. S&P maintains hold.

Capital One Financial (COF) posts $1.03, vs. $2.09, third quarter EPS from continuing operations on 7.2% revenue drop, higher provision expense. Says credit performance in the third quarter was largely in line with prior expectations and reflects both normal seasonal trends and continued pressure from the weakening economy. S&P maintains hold.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) posts $0.11 third quarter loss per share, vs. $0.71 loss [both GAAP], on 32% revenue rise. Posts $0.07 third quarter EPS from continuing operations. Street was looking for a loss of $0.40. In light of the current macroeconomic conditions, it expects fourth quarter revenue to be roughly flat compared to third quarter.

ING Groep N.V. (ING) - MarketScope Europe reports that ING shares are plunging as traders note vague rumors of a possible government injection over the weekend. The company offers no comment on market rumors.

Honeywell International (HON) posts $0.97, vs. $0.81, third quarter EPS on 6.2% revenue rise. Sees 2008 sales of $37.2 billion, up 8%; narrows EPS range to $3.76-$3.80, up 19%-20% vs. prior year.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and other miners are seen lower as metal commodity prices fall and on reports that hedge funds are being forced to sell assets, which include their built-up holdings of commodities, such as gold and other metal-related assets.

Stryker (SYK) posts $0.66, vs. $0.55, third quarter EPS on 14% sales rise. Street was looking for $0.67. SYK maintains $2.88 2008 EPS forecast.

Evergreen Solar (ESLR) posts $0.18 third quarter loss, vs. $0.04 loss, as higher costs offset 21% revenue rise. Sees fourth quarter revenue of $45-$55 million and $0.08-$0.12 loss.

Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) to take additional provision of $86 million [$0.85 per share] to capture the additional projected costs to complete the U.K. LNG projects. Also, for full-year 2008, expects costs from Hurricane Ike to be $6-$8 million [$0.04 to $0.05 per share]. S&P cuts target, reiterates buy.

Tempur-Pedic International (TPX) posts $0.32, vs. $0.49, third quarter EPS on 14% sales decline. Given extraordinary macro economic events of recent weeks, sees 2008 sales of $930-$950 million, EPS of $0.90-$1.00. Also plans to suspend its cash dividend, use such funds to reduce debt.

Pozen (POZN) says FDA is conducting an internal review on acceptability of using endoscopic gastric ulcers as a primary endpoint in clinical studies. POZN has been advised by FDA that internal meeting could take place on this matter as soon as FDA can gather all the interested parties together, but it did not expect that to happen until first quarter 2009.

SWS Group (SWS) sees $0.22-$0.26 first quarter EPS, which includes charge of $5.4 million, or $0.13 per share, related to a collateral deficit securing a counterparty obligation of Lehman Brothers, which is seeking the protection of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation [SIPC].

Informatica (INFA) posts $0.19, vs. $0.19, third quarter EPS on 19% revenue rise. Street was looking for $0.17.

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