Alcoa, Cardinal Health, Paychex, Wyeth: U.S. Equity Preview

The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges on Oct. 8. This preview includes news that broke after exchanges closed Oct. 5. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.

Alcoa Inc. (AA US): The world's second-largest aluminum company said it secured a $3.25 billion credit facility to be used for general corporate purposes. The stock rose $1.13 to $38.79 in regular trading.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNI US): Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. boosted its holdings in Burlington Northern, the second-largest U.S. railroad, to 60.8 million shares, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The stock rose $4.79 to $86.78 in regular trading.

Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH US): Shares of the second-biggest U.S. drug distributor are a good buy and may rise to $74 in a few years because of the company's lean structure and high operating margins, Barron's reported, citing no one. The stock climbed $1.13, or 1.8 percent, to $63.32 in regular trading.

Consol Energy Inc. (CNX US): The third-biggest U.S. coal producer said it bought Tri-River Fleeting Harbor Services Inc. and Tri-River Marine Inc. for an undisclosed price, adding eight vessels. The stock rose 74 cents to $46.08 in regular trading.

Masimo Corp. (MASI US) rose $2.85, or 9.8 percent, to $31.83 in extended trading. The maker of a medical device that measures the amount of oxygen in blood is a good speculative stock to buy because it is a market leader and has a business model that provides recurring revenue, CNBC's Jim Cramer said on his ``Mad Money'' show.

Paychex Inc. (PAYX US): Shares of Paychex, which provides payroll and human-resources services to small- and medium-size businesses, may rise to $50 within 18 months because of an expanding client base, Barron's reported, citing no one. The stock gained 87 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $42.02.

Wyeth (WYE US): The company's new menopause pill, combining the hormone estrogen with a bone-loss remedy, reduced hot flashes by 80 percent in a study, suggesting it will be doctors' first choice if approved by U.S. regulators, according to results presented at a medical meeting in Dallas. Wyeth said it intends to file for U.S. marketing approval for the drug, called Aprela, in the second quarter. The stock rose $1.10 to $47.69 in regular trading. Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) --

DJIA Leaders & Laggards

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished higher on Friday, and shares of Alcoa Inc. rose after its board declared a regular quarterly dividend of 17 cents per share.

Alcoa, which extended Thursday's gains, rose $1.06, or 3.1 percent, to $35.48.

The Dow rose 17.64 to 13,442.52.

General Motors Corp. rose 93 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $34.22, as some analysts were upbeat on benefits the Detroit Three could see if they agree to establish a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association with the United Auto Workers union.

Negotiations were under way Friday afternoon, ahead of the midnight deadline to agree on a new contract.

McDonald's Corp. gained $1.15, or 2.1 percent, to $55.45, extending gains from Thursday when the stock hit an all-time high after announcing the largest dividend increase in history.

On the losing side, American Express Co. declined $1.66, or 2.7 percent, to $58.94, after a Merrill Lynch analyst reportedly downgraded the credit card issuer.

Intel Corp. declined 42 cents to $24.93, also on a Merrill Lynch downgrade.

AT&T Inc. declined 33 cents to $40.44.(NEW YORK (AP))