Stockwinners Market Radar for November 15, 2017 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

18:20 EDT South State - Park Sterling merger receives regulatory and shareholder approval - South State (SSB) has received all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals for its merger with Park Sterling (PSTB). The merger is scheduled to close on or around November 30, 2017 and the system conversion and Park Sterling branch signage will transition to South State in Q218. With this merger, South State will have assets approaching $14.5B and a market capitalization of approximately $3.3B.

18:08 EDT Suncor Energy announces 2018 capital program of C$4.5B-C$5B - Suncor released its 2018 corporate guidance which includes a capital program of between C$4.5B-C$5B and average upstream production of 740,000-780,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The midpoints of these ranges represent a year over year production increase of more than 10% and a capital spending reduction of approximately C$750M. Suncor's Oil Sands operations cash operating costs per barrel are maintained at C$23.00 - C$26.00 despite the five-year major planned maintenance turnaround at Upgrader 1. Oil Sands operations cash operating costs exclude Fort Hills and Syncrude. Fort Hills cash operating costs are expected to steadily decrease throughout the year as production ramps up to 90% of capacity and cash operating costs fall to the C$20.00 - C$30.00/bbl range by the fourth quarter of 2018. Syncrude cash operating costs per barrel are expected to be C$32.50 - C$35.50. Suncor's 2018 capital program is largely focused on sustaining capital given the major planned maintenance programs in both Oil Sands upgrading operations and Downstream refineries including a total plant turnaround at the Edmonton refinery. These investments are critical to ensure continued safe, reliable and efficient operations. Approximately 25% of the 2018 capital spending program is allocated towards upstream growth projects in the Oil Sands and Exploration & Production businesses.

17:54 EDT Royal Gold raises annual dividend to $1.00 from 96c per share - Payable on a quarterly basis of 25c per share. Royal Gold has increased its annual dividend every year since 2001. The dividend is payable on January 19, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 5, 2018.

17:50 EDT General Dynamics, others share in $150M government contract - General Dynamics Information Technology (GD), Fairfax, Virginia; Northrup Grumman Systems Corp. (NOC), Herndon, Virginia; Cubic Global Defense (CUB), San Diego, California; Applied Training Solutions, Leesburg, Virginia; Trideum Corp., Huntsville, Alabama; Yorktown Systems Group, Huntsville, Alabama; and Capstone Corp., Alexandria, Virginia, will share in a $150M hybrid contract for mission training complex capabilities support. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 18 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 14, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity.

17:36 EDT Continental Resources reports second international sale of Bakken crude oil - Continental Resources announced its second international sale of Bakken crude oil. The company plans to sell 430,000 barrels of oil for January delivery to international markets. The sale transaction will take place in Cushing, Oklahoma. This follows Continental's October announcement of the sale of 1,005,000 barrels of Bakken crude oil to Atlantic Trading and Marketing, which intends to export the oil to China. In December 2015 the U.S. lifted its ban on oil exports, allowing foreign sales to be transacted without a license. Oil exports have grown steadily in the past two years, primarily to foreign refineries configured specifically to process light sweet crude oil.

17:17 EDT On The Fly: After Hours Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: NetApp (NTAP), up 8.8%... Cisco Systems (CSCO), up 4.7%. ALSO HIGHER: Smart Global (SGH), up 22% after raising its first quarter earnings and revenue guidance... RH (RH), up 10.7% after it raised its third quarter and fiscal 2017 guidance... Procter & Gamble (PG), up 2.9% after preliminary results show that Trian Fund's Nelson Peltz was elected to the company's board of directors. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Aegean Marine (ANW), down 4.4%... L Brands (LB), down 3.9%. ALSO LOWER: AxoGen (AXGN), down 9.8% after it filed to sell common stock... Mirati Therapeutics (MRTX), down 7.5% after it filed to sell common stock.

17:13 EDT Procter & Gamble: IVS results show Peltz leading Director vote by 42,780 shares - The Procter & Gamble Company shared that the proxy voting results tabulated by IVS Associates, the Independent Inspector of Elections, indicate that Nelson Peltz is leading Ernesto Zedillo in the Director vote by a margin of approximately 0.0016% of shares outstanding or approximately 42,780 shares. The results are still preliminary and are subject to a review and challenge period during which both parties will have the opportunity to review the results for any discrepancies. P&G will disclose the final results after receiving the Independent Inspector of Elections' final certified report, which we expect in the weeks ahead.

17:01 EDT Cobalt International receives continued listing standard notice from NYSE - Cobalt International Energy announced that on November 14, 2017, it was notified by The New York Stock Exchange that Cobalt is no longer in compliance with certain continued listing standards that are applicable to Cobalt. Cobalt's 30-day average closing share price as of November 13, 2017 was $0.95, in violation of the listing standard set forth in Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. This standard requires the trailing 30-day average closing share price to remain at or above $1.00. As outlined in Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, upon receiving notice, Cobalt has a six-month cure period to regain compliance. Within this cure period, Cobalt must have a closing share price of $1.00 or higher on the last trading day of a given month or at the end of the cure period. In addition, Cobalt's coinciding trailing 30-day average closing share price must also be $1.00 or higher. Cobalt has notified the NYSE of its intention to regain compliance within the six-month cure period. During the cure period, Cobalt's stock will continue to be listed on the NYSE, subject to its ability to remain in compliance with other continued listing standards. The notice received from the NYSE does not affect the ongoing business of Cobalt, nor does it trigger any violations, including any event of default, of its secured or unsecured debt obligations.

16:56 EDT Trian confirms Peltz named to P&G's board of directors - Trian Fund Management, hose investment funds beneficially own approximately $3.5B of shares of The Procter & Gamble Company, announced that, according to the official preliminary voting tabulation by IVS Associates, Inc., the independent Inspector of Elections, P&G shareholders have elected Nelson Peltz to P&G's board. Trian issued the following statement on today's results: "Trian greatly appreciates the support we have received, and we are gratified that the Independent Inspector's tabulation shows that shareholders have elected Nelson Peltz to the P&G Board of Directors. The Inspector's report represents an independent, careful tabulation of all proxies and ballots submitted to the Inspector by both P&G and Trian. Trian strongly urges P&G to accept the Inspector's tabulation and not waste further time and shareholder money contesting the outcome of the Annual Meeting. Shareholders have voted, and they have indicated that they want Nelson Peltz to join the Board. Nelson Peltz looks forward to working collaboratively in the boardroom with the other members of the Board and management team to revitalize P&G. Trian believes Nelson Peltz's extensive experience and track record of improving performance at consumer companies will bring significant value to the P&G Board and help create the right environment for generating breakthrough ideas. Working together with management and the Board, he will help address the challenges P&G is facing. Trian believes strongly in P&G's potential and our goal is to see it once again grow market share and deliver sustainable long-term value for the benefit of all stakeholders. Nelson Peltz will be a strong voice for shareholders in the boardroom, and we are confident it will lead to a brighter future for P&G."

16:49 EDT Procter & Gamble jumps 3% to $91.15 after CNBC says Trian won recount

16:39 EDT Match Group announces executive management appointments - Match Group announced a series of internal leadership appointments to coincide with Mandy Ginsberg's planned assumption of the company's CEO role by January 1, 2018. These include: Elie Seidman, currently CEO of OkCupid, will become Tinder's new CEO, reporting into Ginsberg. Amarnath Thombre, currently Chief Strategy Officer at Match Group, will become CEO of Match Group Americas, where he will oversee Match, Match Affinity Brands, PlentyOfFish, OkCupid and Match's Latin America businesses, reporting into Ginsberg. Hesam Hosseini, currently CEO of PlentyOfFish, will become CEO of Match and Match Affinity Brands, reporting into Thombre. These changes will each take effect by January 1, 2018. Match Group is actively recruiting to fill the CEO positions at both OkCupid and PlentyOfFish.

16:36 EDT Prudential Bancorp declares special nonrecurring dividend of 15c per share - Prudential Bancorp declared an additional nonrecurring dividend of 15c per outstanding common share in addition to the regular quarterly cash dividend of 5c per share on the common stock of the company. This dividend will be paid on December 21 to the shareholders of record at the close of business on December 7.

16:35 EDT SMART Global trading resumes

16:32 EDT CDK Global raises quarterly dividend to 15c from 14c per share - This increased quarterly dividend is payable on December 29 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1.

16:29 EDT Ethan Allen declares 31c special dividend and maintains 19c regular dividend - Ethan Allen Interiors announced that its board declared a 50c per share cash dividend to shareholders which includes a special cash dividend of 31c per share and regular quarterly cash dividend of 19c per share. Both the special and regular cash dividend will be payable to shareholders of record as of Wednesday, January 10, 2018, and will be paid on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

16:27 EDT GlobalSCAPE provides update on internal investigation - GlobalSCAPE announced an update to the company's previous announcement that the audit committee of the board has been conducting an internal investigation. As previously reported, the internal investigation pertains to certain transactions in 4Q16 involving improper arrangements with customers that circumvented the company's internal controls and their effect on previously reported revenue. While the investigation remains ongoing, Globalscape currently believes that the conduct leading to these improper arrangements with customers was limited to individuals no longer with the company. Additional remedial steps include enhanced investments in processes and compliance in the areas that gave rise to the internal investigation itself.

16:18 EDT Diplomat Pharmacy to acquire LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services - Diplomat Pharmacy has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Leehar Distributors, doing business as LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services, from investment firms Nautic Partners and Oak HC/FT Partners, and management. The transaction is expected to close in 30-60 days. Under the terms of the agreement, Diplomat will pay LDI $515M cash and approximately $80M in Diplomat common stock. LDI is expected to generate approximately $388M in revenue and $41M in adjusted EBITDA in 2017. The cash portion of the acquisition is expected to be funded by Diplomat's new $795M senior secured credit facility, the proceeds of which will also be used to terminate Diplomat's outstanding credit facility.

16:16 EDT Diplomat Pharmacy to acquire LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services - Diplomat Pharmacy has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Leehar Distributors, doing business as LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services, from investment firms Nautic Partners and Oak HC/FT Partners, and management. The transaction is expected to close in 30-60 days.

16:13 EDT Providence Service appoints Carter Pate as Interim CEO - Providence Service has appointed Carter Pate as Interim CEO. Pate replaces James Lindstrom, who has resigned as President and CEO. Lindstrom has also resigned from the bBoard of directors. Providence will conduct a search to identify a new CEO. Pate currently serves as Founder and CEO of Carter Pate, LLC, a resource for management and boards of directors seeking expertise and interim C-suite services. Prior to that, he served as the CEO of one of the largest privately owned passenger transportation contracting firms based in the United States. Effective immediately, Pate's objective is to bridge Providence through this phase to a new, permanent CEO.

16:11 EDT OncoCyte names Mitch Levine as new CFO - OncoCyte Corporation announced that Mitch Levine has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective November 15, 2017. With 33 years of experience in the financial industry and extensive expertise in fundraising for early stage companies Mr. Levine will be responsible for OncoCyte's finance and financial reporting activities. Prior to joining OncoCyte, Mr. Levine was the Managing Partner of Kirby Cove Capital Advisors, which provides consulting services to international life sciences investment funds regarding collaboration and investment in US-based life sciences companies.

16:09 EDT Cisco up 4% to $35.50 following Q1 report, Q2 guidance

16:07 EDT ICF International awarded $6M in task orders from FHWA - The Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations has awarded ICF several new task orders for technical, program and outreach services to support the agency's efforts to advance system management practices around the country. The task orders, which were awarded in the second and third quarters, have a combined value of nearly $6M and terms varying from 12 to 24 months. They were issued under a five-year, multiple-award transportation solutions indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract awarded to ICF in 2016.

16:06 EDT Kramer says Cisco 'executed well' in 'solid' Q1 - "We delivered a solid Q1 and executed well as we focus on strategic priorities and maintaining rigorous discipline on profitability and cash generation. We delivered strong growth in operating and free cash flow, focused investments on long term profitable growth, and returned $3.1 billion to shareholders through repurchases and quarterly dividends," said Kelly Kramer, CFO of Cisco.

16:06 EDT Bunge launches organizational and leadership changes - Bunge announced organizational and leadership changes. In simplifying its structure from five operating companies to three regions - North America, South America and Europe/Asia - Bunge announced executive leadership appointments, effective January 1, 2018: Todd Bastean: President, North America; Pierre Mauger: President, Europe and Asia; Raul Padilla: President, South America and Sugar & Bioenergy. All three executives will report to Soren Schroder, CEO. The three operating regions will be supported by centralized global corporate functions, including Finance, HR, IT and Legal. Global heads of Agribusiness, Food & Ingredients and Sugar & Bioenergy business segments will lead strategy, value chain maximization, cross regional customer relationships and risk management.

16:05 EDT BlackBerry enters licensing agreement with Teletry - BlackBerry announced that it has entered into a strategic licensing agreement with Teletry, an independent operating company with expertise in building relationships between patent holders and licensees in the wireless technology industry. As part of the arrangement between Teletry and BlackBerry, Teletry will have the right to sublicense a broad range of BlackBerry patents to a majority of global smartphone manufacturers. BlackBerry will retain ownership of approximately 40,000 patents and applications and operate its own licensing program outside of Teletry's sublicensing rights.

16:04 EDT Gabelli reports 8.77% stake in Liberty Media

15:16 EDT Intuit, H&R Block dip as CNBC highlights Amazon launch of tax collection service

14:36 EDT JA Solar slides after mixed results as analyst voices margins concerns - Shares of solar power products manufacturer JA Solar (JASO) are sliding after the company reported a mixed quarter, with weaker than expected earnings per ADR share and revenues that beat estimates. Commenting on the announcement, Roth Capital analyst Philip Shen told investors that supply chain costs could continue to pressure margins ahead. RESULTS: JA Solar reported 13c per American Depository Share, which was below consensus. Revenue rose 4.3% from a year ago to $652.6M, beating two analysts' average forecast of $609.8M, but gross margin fell 4.3% to 11.8%. Shipments of solar modules and cells were 1.64 GW with external shipments rising 30.6% year over year. "We are seeing some uncertainties around the ongoing trade cases in the U.S. and India, which could impact global solar demand in the mid-term. Additionally, accelerated capacity expansion in the industry is reshaping the competition landscape. That being said, we remain confident that our balanced global footprint and flexible business model will enable us to adjust to evolving market conditions as in the past cycles," said Baofang Jin, chairman and CEO of JA Solar. SUPPLY CHAIN COSTS TO PRESSURE MARGINS: In a post-earnings note, Roth Capital's Shen reiterated a Neutral rating and $6.70 price target on JA Solar, citing uncertainty around 2018 earnings power. The analyst noted that JA Solar delivered a mixed third quarter and "strong" fourth quarter shipment guidance. While global module supply/demand appears to be in balance for 2017, the company highlighted potential for meaningful capacity expansion in the industry in 2018. Shen argued that a lot will depend on demand in China and whether demand of about 50GW can be achieved next year. The analyst added that he sees supply chain costs, such as for polysilicon, continuing to impact margins. PRICE ACTION: In afternoon trading, shares of JA Solar have dropped over 13% to $6.97.

14:10 EDT NJ reports October gaming revenue up 1.7% to $206.4M - New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that casino win from the industry, including discontinued operator Trump Taj Mahal, for October was $185.8M, compared to $186.4M in October 2016, reflecting a 0.3% decrease. Internet gaming win was $20.6M in October, compared to $16.7M in the prior period, reflecting an increase of 23.4%. The industry's total gaming win for the month was $206.4M, compared to $203.0M for October 2016, reflecting a 1.7% increase. Publicly traded companies in the casino gaming space include Boyd Gaming (BYD), Caesars (CZR), Las Vegas Sands (LVS), MGM Resorts (MGM), Penn National (PENN) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN).

14:02 EDT Alaska Airlines to add nonstop, daily service between Seattle and Pittsburgh - Alaska Airlines announced it will add nonstop, daily service between Seattle and Pittsburgh next fall. This new service is currently the only nonstop flight offered from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Pittsburgh International Airport. The new route provides a link from the West Coast to the thriving business community in Pittsburgh, which is continuing to grow as more technology companies look to establish a presence in the city. "Alaska continues to meet the needs of valued Seattle guests with new service to the Steel City," said John Kirby, vice president of capacity planning at Alaska Airlines. "We're pleased to add Pittsburgh to our growing list of destinations from our hometown of Seattle. With the addition of Pittsburgh, Alaska flies nonstop to 90 destinations, which is more than twice as many as any other airline."

13:55 EDT Obsidian Energy Ltd trading resumes

13:43 EDT Obsidian Energy announces $8.5M settlement with SEC - Obsidian Energy announced an $8.5M settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, regarding the lawsuit filed by the SEC on June 28, 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The settlement is in relation to the company's 2014 restatement of certain financial results while it was known as Penn West Petroleum. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company, without admitting or denying any of the factual allegations in the SEC's Complaint, agreed to pay a penalty of $8.5M. In addition, the company will be enjoined from future violations of certain provisions of U.S. securities legislation. Further details of the settlement and its consequences can be found in the settlement documents when they are made public, and in the U.S. securities laws. The lawsuit would continue against the former Penn West employees named in the SEC Complaint. The settlement is subject to Court approval.

13:30 EDT Lancaster Colony raises dividend to 60c from 55c per share - Lancaster Colony announced that its board of directors voted to raise the regular quarterly cash dividend to 60c per common share. The dividend will be payable December 29 to shareholders of record on December 8. The company noted that the indicated annual payout for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 is $2.35 per share, up from the $2.15 per share paid in fiscal 2017.

12:46 EDT Food makers slide as Amazon drops prices again at Whole Foods - Shares of several packaged food makers are sliding after Amazon (AMZN) announced new lower prices on additional grocery items at Whole Food stores. General Mills (GIS), Campbell Soup (CPB) and Kellogg (K) are all among the worst performers on the S&P 500 today. LOWER PRICES: Whole Foods and Amazon announced new lower prices on additional best-selling grocery items and holiday staples at Whole Foods stores, including a new lower price on organic and no antibiotic turkeys for all customers - and an even deeper discount on organic and no antibiotic turkeys for Prime members. According to the e-commerce giant, this offer is a sneak preview of the special savings and in-store benefits Prime members can expect when Prime becomes the official rewards program of Whole Foods. PRICE CUT NOT SURPRISING: Commenting on the news and noting that this is the third significant wave of price reductions, KeyBanc analyst Edward Yruma highlighted that the items now incorporate select packaged goods. The analyst told investors that he is not surprised at the reduced prices for turkey items heading into the holidays, especially given ample industry supplies and historically-low prices. Additionally, recent channel checks and industry sources indicate grocery retailers have lowered prices on dairy items in an effort to drive more in-store traffic, he added. PRICE ACTION: In afternoon trading, shares of Amazon are down about 1%. Meanwhile, General Mills, Campbell Soup and Kellogg have all slipped about 2%. Shares of Kroger (KR) and Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM), competitors to Whole Foods, are each down about 1% as well.

12:38 EDT First Midwest names CEO Michael Scudder as chairman - First Midwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Midwest Bank, announced the election of Michael L. Scudder, President and CEO, to the additional position of Chairman of the Board. First Midwest also announced the appointment of J. Stephen Vanderwoude as Lead Independent Director. These actions became effective on November 14 following the decision by Robert P. O'Meara to retire as board chairman. O'Meara, who will continue to serve as a director, has been named Chairman Emeritus.

12:07 EDT American Express reports October net write-off rate 1.8% vs. 1.6% last month - Reports October 30 days past due loans 1.3% vs. 1.3% last month.

12:01 EDT Nasdaq investigating potentially erroneous transactions in Civeo shares - NASDAQ MarketWatch announced that it is investigating potentially erroneous transactions involving the security Civeo Corp. (CVEO) executed between 11:11:00 and 11:12:00 ET today. Reference Link

11:25 EDT FAT Brands Inc trading resumes

11:16 EDT GM CEO Barra says not capital constrained in EV or AV development

11:08 EDT Aspen Group announces record enrollment of 1,225 students in Q2 - Aspen Group announced earlier that Aspen University achieved a quarterly record of 1,255 new student enrollments for the fFY18 Q2 ending October 31, surpassing last quarter's previous record of 1,025, delivering a sequential increase of 22%. From a year-over-year perspective, new student enrollments increased 55%, from 811 to 1,255. Aspen's rolling six-month average cost-per-enrollment decreased sequentially in Q2 FY18 from $812 to $787. As a result, Aspen's marketing efficiency ratio increased to 8.9X, meaning that Aspen is projecting to earn an 8.9X return on its marketing investments. Aspen's total active student body grew year-over-year from 3,726 to 5,641, an increase of 51%. Aspen's School of Nursing grew 60% year-over-year, from 2,538 to 4,068 active students. Aspen's RN to BSN program accounted for the majority of the growth, from 1,493 to 2,639 active students, an increase of 1,146 active student's, or 77% year-over-year.

11:02 EDT Applied Optoelectronics rises after director buys 22K shares - Shares of Applied Optoelectronics are higher this morning after director Alan Moore disclosed in a regulatory filing last night that he bought 22,400 shares of company stock at an average price of $44.60 on November 13. In early trading, Applied Optoelectronics shares are up $1.09, or 2.49%$44.99.

10:56 EDT Fat Brands to acquire Hurricane Grill and Wings - FAT Brands announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hurricane Grill & Wings for $12.5M. The acquisition will be funded with cash on hand and third party financing, and is expected to close in 2017, subject to customary closing conditions including the receipt of financing. Pro forma for the acquisition and expected synergies from the combined companies, the company expects its annualized revenue to exceed $17M and annualized adjusted cash earnings to exceed $11M, or $1.10 per common share based on 10 million shares outstanding. The combined company's franchisees will operate approximately 350 restaurants around the globe, with system-wide sales exceeding $360M. Andy Wiederhorn, President and CEO of FAT Brands, said, "Based on our expected free cash flow in 2018, we expect to pay an annualized dividend of $0.48 per common share starting in 2018, subject to the declaration and approval by the board of directors, which represents an implied yield of approximately 5% based on the current share price."

10:41 EDT Noden Pharma announces FDA approval of Tekturna Oral Pellets - Noden Pharma announced the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Tekturna Oral Pellets for the treatment of hypertension in adults and children six years of age and older. The new formulation and pediatric indication were approved through the FDA priority review process. Noden Pharma DAC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PDL BioPharma. According to hypertension guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics the prevalence of clinical hypertension in children and adolescents is approximately 3.5%. The prevalence of persistently elevated blood pressure is approximately 2.2% to 3.5%, with higher rates among children and adolescents who are overweight and those with obesity. The efficacy and safety of Tekturna for pediatric use was evaluated in an 8-week randomized, double-blind trial in 267 hypertensive patients 6 to 17 years of age, including 208 patients treated for 52 weeks, following the 8-week study. During the initial dose-response phase, Tekturna reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a weight-based dose-dependent manner. These studies did not reveal any unanticipated adverse reactions. Adverse reactions in pediatric patients six years of age and older are expected to be similar to those seen in adults. Noden plans to make Tekturna Oral Pellets available in 2018.

10:35 EDT As Amazon threat to Netflix may lessen, Apple viewed as possible new competitor - Amazon (AMZN) has scrapped plans to launch an online streaming service bundling broadcast and cable networks, according to media reports, with The Verge saying that the e-commerce giant has also denied that it is developing a free, ad-supported version of Prime Video. While this may lessen the threat to Netflix (NFLX), some now predict that Apple (AAPL) will be working on a video subscription product to compete with the streaming service, CNBC reported. AMAZON VIDEO SERVICES: Amazon has scrapped the company's plans to launch an online streaming service bundling broadcast and cable networks as the e-commerce giant believes it cannot make enough money on such a service, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter. Sources also said that Amazon was unbale to convince key broadcast and basic cable networks to join an a la carte Amazon Channels service, the report added. Meanwhile, The Verge reported that the world's largest online retailer has denied reports that it is developing a free, ad-supported version of its Prime streaming video service. APPLE VIDEO STREAMING?: According to CNBC, citing CSS tech analysts, Apple may launch a video subscription streaming service next year to compete with Netflix, which may be forced to implement new pricing plans and services amid increased pressure for content. "Everyone is jostling for position and everyone is jumping in on the area of video. When you look at Apple, it has a very strong hardware offering and their services business is on the march," Paolo Pescatore, vice president of multiplay and media at CCS Insight, told the news service. "The real battleground is in the area of original content, but original content would feature prominently and Apple would be very well placed to do that," he added. WHAT'S NOTABLE: CCS Insight also argued that social media platforms could push further into the content game, with Facebook (FB) being already involved in bids for sports rights this year. The social media giant struck a deal with Fox Sports (FOXA) to stream the UEFA Champions League soccer tournament, CNBC pointed out. Facebook's shift to sports streaming may result in the social media platform starting to offer pay-per-view programs, which could be very appealing to sports rights holders given the strength of its targeted advertising, the report noted. Meanwhile, Time (TIME) is said to be planning to launch subscription streaming service Sports Illustrated TV for $4.99 per month on Amazon Channels as it looks to enter digital media and video amid a difficult print environment, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The company is expecting to launch the service with 130 hours of content, including original documentary series, studio shows, programming related to the swimsuit franchise and sports movies, but will not air any live sporting events. PRICE ACTION: Amid early weakness in the broader market, shares of Amazon have dropped over 1%, while Apple has slid a bit under 1% and shares of Netflix are also fractionally lower.

10:25 EDT MAG Silver trading resumes

10:18 EDT Target says remodeled stores showing positive comps - Brian Cornell is speaking on CNBC.

10:16 EDT Target CEO says 'surprised' by post-earnings selloff in shares - Brian Cornell is speaking on CNBC.

10:11 EDT Bank of America reports October default rate 2.87% vs. 2.81% last month - Reports October 30-plus day delinquency rate 1.61% vs. 1.56% last month.

10:07 EDT Athersys partner enrolls first patient in Japan in Treasure MultiStem study - Athersys announced that its partner, HEALIOS K.K., has enrolled the first patient in its study in Japan evaluating MultiStem cell therapy treatment of patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke.The TREASURE study is designed to enroll a total of 220 patients with moderate to severe strokes and will be randomized 1:1, with patients receiving a single intravenous infusion of MultiStem or placebo within 18 to 36 hours of the onset of the stroke. The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of subjects achieving an Excellent Outcome at three months following treatment. Excellent Outcome is a commonly used measure of efficacy in stroke treatment, evaluated using three standard clinical rating scales of functional and neurological deficit and recovery following the stroke, including the NIH Stroke Scale, modified Rankin Scale and Barthel Index. In parallel with the TREASURE trial, Athersys has been planning for its Phase 3 study entitled, MultiStem Administration for Stroke Treatment and Enhanced Recovery Study-2, to be conducted in North America and Europe. The MASTERS-2 study has received authorization from the U.S. FDA under a Special Protocol Assessment for the design and planned analysis of this pivotal clinical trial. The SPA provides formal agreement from the FDA that the protocol design, clinical endpoints, planned conduct and statistical analyses in this Phase 3 study are acceptable to support a regulatory submission for marketing approval of MultiStem cell therapy as a product for treating ischemic stroke patients. Additionally, the MultiStem stroke program has been awarded Fast Track designation by the FDA, meaning that the program is eligible for accelerated approval, priority review and rolling submission of the biologics license application, which facilitates a timely regulatory review. Recently, in addition to the SPA and Fast Track designations from the FDA, the MASTERS-2 trial also obtained a Final Scientific Advice positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency, and received the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation from the FDA, which was established this year under the 21st Century Cures Legislation. The MASTERS-2 clinical trial is planned to be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to enroll 300 patients in North America and Europe who have suffered moderate to moderate-severe ischemic stroke.

09:55 EDT Square rises as bitcoin buying tested on Cash app - Shares of Square (SQ) are on the rise following reports that the company's Cash app is offering select users the option to buy and sell bitcoin. WHATS NEW: Square is now offering users the option to buy, sell or hold cryptocurrency on its Cash app. "We're always listening to our customers and we've found that they are interested in using the Cash App to buy bitcoin," a company spokesperson said. "We're exploring how Square can make this experience faster and easier, and have rolled out this feature to a small number of Cash App customers. We believe cryptocurrency can greatly impact the ability of individuals to participate in the global financial system and we're excited to learn more here." While the app enables users to buy and sell the cryptocurrency, it still does not allow users to make payments to friends with bitcoin. BITCOIN MAY BENEFIT SQUARE: Credit Suisse analyst Paul Condra said while the impact of Square adding the bitcoin feature is uncertain, he believes it could place Square in an early-mover position as a mainstream fin-tech company providing cryptocurrency services. The analyst added the company is also well-positioned to allow digital currency transactions at the physical point of sale. Condra reiterates a Neutral rating and $31 price target on Square shares. PRICE ACTION: In morning trading, Square rose 2% to $40.55, while bitcoin was up 8.5% to $7,162.01.

09:50 EDT Liberty Expedia Holdings (Series B) trading resumes

09:48 EDT Universal Display dips after IHS report said to raise capacity concerns - Early weakness in shares of Universal Display (OLED) may be related to an IHS Markit report on the supply and demand dynamics in the flexible AMOLED panel market, trading contacts tell The Fly. In a report published yesterday, IHS Markit said net area capacity of flexible active-matrix organic light-emitting diode, or AMOLED, panels is expected to reach 4.4 million square meters in 2018, up 100% from 2017. However, demand for flexible AMOLED panels is increasing slower than suppliers' expectation, at 69.9% to 2.4 million square meters in 2018, IHS added. In early trading, Univeral Display shares have dropped 2.7% to $172.75. Reference Link

09:45 EDT Liberty Expedia Holdings (Series B) trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:35 EDT CDK Global rises after report of exploring potentail sale - Shares of CDK Global (CDK) are rising in early trading after Dealreporter said, according to contacts, that the company is working with bankers at Morgan Stanley (MS) and Credit Suisse (CS) to contact potential buyers. The sale process is at an early stage, the report added, according to contacts. CDK Global shares have jumped about 4% to $65.07 in early trading.

09:27 EDT Agenus receives $4M in license fee from Merck - Agenus (AGEN) received a $4M payment for the advancement of an undisclosed antibody under the license and research collaboration agreement with Merck (MRK). Merck is responsible for all future product development expenses for the selected antibody and Agenus is eligible to receive up to an additional $99M in milestone payments, as well as royalties on worldwide product sales.

09:22 EDT Inspired Entertainment announces strategic partnership with Novomatic - Inspired Entertainment announces a strategic partnership with Novomatic. In the first ever agreement of its kind, Inspired announces that it is collaborating with Novomatic, one of the largest gaming technology companies in the world, to carry Novomatic's content on Inspired's platform to deliver a market-specific product combination to the leading Greek betting and lottery operator, OPAP. Novomatic games, including Book of Ra Deluxe, Dolphin's Pearl Deluxe, Sizzling Hot Deluxe, Lucky Lady's Charm Deluxe, are now live in Greece via Inspired's Core Connect platform, with Roaring Forties soon to become available. All games have been certified by the Hellenic Gaming Commission for deployment to Inspired VLTs in OPAP venues across Greece.

09:18 EDT Boeing's Tapestry awarded $26M Air Force contract for mission planning software - Boeing company Tapestry Solutions has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to develop advanced mission planning software for airdrop missions tailored to the C-17 and C-130 military transport aircraft. Work will be performed under a Mission Planning Enterprise Contract II delivery order valued at $26M over a four-year period.

09:14 EDT On The Fly: Pre-market Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: Childrens Place (PLCE), up 5.4%... CarGurus (CARG), up 15.1%... Westport (WPRT), up 8.3%... Synacor (SYNC), up 17.4%... Beazer Homes (BZH), up 5.3%. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Target (TGT), down 5.7%... Sally Beauty (SBH), down 7.5%. ALSO LOWER: Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR), down 34% after five deaths stop enrollment in its Parkinson's disease study.

09:10 EDT Illumina announces expanded use of MiSeq DX system - Illumina announced the introduction of its NextSeq 550Dx instrument, the company's second FDA-regulated and CE-IVD marked next-generation sequencing system. The company also announced that the intended use for the MiSeq Dx instrument has been updated to include the use of DNA libraries generated from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues, paving the way for clinical labs to use FFPE samples when developing clinical tests for new applications. With the NextSeq 550Dx and the MiSeqDx, Illumina now has a highly robust diagnostic NGS product portfolio capable of covering a broad range of clinical applications to serve almost any clinical lab need for NGS-based in vitro diagnostic products. Illumina introduces the NextSeq 550Dx instrument, which is the second FDA regulated CE-IVD market platform to deliver the power of high-throughput NGS to the clinical laboratory. With dual boot functionality, the NextSeq 550Dx platform includes a diagnostic mode and a research mode, which provides the flexibility to perform both clinical research and develop a range of IVD assays on a single instrument. For large clinical laboratories, the NextSeq 550Dx instrument offers a validated high-throughput platform and will soon provide access to an expanding pipeline of clinical applications in oncology and reproductive health. The expanded intended use of the MiSeqDx instrument, which was the first FDA regulated NGS sequencer, enables the development of additional advanced diagnostic products and services at clinical labs by giving clinicians access to information generated on Illumina's NGS technology. In addition to the updated intended use for the MiSeqDx system, Illumina also offers the regulated MiSeqDx Reagent Kit v3, the latest version of Illumina sequencing chemistry available to MiSeqDx customers, and the TruSeq Custom Amplicon Kit Dx for library preparation. These new products replace the MiSeqDx Universal Kit 1.0, which was regulated by the FDA in 2013 and allowed clinical labs to conduct DNA analysis using DNA obtained from human whole blood

09:07 EDT CBRE Group acquires 50% interest in Streetsense, creating JV - CBRE Group announced it has acquired a 50% interest in Streetsense, a privately-held strategy and design company, creating a joint venture to provide services that help retailers and other clients create compelling consumer experiences. As part of the strategic investment in Streetsense, CBRE has acquired Streetsense's retail brokerage operation, which serves clients in the greater Washington, D.C. market. The firm's 17 professionals have joined CBRE and the new brokerage business will be called Streetsense CBRE.

09:07 EDT WWE says WrestleMania generated $181M for Orlando region - WWE and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that WrestleMania 33 generated $181.5M in economic impact for the Orlando region this past April, according to a study conducted by the Enigma Research Corporation. This marks a new record for WrestleMania's economic impact and the sixth consecutive year that WrestleMania generated more than $100M in economic impact for its host region.

09:05 EDT GrubHub announces collaboration with InterContinental Hotels Group - Grubhub (GRUB) announced a collaboration with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to offer IHG Rewards Club members point-earning benefits for ordering food on Grubhub via IHG's online and mobile channels. This collaboration is the first of its kind, and allows for Grubhub diners to earn points through the IHG Rewards Club hotel loyalty program. The Grubhub integration will be offered across markets where Grubhub is available in more than 1,000 hotels in the U.S. for guests staying at hotels within the Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites brands.

09:04 EDT Aviat Networks awarded $3.0M Project with United States Geological Survey - Aviat Networks announced a new project with United States Geological Survey, valued at approximately $3.0M. This federal government agency will purchase microwave, router and video surveillance hardware, software and services to improve earthquake related communications throughout California. The new system will be used by the Earthquake Science Center to transport geophysical and seismographic data as well as security video to/from various sites across the State.

09:04 EDT Aspen Technology, BP renew license agreement for aspenONE Engineering - Aspen Technology (AZNPN) announced that BP (BP) has renewed its license agreement for aspenONE Engineering, a suite of products focused on process engineering and optimization, and aspenONE Manufacturing and Supply Chain, a suite of process operations and supply chain software.

09:03 EDT Nucor to build merchant bar mill at Nucor Steel Kankakee - Nucor announced today that it will build a full-range merchant bar quality mill at its existing bar steel mill located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The MBQ mill will have an annual capacity of 500,000 tons and is expected to cost $180M. The project will take approximately two years to complete.

09:02 EDT Acorda concludes conference call, shares down 39% to $17.20

08:47 EDT TrendForce: Notebook shipments for Q3 up 0.9% y/y to 42.69M units - Market research firm TrendForce reports that the global notebook shipments for this third quarter registered a quarterly increase of 6.8% and a year-on-year increase of 0.9%, reaching 42.69 million units. The overall performance of notebook shipments brought by peak season exceeded the previous expectations. The global notebook shipments for 2017 are estimated to reach 162.4 million units, and the annual shipments performance will change from decline to growth with a growth rate of 0.7% since the first half of 2017 has recorded a heightened basis period, while the market leaders HP (HPQ) and Lenovo (LNVGY) have showed a considerable growth in the second half of the year, pointed out Kou-Han Tseng, TrendForce's notebook analyst. HP recorded strong performance in this third quarter, reaching a single-season shipment of 11 million units for the first time with a quarterly increase of 17.6%. It is expected to have another 0.3% sequential growth in the fourth quarter. Till the end of this year, HP is expected to achieve the annual goal of 40 million units, which will secure its first place in 2017 global notebook shipments ranking. Lenovo recorded 8.58 million units for the third quarter shipments with a quarterly growth 6.5%. In the fourth quarter, it is estimated to have another 1 ~ 3% growth. Apple (AAPL) continued the strong shipments of 12-inch products in the second quarter, and focused on the new models of MacBook Pro in the third quarter, recording the third quarter shipments of 4.43 million units and an increase of 11.3%. It exceeded ASUS to rank the fourth in this third quarter. Reference Link

08:46 EDT Acorda says board would review any takeover proposal - Acorda Therapeutics CEO Ron Cohen said on today's conference call that the company's board would review any takeover proposal and act in the best interest of shareholders.

08:43 EDT Acorda CEO says company has 'adequate' cash poisition - Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) CEO Ron Cohen said on today's conference call that his company has an "adequate" cash position, even if Perrigo (PRGO) launches an Ampyra generic next year.

08:43 EDT Onconova publishes results from Phase 1/2 study of Rigosertib - Onconova Therapeutics announced the publication of results from a Phase 1/2 study of rigosertib intravenous in patients with MDS and MDS which progressed to Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or AML, in the journal, Leukemia Research. In the study, rigosertib reduced or stabilized bone marrow blasts and improved peripheral blood counts, and patients with response or stable disease had one year longer survival than non-responders. This study was conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, under the guidance of Dr. Lewis Silverman, a pioneer in developing treatments for patients with Higher-risk MDS. This Phase 1/2, dose-escalating study of rigosertib enrolled 22 patients with higher-risk MDS and AML who had relapsed or were refractory to standard therapy and for whom no second-line therapies are FDA approved. Patients received 3 to 7-day continuous intravenous infusions of rigosertib, an inhibitor of Ras-effector pathways that interacts with the Ras Binding Domains, or RBDs, common to several signaling proteins including Raf and PI3 kinase. Rigosertib was administered at doses of 650-1700 mg/m2/day intravenously in 14-day cycles. Rigosertib was well tolerated for up to 23 cycles, with no treatment-related deaths. Only 18% of patients experienced treatment related serious adverse events, or AEs. Common AEs were fatigue, diarrhea, pyrexia, dyspnea, insomnia, and anemia. Rigosertib exhibited biologic activity, with reduction or stabilization of bone marrow blasts and improved peripheral blood counts in a subset of patients. Ten of 19 evaluable patients demonstrated bone marrow and/or peripheral blood responses or stable disease. Median survival was 15.7 and 2.0 months for responders and non-responders, respectively.

08:37 EDT Target CFO Smith sees continued pressure on gross margins in Q4 - CFO Cathy Smith, who noted that the holiday season will be "highly competitive and promotional," forecast Q4 SSS "flat or better, with upside potential for a 2% comp increase." She sees continued pressure on gross margin in Q4.

08:36 EDT SenesTech confirms reports of Washington D.C. program for ContraPest - SenesTech has confirmed reports that SenesTech is working with the municipal government of Washington, D.C. to develop a more effective rat control program in certain locations in our nation's capital. This program will be using ContraPest, SenesTech's lead product for controlling rodent infestations through fertility control, along with other integrated pest management techniques, in areas of particularly high infestation. As the program is still in its design phase, SenesTech will not be making any additional comments on the program at this time.

08:34 EDT CyrusOne selected by NetActuate for data center services hub - CyrusOne has been selected by NetActuate to host NetActuate's data center services hub. NetActuate will connect the company's global edge platform that extends to 67 data centers worldwide, as well as host their disaster recovery services for other markets from their data center footprint within the CyrusOne Raleigh-Durham Data Center.

08:34 EDT MicroVision names Perry Mulligan CEO - MicroVision announced that it has named Perry Mulligan, a company director, as CEO, replacing Alexander Tokman who has resigned as CEO and director. Mulligan has served as a director at MicroVision since January 2010 and assumes the role of CEO immediately. Tokman will remain as president through the end of 2017 to assist with the transition.

08:33 EDT Ampio announces start of Open Label Extension study of Ampion - Ampio Pharmaceuticals announced the beginning of an Open Label Extension study of Ampion in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. The OLE study offers patients an opportunity to receive repeat injections of Ampion after they have completed the pivotal clinical trial. This OLE study will address the regulatory requirements to allow an expanded commercial label for repeat administration of Ampion.

08:32 EDT Iteris awarded $1.5M traffic communications contract by City of Abilene - Iteris has been awarded a $1.5M contract for a traffic-signal upgrade project from the City of Abilene, TX. Iteris will upgrade 63 intersections with new equipment, including a wireless broadband-radio communications system that will provide faster communications throughout Abilene and increase the city's ability to respond to citizen concerns more quickly. Additionally, the system will allow city traffic technicians to respond to problems remotely, saving the city time and money by reducing the need to drive to intersections and enabling them to resolve issues more quickly and improve safety. In addition to the system design and integration services, upgrades will include Iteris' advanced vehicle detection systems including VantageNext and Vantage Vector; a city-wide wireless broadband radio communications network; new traffic signal controllers; new traffic signal control cabinets; and managed Ethernet switches that allow the wireless communications to be shared by all of the hardware systems

08:28 EDT Target: 80% of online orders to be shipped from stores during the holidays - COO John Mulligan said Target is rapidly growing the store remodel program from fewer than 30 stores in 2016 to more than 325 next year. Target's ultimate supply chain goal is to have delivery capabilities for all products in a timeframe that's two days or less, the company said. The company also said 80% of online orders will be shipped from stores during the holidays. CMO Mark Tritton said Target launched four more new and exclusive brands across apparel and accessories and home in Q3.

08:22 EDT IntercontinentalExchange appoints Charles Vice as vice chairman - Intercontinental Exchange announced the promotion of several senior executives, effective immediately. Charles Vice has been named vice chairman, with continued responsibility for ICE's global technology, information security and operations. He was previously president and COO, and has served ICE and its predecessor company for over 23 years. Benjamin Jackson, formerly ICE's chief commercial officer, has been named president and will continue to report to chairman and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. In this capacity, Jackson will coordinate ICE's global futures and OTC trading businesses. Additionally, he will continue to be responsible for leading the integration planning and execution of ICE's acquisitions and joint ventures. Jackson will relocate to Atlanta from New York. Mark Wassersug, previously ICE's SVP of operations, has been named COO, where he will continue to lead operations, including IT infrastructure, data networks, data centers and engineering. Wassersug will continue to report to Chuck Vice.

08:16 EDT Trump calls Time Warner's CNN 'Loser!' amid AT&T buyout negotiations - President Trump tweeted earlier, "While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser!" The tweet comes as AT&T (T) is reportedly in talks with the Justice Department regarding its proposed buyout of CNN parent Time Warner (TWX).

08:10 EDT ADMA Biologics issued U.S. patent for immunotherapeutic compositions - ADMA Biologics announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued to the Company U.S. Patent No. 9,815,886, relating to compositions and methods for the treatment of immunodeficiency. The newly issued patent encompasses immune globulin compositions containing elevated, neutralizing antibody titers to Respiratory Syncytial Virus, as well as elevated antibody titers to other respiratory pathogens, such as influenza virus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus. The term of the issued patent extends to January 2035.

08:07 EDT NuCana enrolls first patients in U.S., UK in PRO-105 study - NuCana plc (NASDAQ:NCNA) announced the enrollment of the first patients in both the United States and the United Kingdom in its PRO-105 study evaluating single-agent Acelarin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

08:02 EDT Toyota Financial Services announces partnership with Launch Mobility - Toyota Financial Services has announced a partnership with Launch Mobility, a developer of shared mobility solutions. Both companies recognize the growing importance of mobility services and offer distinctive capabilities to address market needs. Together, TFS and Launch Mobility intend to develop a product that will make previously leased vehicles available for short-term rentals to rideshare drivers. The companies are developing a pilot with the intent to deploy in select markets by the end of the calendar year.

08:00 EDT NCR Corp. announces strategic integration with Monkey - NCR Corporation has announced a strategic integration with MONKEY, a cloud-based software platform created by MonkeyMedia Software for takeout, delivery and catering service channels. This integration enables NCR Aloha point-of-sale users to seamlessly manage orders placed through the MONKEY platform eliminating the need for extensive IT involvement.

07:40 EDT CVS: Some pharmacies experiency system connectivity interruptions - CVS Pharmacy tweeted yesterday, "Some of our pharmacies are experiencing system connectivity interruptions that we are actively working to resolve. Our pharmacies can continue filling prescriptions during this period. We apologize for the inconvenience." Reference Link

07:36 EDT SandRidge Energy sees Bonanza Creek aquisition accretive to cash flow in 2018 - James Bennett, SandRidge's CEO, said "This acquisition greatly enhances our existing portfolio by adding a deep inventory of drill-ready locations in the DJ Basin of Colorado and is highly complementary to our existing North Park, Northwest STACK and Mississippian assets. The geological and operational characteristics of Bonanza's Niobrara and Codell locations are analogous to our existing Colorado North Park assets, and we expect to benefit from the expertise of their teams. Overall, we believe this will drive strong risk-adjusted returns in both areas. Likewise, SandRidge will benefit from the greatly increased scale and substantial cost and operational synergies as a result of the transaction. Lastly, the acquisition will be accretive to cash flow per share and will enhance our ability over time to increase cash flow generation of the business."

07:34 EDT Tarena signs strategic student loan agreement with MYbank in China - Tarena has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Zhejiang E-Commerce Bank, an affiliate of Ant Financial Services Group, to provide financing services for Tarena students. Pursuant to the agreement, MYbank will offer student loans to Tarena students to assist them in paying for tuition fees.

07:33 EDT Acorda Therapeutics trading resumes

07:31 EDT SandRidge Energy to acquire Bonanza Creek for $36.00 per share in cash, stock

07:23 EDT Gridsum, Tencent Cloud, Shandong Guohui to jointly develop IoT cloud platform - Gridsum Holding announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Tencent Cloud and Shandong Guohui Investment Co. Ltd., a company owned by the Shandong Province State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to jointly develop an industrial internet of things cloud platform in Shandong Province. According to the strategic cooperation agreement, Gridsum, Tencent and Guohui will leverage each of their competitive strengths to jointly develop the IIoT Cloud Platform and support the emergence of a smart industrial manufacturing cluster in Shandong Province. It is anticipated that the IIoT Cloud Platform will revolutionize the manufacturing ecosystem in Shandong Province by leveraging "Industry 4.0" methodologies to greatly improve the efficiency and acquisition of vast quantities of information which will be analyzed and processed at very fast speeds. The IIoT Cloud Platform will greatly improve manufacturers' ability to interconnect, increase efficiency, reduce production times and costs and build their businesses out to scale. The centerpiece of the IIoT Cloud Platform will be an industrial cloud and big data R&D center in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. Once completed, the industrial R&D center is expected to be amongst China's largest.

07:18 EDT Target down 5.3% pre-market to $56.90 after Q3 results, guidance

07:17 EDT Bonanza Creek trading halted, news pending

07:12 EDT Universal Stainless & Alloy to implement electrode surcharge - Universal Stainless announced that it will implement an electrode surcharge of 4c per pound for all electric arc melted grades of steel effective January 1, 2018 forward. The new surcharge will be incorporated into the monthly raw material surcharges as listed on the company's website. Raw material surcharges are a pricing mechanism used to reflect the impact that fluctuating raw material costs have on the selling price.

07:03 EDT Spire raises dividend 7.1% to an annualized $2.25 per share - As a result of the strong performance in fiscal 2017 and expectations for continued growth, the board of directors of Spire increased the quarterly common stock dividend to 56.25c per share, an increase of 7.1%. This raises the annualized rate to $2.25 per share. Spire has continuously paid a cash dividend since 1946, and 2018 will mark the 15th consecutive year that the annualized dividend has increased. The dividend is payable January 3, 2018, to shareholders of record on December 11, 2017.

07:02 EDT Arconic, Airbus announce multi-year research agreement for 3D printing - Arconic (ARNC) announced a multi-year cooperative research agreement with Airbus (EADSY) to advance metal 3D printing for aircraft manufacturing. Together, the companies will develop customized processes and parameters to produce and qualify large, structural 3D printed components, such as pylon spars and rib structures, up to approximately 1 meter in length. The deal combines Arconic's expertise in metal additive manufacturing and metallurgy with Airbus's design and qualification capabilities, building on its experience with regulatory agencies for certification. Under this agreement announced at the Formnext additive and advanced manufacturing conference in Frankfurt, Germany, Arconic will use electron beam high deposition rate technology to 3D print parts. This technology is ideally suited to produce larger aerospace components because it prints them up to one hundred times faster than technologies used for smaller, more intricate parts. Arconic will draw on additive and advanced manufacturing capabilities at its facilities in Cleveland, Ohio and at the Arconic Technology Center outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

07:01 EDT Sally Beauty reports Q4 SSS down 2.5% at Sally - Net store count at year-end was 3,782, an increase of one from the prior fiscal year-end. Gross margin increased 10 basis points to 55.1% in the quarter. Gross margin benefitted from strategic pricing initiatives and a shift in customer mix between retail and professional. Same store sales grew 1.0% at Beauty Systems Group.

06:57 EDT Acorda Therapeutics trading halted, news pending

06:53 EDT Sally Beauty reports inventory of $930.9M at Q4-end - Inventory at quarter end was $930.9M, up 2.6% from the prior year. The increase was due primarily to new store growth, the addition of new brands and foreign currency translation.

06:52 EDT Sally Beauty sees annual benefits of $12M-$14M from International Restructuring - The Company successfully completed its 2017 Restructuring Plan, which was focused primarily on its North American operations. Total charges incurred in fiscal 2017 in connection with the 2017 Restructuring Plan were $22.7 million, consisting primarily of employee separation and facility closure costs. The Company expects annualized benefits from the 2017 Restructuring Plan of approximately $20 million, with a benefit of approximately $10 million recorded in fiscal 2017. The Company is today announcing the commencement of an international restructuring plan focused on significantly improving the profitability of its international businesses, with particular focus on its European operations. The Company expects to incur restructuring charges in the range of $12 million to $14 million, with approximately $10 million to be recorded in fiscal 2018, related primarily to potential employee separation costs. Additionally, the Company expects to realize annualized benefits in the range of approximately $12 million to $14 million from the initiative, with a benefit of approximately $8 million realized in fiscal 2018.

06:48 EDT Trimble announces new $600M share repurchase authorization - Trimble announced that its board has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing up to $600M in repurchases of the company's common stock. The authorization does not have an expiration date and replaces the prior authorization of $400M, which was recently completed.

06:47 EDT Sally Beauty announces plan to restructure International operations - "Even after considering the challenges created by the natural disasters in the quarter, which impacted August and September, our revenue fell short of our expectations," said Chris Brickman, President and CEO. "However, the modest decline in consolidated net sales was offset by the successful completion of our 2017 restructuring plan, tight control of discretionary expenses, the successful refinancing of a large portion of our long-term debt and the continued use of our strong cash flows to acquire shares of our common stock. Driving revenue and earnings growth remains our top priority. To that end, today we are announcing the commencement of a restructuring of our international operations in order to leverage the full scale of our consolidated European business and deliver additional cost savings. At the same time, we are making investments in our e-commerce capabilities that will allow us to support two-day delivery to more than 90% of U.S. households by the middle of fiscal 2018. In addition, we have planned a number of exciting new product launches and improvements to our CRM, marketing and promotional strategies that we expect will build the foundation to drive future growth. We believe that these changes, combined with the strength and stability of our large and growing Beauty Systems Group distribution business, will keep us on the path to long-term earnings growth," Brickman concluded.

06:36 EDT Philo launches entertainment-focused live TV streaming service priced at $16 - Philo, a television technology company, yesterday announced the nationwide launch of the first-ever streaming television service featuring live TV, DVR, and on-demand services, focused on entertainment, lifestyle and knowledge programming. The new service, priced at $16 per month, includes 35+ of the top cable channels and can be viewed wherever you are in the U.S., on TVs, computers, tablets and phones. An additional nine channels can be added for just $4 more per month. Philo will carry content from leading programming groups, including A+E Networks, AMC Networks (AMCX), Discovery (DISCA), Scripps Networks (SNI), and Viacom (VIA, VIAB) with channels including A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, AXS TV, BBC America, Cheddar, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Food Network, GSN, HGTV, HISTORY, Investigation Discovery, IFC, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, TLC, Travel Channel, and more.

06:34 EDT Target reports Q3 comparable traffic grew 1.4%

06:30 EDT Target reports Q3 SSS up 0.9%

06:28 EDT Synchrony reports October net charge-off rate 5.23% vs. 4.16% last month - Reports October 30-plus day delinquencies 3.16% vs. 3.19% last month.

06:20 EDT Pointer Telocation reports Q3 EPS 23c, consensus 20c - Reports Q3 revenue $20.2M, consensus $19.3M.

06:14 EDT Nestle: Stefan Palzer to succeed Stefan Catsicas as CTO - Stefan Catsicas, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, has decided to pursue entrepreneurial and venture capital activities outside of Nestle. The Nestle Board of Directors has appointed Stefan Palzer as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Nestle, effective January 1, 2018. Stefan Palzer is currently Head of the Nestle Research Center, and is recognized as one of the leading global experts in food engineering and materials science. Heiko Schipper, Deputy Executive Vice President in charge of Nestle Nutrition, has decided to pursue other interests outside of Nestle. He will leave the company effective December 31, 2017. Heiko Schipper was appointed Global Business Head Infant Nutrition in 2013 and Deputy Executive Vice President in charge of Nestle Nutrition in 2014. Heiko Schipper's position on the company's Executive Board will not be replaced, following the change in the organization of the infant nutrition business.

06:11 EDT Bayer picks Nestle's Heiko Schipper to head Consumer Health unit - The Supervisory Board of Bayer AG (BAYRY) has appointed Heiko Schipper to the Board of Management of Bayer AG effective March 1, 2018. He will succeed Erica Mann as the head of the Consumer Health Division, which is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Mann has announced that she does not intend to extend her contract, which was scheduled to run until December 31, 2018. As it has been possible to find a successor at an earlier date, Mann has asked the Supervisory Board to be able to hand over leadership of the Consumer Health business and leave the company effective March 31, 2018. Schipper is Deputy Executive Vice President of Nestle S.A. (NSRGY) and a member of its Executive Board based in Vevey, Switzerland. He is Head of Nestle Nutrition.

06:05 EDT Capital One reports October net charge-offs 4.70% - Reports October 30-plus day performing delinquencies 4.13%

06:01 EDT Clean Energy awarded renewable natural gas fueling contract from DFW - Clean Energy announced at the Airports Going Green 2017 conference, that host airport Dallas Fort Worth International Airport awarded Clean Energy a renewable natural gas fueling contract for the airport's vehicle fleet. The contract calls for Clean Energy to provide the airport with its Redeem brand of RNG, the first renewable and commercially available vehicle fuel made entirely from 100% organic waste. The use of RNG has the potential to reduce DFW fleet emissions by approximately 70%. In addition to the fueling agreement, Clean Energy and DFW extended the current operations and maintenance agreement for the airport's public natural gas fueling stations. The contract stations dispense approximately 2 million gasoline gallon equivalents each year.

05:59 EDT Alkermes says study comparing Vivitrol and Suboxone published in Lancet - Alkermes last night announced that results from a National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded study were published in The Lancet, comparing extended-release Vivitrol and Suboxone, two options for opioid dependence. "This is the second study published in the past month comparing these two medications and it provides additional evidence supporting the use of VIVITROL as an effective treatment option for patients. Against the backdrop of a national opioid crisis, Medication-Assisted Treatment is substantially underutilized. Data from the study reinforce the value of MAT and the distinct differences between two important options for this devastating disease," the company said in a statement. Richard Pops, CEO of Alkermes, added, "These data confirm and build on the body of evidence supporting the value of Medication-Assisted Treatment, and VIVITROL is an important element of the nation's response to treating opioid dependence. Addiction is a highly complex disease, and no single treatment option is right for all patients. In order to address this epidemic, the treatment system for opioid addiction must evolve to embrace data-driven, patient-centered care customized to the clinical needs of each individual. We remain committed to working alongside healthcare providers, policymakers and public health officials to ensure access to all FDA-approved medications for this underserved population. Patients need greater access to medicines that work."

05:50 EDT Boeing, flydubai sign deal for 225 737 MAX airplanes - Boeing and flydubai signed a landmark agreement today for 225 737 MAX airplanes with a list price value of $27B. The deal represents the largest-ever single-aisle jet order - by number of airplanes and total value - from a Middle East carrier. Signed at the 2017 Dubai Airshow in flydubai's hometown, the agreement includes a commitment for 175 MAX airplanes, and purchase rights for 50 additional MAXs. When finalized, the purchase promises to sustain tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Boeing's U.S. factories and network of suppliers. More than 50 of the first 175 airplanes will be 737 MAX 10s, the newest and largest member of the 737 MAX family. The MAX 10 will have the lowest seat-mile cost of any single-aisle airplane ever produced. flydubai said the balance of the initial airplane order will be made up of the popular MAX 8 and MAX 9, giving the carrier a family of airplanes with high commonality and low operating costs. This new deal surpasses the flydubai's previous record order of 75 MAXs and 11 Next-Generation 737-800s which was signed at the 2013 Dubai Airshow.

05:42 EDT Amazon Canada launches Prime Music - Amazon Canada announces the launch of Prime Music, making it possible for all Amazon Prime members in Canada to listen to more than one million songs, on-demand by chart-topping artists, along with hundreds of hand-curated playlists and personalized stations. Now included with every new and existing Prime membership, customers in Canada can begin streaming Prime Music today within the Amazon Music app for iOS, Android, Mac, PC, Fire TV Stick Basic Edition and on any Web browser.

05:39 EDT AerCap, EGYPTAIR reach agreement on lease of six 787-9 aircraft - AerCap Holdings and EGYPTAIR announced they have reached agreement on the long-term operating lease of six Boeing 787-9 aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce engines. These aircraft are from AerCap's order book with Boeing and are scheduled to deliver in 2019.

05:28 EDT Ansys acquires 3DSIM, terms not disclosed - ANSYS announced that it has acquired 3DSIM, the developer of premier additive manufacturing simulation technology. The acquisition of 3DSIM gives ANSYS the industry's only complete additive manufacturing simulation workflow. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

05:17 EDT GulfMark Offshore completes restructuring plan, emerges from Chapter 11 - GulfMark Offshore announced that it has completed its financial restructuring plan and emerged from bankruptcy protection under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The company's court-approved Plan of Reorganization went into effect today, November 14, 2017. The Plan converts approximately $429.6M of outstanding bonds into equity, and raises approximately $125M of new equity capital. Upon emergence, the existing shares of GulfMark common stock outstanding prior to the reorganization were cancelled and GulfMark will issue approximately 7M shares of new common stock, approximately 3M warrants exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price per share of $0.01 and 810,811 warrants exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price per share of $100.00. The holders of Legacy Common Stock as of the effective date of the Plan will receive 0.00271233 shares of New Common Stock and 0.02931672 Existing Equity Warrants for each share of Legacy Common Stock held by them and cancelled in connection with the reorganization, subject to rounding. The New Common Stock and the Existing Equity Warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE American under the ticker "GLF" and "GLF WS," respectively, and are expected to begin trading on November 15. Holders of Bonds who are U.S. Citizens will receive 8.29764454 shares of New Common Stock for every $1,000 of Bonds owned. Subject to certain exceptions, non-U.S. Citizen Bond holders will receive 8.29764454 of Jones Act Warrants for every $1,000 of Bonds owned. In addition, holders of Bonds that participated in our rights offering received New Common Stock or Jones Act Warrants according to their participation therein, as further described in the Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of GulfMark, filed with the SEC as Exhibit 2.1 to our Form 8-K filed on May 18. In addition, our subsidiary, GulfMark Rederi AS entered into an agreement with DNB Bank ASA, New York Branch, as agent, DNB Capital LLC as revolving lender and as swingline lender, and certain funds managed by Hayfin Capital Management LLP as term lenders, providing for two credit facilities: a senior secured revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility") and a senior secured term loan facility. The Revolving Credit Facility provides for loans of up to $25M, including a $12.5M swingline loan subfacility and a $5M letter of credit subfacility. The Term Loan Facility provides a $100M term loan, which has been funded in full. The Revolving Credit Facility is available in U.S. dollars, Norwegian krone, British pounds sterling, and Euros. The final maturity date for the Facilities is November 14, 2022. Our previously outstanding credit facilities have been repaid and terminated.