Tech Leaders On Deck

IBM heads a long list of top technology and Internet names reporting quarterly results next week.

IBM will kick off the busiest week for earnings reports when it releases its second-quarter results after the close on Monday. Analysts are looking for Big Blue to report earnings of $1.03 a share, up two cents from the year-ago quarter, while sales are expected to decline 5.4% to $21.91 billion after the sale of the company’s PC business to Lenovo. Bank of America reiterated its “buy” rating on the stock on Friday, saying it expects business to pick up in the second half and in 2006. Merrill Lynch said it expects a solid quarter from IBM despite some negative currency effects.

Looking ahead, Lucent will report quarterly results on Tuesday morning, and Intel , Yahoo , Juniper and Motorola will release results after the close that day.

On Wednesday, eBay , QLogic and Qualcomm will report after the close. EMC , Nokia and Ericsson are just a few of the names reporting Thursday morning, and Microsoft , Google and Broadcom will deliver their results after the close.

And those are just some of the more than 100 technology and Internet companies reporting in what could be a pivotal week for tech stocks.

Stocks posted modest gains Friday on a tame wholesale inflation report, as traders shook off disappointing results and guidance from GE .

The Nasdaq rose 4 to 2156, the S&P added 1 to 1227, and the Dow gained 12 to 10,640. Volume declined to 1.72 billion shares on the NYSE, and 1.54 billion on the Nasdaq. Advancers led 16-15 on the NYSE, and 15-14 on the Nasdaq. Upside volume was 48% on the NYSE, and 55% on the Nasdaq. New highs-new lows were 127-19 on the NYSE, and 99-22 on the Nasdaq.

HP rose ahead of a restructuring plan that analysts estimate could result in anywhere from 5,000 to 25,000 job cuts.

Priceline edged higher after saying that revenues will come in below estimates while earnings will meet or exceed forecasts.

Rambus , Digi and First Data fell on their results, and Symbol lost 10% on a warning.

Traffix rose 10% on its results.

Pomeroy jumped 13% on a contract win.