7 Stocks you need to know for Thursday

American Express (AXP | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) has reportedly asked for $3.5 billion in assistance from the Treasury's TARP (troubled asset relief program).

Retailers are again front and center in the earnings picture on Thursday with both Kohls (KSS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) and Nordstrom (JWN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) reporting earnings. Kohls is expected to announce EPS of 0.51. Nordstrom is expected to report earnings per share of 0.31.

Microsoft (MSFT | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) moved closer to forging a deal with Verizon Communications (VZ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) that would allow the software giant to be the default search engine provider for Verizon's mobile phones.

Caterpillar (CAT | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is among the multinational companies widely believed to benefit from the implementation of China's economic stimulus package announced this week.

Suffering its biggest single-day loss in years on Wednesday, Best Buy (BBY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) lowered its sales and earnings forecasts. The electronics retailer said it believed this year's holiday shopping season would be among the worst of the past 20 years.