HEADLINE STOCKS - U.S. stocks to watch on Jan. 28

NEW YORK, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Monday

BLACK & DECKER CORP (BDK.N)

The maker of power tools and home-improvement products, said on Monday that quarterly profit nearly doubled on big tax gains. [ID:nWNAS7946]

But shares of Black & Decker fell 7 percent to $65 before the bell on its lower-than-expected outlook. The stock closed at $69.98 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.

HALLIBURTON CO (HAL.N)

Oil field services company said its fourth-quarter net profit rose 5 percent, helped by growth in its Eastern Hemisphere business as well as by a lower tax rate. [ID:nN28421441]

Shares closed at 33.09 on the NYSE.

MERCK & CO. (MRK.N)

SCHERING-PLOUGH CORP SGP.N

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed Merck & Co (MRK.N) for documents and information to see whether the companies hid the results of a study on their cholesterol drug, Vytorin.[ID:nN26396256]

Also, UBS raised its recommendation on Merck to "buy" from "neutral," according to theflyonthewall.com. [RCH/US]

Merck shares closed at $47.79 on the NYSE. Schering-Plough closed at $19.02.

SALLIE MAE (SLM.N)

The troubled student lender reached a settlement on Sunday over its scuttled $25 billion buyout, The New York Times reported on Monday. [ID:nN28439106]

Shares closed at $19.88 on the NYSE.

COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORP CFC.N