Stocks in the News: Dell, Abbott, PepsiCo

The following is a round-up of news likely to affect stock prices today:

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has agreed to buy the domestic health care business of India's Piramal Healthcare Ltd., a leading branded generics company, for $3.72 billion, the companies said Friday. The deal will give Abbott a stronghold in emerging markets and the lead in the Indian market. Abbott will pay $2.12 billion up front, plus $400 million annually for four years.

Dell (DELL) said late Thursday its first-quarter net income jumped 52% to $441 million, or 22 cents per share, as revenue rose 21% to $14.9 billion, helped by sales of computers to businesses and technology services to public-sector customers. Excluding certain items, Dell said earnings totaled 30 cents per share, three cents more than analysts' estimates. Shares fell 3% before the bell.

Banks and other financials will be in focus after the Senate approved financial reform legislation. Bank of America (BAC), JPMorgan (JPM), Morgan Stanley (MS), Citigroup (C) and Wells Fargo (WFC) shares all traded over 1% lower in premarket action.

Ann Taylor (ANN) said Friday that it swung to a fiscal first-quarter profit as sales rose 12%, while same-store sales gained 14%. Results exceeded analyst expectations.

PepsiCo (PEP) said Friday that it plans to invest an additional $2.5 billion in China in the next three years as it looks to boost its presence in the growing market, which helped push its recent quarterly profit up 26%. Of course, Coca-Cola (KO) plans to do the same. Shares fell over 1% in premarket trading.

Wells Fargo (WFC) -- A sale of 110.26 million Wells Fargo warrants at $7.70 per warrant has brought the government $840.4 million as it attempts to recoup costs for taxpayers from the $700 billion financial bailout.

Toyota Motor (TM) began yet another recall Friday of 4,509 Lexus cars in Japan because of a computer problem affecting the model's steering system, with a similar recall affecting 7,000 cars to follow in the U.S., China, Europe and other regions.

Gap (GPS) posted late Thursday a 40% increase in net income for its first quarter as revenue rose 6.4% to $3.33 billion. Excluding items, Gap matched analysts' estimates of net income of 43 cents per share on revenue of $3.31 billion. Like many other retailers reporting already, Gap gave a cautious outlook even as it raised its profit forecast for the full year. But it was below analysts' forecasts. Shares declined 1.7% ahead of the bell.

Intuit (INTU) on Thursday said its fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 19% to $576 million, or $1.78 per share, as revenue rose 13% to $1.61 billion. Adjusted operating profit came in at $1.89 per share. Results beat estimates of analysts polled by Thomson Financial for profit of $1.82 per share, on revenue of $1.55 billion.

Brocade (BRCD) reported late Thursday it swung to a quarterly profit that matched estimates and revenue figures that missed them. The company also warned that prices for its main products would fall. Shares slumped nearly 9% ahead of the bell.

Foot Locker's (FL) first-quarter results beat market expectations, boosted by robust margins and leaner inventory, Reuters reported. Shares jumped over 4% before the bell.

Salesforce.com (CRM) said its first-quarter net income fell even as revenue rose 24% to $376.8 million. Excluding items, earnings matched estimates, but the company guided FY 2011 below Wall Street estimates. Shares dropped 4.5% before the bell.

Statoil (STO) said it's selling 40% of the Brazilian offshore Peregrino field to Sinochem Group, the state-owned fourth-largest Chinese oil firm, for $3.07 billion. Shares were 6.5% lower in premarket trading.