Updating T. Rowe Price Group Inc., Sony Corp. ADRs, Texas Instruments Inc., C.R. Bard Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co.

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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP INC. $61 (Nasdaq symbol TROW; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 264.1 million; Market cap: $16.1 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) has raised its quarterly dividend 41.2%, from $0.17 a share to $0.24. The new annual rate of $0.96 yields 1.6%. T. Rowe Price has raised its dividend each year since it became a public company in 1986. T. Rowe Price is a buy. SONY CORP. ADRs $54 (New York symbol SNE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.0 billion; Market cap: $54.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) reports that U.S. sales of its PlayStation 3 video game player rose 300% in November compared to the prior month. Sales and market share should continue to grow as gamemakers release more games for the new console. Stronger sales of its digital cameras and notebook computers should also expand Sony’s earnings. Sony is a buy. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC. $33 (New York symbol TXN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry…