Countrywide Earnings Eyed Before Deal

``After posting a $1.2 billion loss in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 -- its first quarterly loss in 25 years -- Countrywide declared it would post a profit for 2007's final three months and through this year. Wall Street has its doubts -- most analysts expect Countrywide to post a fourth-quarter loss -- and will be watching closely Tuesday when the Calabasas-based company reports its results.''