Stockwinners Market Radar for May 11, 2018 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

18:01 EDT Boston Scientific announces data demonstrating success of SMART Pass - Boston Scientific announced results from an analysis of the LATITUDE database which evaluated the successful reduction of inappropriate shocks using the SMART Pass sensing filter in patients implanted with the EMBLEM Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator System. The real-world data were presented during a late-breaking clinical trial at Heart Rhythm 2018, the Heart Rhythm Society's 39th Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston, and demonstrated that when the sensing filter was in use, the rate of inappropriate shocks was reduced to 4.3% at one year. The analysis was also published online today in the Heart Rhythm Journal. The SMART Pass sensing filter is an advanced algorithm within the EMBLEM S-ICD System that filters out certain signals that are the primary reason for inappropriate shocks, while maintaining the ability to accurately detect ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation and deliver lifesaving therapy. Study authors evaluated the effect of SMART Pass on shocks in ambulatory patients and found that the filter reduced the risk for the first inappropriate shock by 50% and the risk for all inappropriate shocks by 68%, without a negative impact on delivery of appropriate shocks.

17:21 EDT Medtronic 'encouraged' by MARVEL study results - Medtronic announced new clinical study results demonstrating that an investigational algorithm, utilizing the accelerometer signal in the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System may restore AV synchrony, improving cardiac function in patients with sinus rhythm and atrioventricular block. The results from the MARVEL feasibility study were presented today during a late-breaking session at Heart Rhythm 2018, the Heart Rhythm Society's 39th Annual Scientific Sessions, and simultaneously published in Heart Rhythm. "The results of MARVEL indicate that this novel mechanical sensor may allow more patients to benefit from a miniaturized leadless pacemaker," said Larry Chinitz, M.D., MARVEL study principal investigator and cardiac electrophysiologist and director of NYU Langone's Heart Rhythm Center in New York City. "Although single-chamber pacing in the ventricle is quite safe for these patients, the preferred option is to treat them with a wired pacemaker in two chambers to maintain synchrony and cardiac function. However, patients with these traditional pacemakers are at risk of experiencing complications related to the pocket and the leads, and leadless pacemakers remove these risks." "We are encouraged by the results of MARVEL, which support our commitment to extending the benefits of Micra TPS to broader patient groups," said Rob Kowal, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and chief medical officer of the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. "We are investing in additional clinical studies to confirm this accelerometer-based leadless pacing approach will benefit patients with AV block who make up approximately 40 percent of the pacemaker population worldwide."

17:09 EDT Integrated Core Strategies reports 5.1% passive stake in Taylor Morrison

17:03 EDT Stonepine Capital reports 5.2% passive stake in SteadyMed

16:49 EDT Yuma Energy actively seeking strategic alternatives - Yuma Energy announced that it is actively seeking strategic alternatives and provided information related to its liquidity and operations. The Company also reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Yuma is currently exploring strategic alternatives in order to enhance and maximize shareholder value. These strategic alternatives may include, but are not limited to, a business combination, a merger, sale of assets, and possible capital market transactions. Yuma will thoroughly evaluate all opportunities and third-party proposals, if any, and will aggressively pursue options which are intended to add incremental shareholder value relative to its continued standalone activities.

16:39 EDT Clear Channel Outdoor to delay filing quarterly report on Form 10-Q - As previously reported on a Form 12b-25, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings was unable to file its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 within the prescribed period due to a delay in completion of the financial statements of Clear Media Limited, an indirect, non-wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company whose ordinary shares are listed, but are currently suspended from trading, on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Company determined that it was necessary and prudent to delay the filing of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018 to allow management to focus on completing the Annual Report. Due to the competing demands on management, the delay in filing the Form 10-Q could not be avoided.

16:21 EDT Boxer Capital reports 9.6% passive stake in Esperion

16:19 EDT Regions Financial CFO sells 46,374 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Regions Financial CFO David J. Turner, Jr. disclosed the sale of 46,374 common shares of the company at a price of $19.3393 per share.

16:15 EDT Manhattan Associates CFO sells 16,280 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Manhattan Associates EVP, CFO and Treasurer Dennis B. Story disclosed the sale of 16,280 common shares of the company at a price of $43.127 per share.

16:06 EDT Kimberly-Clark names Kim Underhill the president of Kimberly-Clark North America - Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced executive leadership changes to sharpen its focus on executing its global business plan. Kim Underhill, President of Kimberly-Clark Professional, has been named Group President Kimberly-Clark North America. In her new role, Underhill will lead Kimberly-Clark's nearly $8 billion North American consumer business, with trusted brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, Cottonelle, and Depend. Underhill is succeeding Larry Allgaier who has announced his intent to pursue opportunities outside of the company.

16:05 EDT Perrigo does not expect to meet ProAir generic Q4 launch goal

15:57 EDT RAIT Financial trading resumes

15:40 EDT Teleflex sees avg organic constant currency revenue up 6%-7% per year in FY19-21 - Comments from the company's presentation slides accompanying the annual Investor Day earlier today. Reference Link

15:05 EDT Express Scripts says Trump 'rightly recognizes' drug companies charge too much - Express Scripts released a statement in response to the Administration's announcement today on prescription drug costs: "President Trump rightly recognizes drug companies charge way too much, and their prices need to come down. Express Scripts leads the way in reining in costs and improving care. By taking on tough challenges, we helped employers save $32 billion on their prescription drug bill in 2017 alone. We take decisive action to improve affordability and access for the 83 million Americans we serve. For more than 30 years, Express Scripts has been a champion in the fight to lower drug costs. Express Scripts stands up to drug companies and drug stores to make sure that everyone - patients, employers, health plans, unions and public programs - get a fair deal for the money they spend. It is clear, based on today's comments, that our role has never been more important to improving healthcare. In particular we were pleased that the Administration recognized and endorsed policies that we have advocated for over the years, including increasing access to biosimilars, increasing the number of generic drugs available, and eliminating gag clauses and clawbacks -- anti-patient practices that we do not engage in. We look forward to working with the Administration to enact pro-patient, pro-payer policies."

15:01 EDT Convergys jumps 13% after WSJ says in talks with potential buyers

14:24 EDT Fondren Management raises Harte-Hanks stake to 8.3% to 7.2%

14:17 EDT Express Scripts drops as President Trump discusses plans to lower drug prices - Shares of Express Scripts are down about 1%, or 76c, to $70.19 as President Trump makes a speech about drug prices from the White House.

14:13 EDT Trump says 'very much eliminating the middlemen' in drug supply chain - President Donald Trump is speaking from the White House about his administration's proposals to lower drug prices. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, include Express Scripts (ESRX), CVS Health (CVS) and UnitedHealth's (UNH) Optum Rx. Publicly traded drug makers include AstraZeneca (AZN), Bristol-Myers (BMY), Eli Lilly (LLY), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Merck (MRK), Novartis (NVS), Pfizer (PFE), Roche (RHHBY) and Sanofi (SNY).

13:50 EDT Senator Wyden opens probe into Novartis over Cohen payments - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, wrote a letter to Novartis CEO Vasant Narasimhan that he is launching an investigation into Novartis' $1.2M in payments to President Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Wyden said that such payments were made while the company was negotiating novel payment arrangements with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for a cnacer therapy priced at nearly $500,000, and at the same time the company was seeking approval from the FDA for this new therapy, Kymriah, which has been a key source of revenue for the company's line of oncology drugs. The letter notes that, while the payments to Cohen's firm were being made soo that Cohen "could advise the company" about how the Trump administration might look at certain U.S. healthcare policy matters, Novartis' in-house lobbyists were meeting with the White House, FDA, CMS, and other Trump administration agencies regarding a wide range of issues. The Committee requested in the letter that Novartis provide a variety of documents and answer a series of questions no later than June 5, 2018. Such documents include any contracts with Essential Consultants, Cohen, or any other entities involved; various payment details; copies of lobbying contracts; anything that explains the internal approval process for the contract with Cohen or his firm; something explaining why Novartis decided to engage with Cohen; all communications between the comapny and Cohen, his firm, and/or any other entities involved; all internal and external communications on the matter; any and all external communications between Novartis and the White House or any White House agencies; and copies of any documents supplied by Novartis to the DOJ or any law enforcement agency related to this matter. Reference Link

13:03 EDT Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count up 13 to 1,045 rigs - Baker Hughes reports the U.S. rig count is up 13 rigs from last week to 1,045, with oil rigs up 10 to 844, gas rigs up 3 to 199, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2.

12:59 EDT Newtek Business Services raises dividend to 42c from 40c per share - Newtek Business Services announced that its board of directors declared a second quarter 2018 cash dividend of 42c per share. The second quarter dividend is payable on June 29 to shareholders of record as of June 15. The company also reiterated its 2018 annual cash dividend forecast of $1.701 per share, which would represent a 3.7% increase over the company's 2017 annual dividend of $1.64 per share. Newtek previously declared a first quarter 2018 cash dividend of 40c per share.

12:31 EDT Glass Lewis urges HomeStreet shareholders to vote for company's nominees - HomeStreet, the parent company of HomeStreet Bank, announced that Glass Lewis & Co., an independent proxy voting advisory firm, has recommended that shareholders vote on the WHITE proxy card in support of the company's director nominees, Scott M. Boggs, Douglas I. Smith and Mark R. Patterson, and DO NOT VOTE on Roaring Blue Lion's card. Glass Lewis also recommended shareholders vote FOR all three of the Company's proposals Mark K. Mason, President and CEO of HomeStreet, said, "We are pleased that Glass Lewis recommended shareholders support HomeStreet's highly-qualified nominees, Scott M. Boggs, Douglas I. Smith and Mark R. Patterson. Notably, Glass Lewis specifically highlights the qualifications of our directors, the merits of our strategic plan and the myriad ways in which the activist's criticisms of HomeStreet are lacking. We look forward to continuing to make our case to shareholders in advance of the Annual Meeting."

12:04 EDT Cooper Tire supports 5-yr mid-term operating profit growth of 10%-14% - At its Investor Day in New York today, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company outlined strategies for continued shareholder value creation. Management detailed plans to support five-year mid-term targets for operating profit of 10%-14% as well as annual unit volume growth in the low- to mid-single digits and return on invested capital of 14%-16% percent. Cooper is implementing strategic initiatives to leverage its strong position with consumers, who have increased knowledge and power in the tire business. The company is enhancing its focus on fast- growing premium product lines, accelerating the cadence of new product introductions, such as its upcoming AT3 tire line, and enhancing consumer involvement in product development and testing. At the same time, Cooper is also focused on maximizing its core positions in the independent dealer and national and regional retail channels by enhancing distributor programs and strengthening partnerships. In addition, Cooper is focused on increasing its presence in the fastest-growing sales channels, including mass merchandisers, auto dealers and e-commerce. In Asia, Cooper is focused on continuing to build its OE business. In China, the company has fitments on 47 platforms including five of the top-10 selling SUVs in 2017. In the global OE market, Cooper has established a partnership with Volkswagen and is finalizing collaboration with a premium European auto maker. The company's OE business gives Cooper early product development insight into changing tire requirements driven by the latest vehicle designs, technologies and trends, as well as strengthens the Cooper brand among consumers and retailers. Recent consolidation in tire distribution is disrupting the industry landscape. Management believes that such disruption presents opportunity for Cooper. The company is in a position to benefit as changes in distribution entities pressure long-standing relationships between distributors and tire manufacturers. Cooper's core strengths, including brand equity, quality products, and strategic relationships with national and regional distributors, will allow the company to harness certain opportunities and Cooper is actively pursuing a joint action plan with key distributors and a conquest plan to increase its associate dealer program exposure and participation.

11:51 EDT Telecom Argentina trading halted, news pending

10:41 EDT Box Office Battle: 'Infinity War' expected to threepeat this weekend - Disney's (DIS) "Avengers: Infinity War," which is already the thirteenth highest grossing global release of all time, passing "The Fate of the Furious," is expected to earn around another $62M domestically in its third weekend at theaters, bringing it to $550M domestically by the end of the weekend. The superhero spectacular is also opening this weekend in China, where it is expected to top $100M for the weekend. This weekend's two major releases are likely to be fighting for second place. They are Time Warner's (TWX) New Line Cinema's comedy "Life of the Party," starring Melissa McCarthy, and Comcast (CMCAS, CMCSK) subsidiary Universal's thriller "Breaking In," starring Gabrielle Union. "Life of the Party," which is playing in 3,656 theaters, is expected to open at about $21M, while "Breaking In," which is playing at 2,537 theaters, is expected to open in the range of $17M-$20M. Lionsgate (LGF.A, LGF.B) backed Pantelion Films' romantic comedy "Overboard," starring Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, and Eva Longoria, is expected to earn an additional $9M in its second weekend at theaters. Other publicly traded companies in filmmaking include 21st Century Fox (FOX, FOXA), Sony (SNE), and Viacom (VIA, VIAB).

10:33 EDT The Intersection: Crypto and Wall Street This Week - As bitcoin, ethereum and other cryptocurrencies get increasing attention from investors, Wall Street and its traditional banks continue to adjust to the shift. Catch up on this week's top stories highlighting the intersection of these old guard and new school areas of finance with this recap compiled by The Fly: 1. FACEBOOK FORMS BLOCKCHAIN TEAM: David Marcus, the Facebook (FB) executive who has recently been running the company's standalone Messenger app, is leaving Messenger to head a new internal team dedicated to exploring blockchain, Recode reported Tuesday. The team will be small at first, with fewer than a dozen people, but will include several key Instagram executives who are moving over to join the former Messenger boss. 2. ICE DEVELOPS BITCOIN TRADING PLATFORM: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, has been developing a trading platform that would enable investors to bet on bitcoin, Bloomberg reported Monday. The exchange operator has held talks with other financial firms about the project but could still decide to scrap its plans, according to two people familiar with the matter. 3. S. KOREAN AUTHORITIES RAID CRYPTOEXCHANGE: South Korean prosecutors searched the offices of Upbit, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Bloomberg reported Friday. An official from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office declined to provide additional details on the raid. "Upbit is currently under investigation by prosecutors and is cooperating," the exchange said, adding that services like transactions and withdrawals were not impacted and client assets were safe. 4. BUFFETT BASHES BITCOIN: In a Monday CNBC interview, billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK. B) chairman Warren Buffett said bitcoin is "rat poison squared" and buyers of the cryptocurrency hope they'll find others to pay more for it. Charlie Munger, Buffett's longtime business partner and Berkshire's vice chairman, said he views bitcoin as "worthless artificial gold," and compared it to Oscar Wilde's description of fox hunting, calling it "the pursuit of the uneatable by the unspeakable." Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder and Berkshire board member Bill Gates also chimed in, saying he would bet against bitcoin if he could. "As an asset class, you're not producing anything and so you shouldn't expect it to go up. It's kind of a pure 'greater fool theory' type of investment," he said. 5. CRYPTO BELIEVERS HIT BACK: In a Wednesday CNBC interview, Social Capital's (IPOA) Chamath Palihapitiya said he is a Buffett "disciple" but he sees bitcoin as a replacement for gold. "Not everybody is right all the time," he said, adding technology knowledge is not in Buffett's "circle of competence." Palihapitiya also said bitcoin is important as it's not correlated to the rest of the market and he views it as a hedge to the "traditional financial infrastructure." Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of cryptoexchange Gemini, fired back at Gates on Monday tweeting, "Dear @BillGates there is an easy way to short bitcoin. You can short #XBT, the @CBOE Bitcoin Futures contract, and put your money where your mouth is!" 6. NVIDIA FORECASTS CRYPTO REVENUE DROP: Nvidia (NVDA) had an elevated number of cryptocurrency clients and fewer than expected cloud computing orders in the first quarter but said a supply shortage that hit its core video game audience has eased. The company, which reported $289M in sales from chips for mining cryptocurrencies, expects crypto-related revenue to drop 65% to about $100M in the next quarter. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said, "While supply was tight earlier in the quarter, the situation is now easing. Gamers who had been priced out of the market last quarter" were able to get new chips a reasonable price. Following Nvidia's Q1 announcement, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore said, "Cryptocurrency mining continues to inject noise into an overall very strong growth story, but it should be cleaned up in the next couple of quarters while numbers keep going up." CRYPTO STOCK PLAYS: Cryptocurrency revenues have been pointed to as reasons to be bullish on Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia in select research. Overstock (OSTK), DPW Holdings (DPW), Long Blockchain (LBCC), Kodak (KODK), Seven Stars Cloud Group (SSC), Riot Blockchain (RIOT), Pareteum (TEUM) and Social Reality (SRAX) are other stocks that have been touted, or promoted themselves, as a way to play the crypto theme PRICE ACTION: As of time of writing, bitcoin dropped roughly 10.5% this week to $8,593 in U.S. dollars according to CoinDesk. WANT BITCOIN NEWS ALERTS?: To receive alerts on stories relating to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, Fly subscribers can enter "Bitcoin" into the "Add symbols" box of their portfolios.

10:22 EDT General Motors reports plan to return GM Korea to profitability by 2019 - GM Korea Company announced a "robust business plan that is intended to return the company to profitability by 2019," reported General Motors. "This viability plan will be underpinned by a record $2.8 billion investment in two new global vehicle programs and a deep partnership among major shareholders, the workforce and the Korean government. Additionally, GM and the KDB have agreed on a balance sheet restructuring that will allow GM Korea to reduce its existing debt by approximately $2.8 billion. The company's two major shareholders, the Korea Development Bank and General Motors, confirmed their full support of the viability plan by finalizing a breakthrough binding agreement that will help enable a profitable, long term future for GM Korea," GM stated.

10:02 EDT Spirit Airlines to partner with Thales Group for in-flight Wi-Fi - Spirit Airlines announced it is signing an agreement to install Wi-Fi on all of its planes by summer 2019. "Spirit Airlines Wi-Fi technology partner, Thales Group, a global technology leader for decisive moments in aerospace, defense and security, and transportation markets, is bringing the high-end Ka-band HTS system onboard the aircraft... In 2021, the state-of-the-art technology will get even better, with the launch of SES-17, a new satellite operated by SES and built by Thales Alenia Space, which will increase speeds and coverage to an unprecedented level in the industry. Spirit Wi-Fi is projected to provide service coverage immediately for 97% of Spirit's routes upon entry into service...Spirit will offer high-speed web browsing and streaming options starting with an average price of $6.50, with a cost range expected to be lower or higher based on the route and demand," the company stated.

09:22 EDT GameStop drops 5% after resuming trading following news of CEO resignation - GameStop shares are down 68c, or 5.2%, to $12.35 in pre-market trading following news of the resignation of CEO Michael Mauler.

09:19 EDT Total, Sonatrach launch engineering studies for petrochemical project in Arzew - As part of the comprehensive partnership announced in 2017, Total has signed an agreement with Sonatrach to launch the engineering studies for a petrochemical project in Arzew, western Algeria. The project includes a propane dehydrogenation unit and a polypropylene production unit with an output capacity of 550,000 tons per year. The project represents an investment of around $1.4B by the two partners, who are planning to start the front-end engineering and design this summer, subject to approval by the relevant Algerian regulatory authorities. The facility will valorize propane, produced in large quantities locally, by transforming it into polypropylene, a plastic for which demand is growing strongly. It will supply in priority the local and Mediterranean demand and Total will be responsible for the commercialization of the rest of the production in Europe, where it will leverage its market expertise to the benefit of both partners.

09:16 EDT Immersion announces cooperation agreement with VIEX Capital Advisors - Immersion has entered into a cooperation agreement with VIEX Capital Advisors and its affiliates, which, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 7.7% of Immersion's outstanding common stock. Under the terms of the agreement, Immersion has agreed to nominate to its Board of Directors, and Immersion and VIEX have agreed to support the election of a new independent director, Kenneth Traub, at Immersion's 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Under the terms of the cooperation agreement, VIEX and its affiliates have agreed to vote their shares in support of the election of Traub. The complete agreement between Immersion and VIEX and its affiliates will be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fenwick & West LLP served as legal advisor to Immersion. Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP served as legal advisor to VIEX.

09:14 EDT GameStop CEO Michael Mauler resigns, Daniel DeMatteo appointed interim CEO

09:06 EDT Park-Ohio names Matthew Crawford CEO - The Board of Directors of Park-Ohio Holdings announced that the company's Board of Directors has elected Matthew Crawford chairman and CEO, effective immediately. Edward Crawford was elected president and will remain as a member of the Board of Directors. Matthew Crawford has served as president and COO of Holdings and its operating subsidiary, Park-Ohio Industries, since 2003 and as a director since 1997.

09:01 EDT Nucor to build galvanizing line at Arkansas sheet mill - Nucor's Board of Directors approved the construction of a galvanizing line at the company's sheet mill in Arkansas to support Nucor's growth into a wider and more diverse set of strategic end-market applications. The new galvanizing line is a $240M investment with an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 tons. It is expected to be operational in the first half of 2021. This project complements the $230M investment currently underway to construct a specialty cold mill complex at Nucor Steel Arkansas. These projects are important components of Nucor's long-term strategy for profitable growth and will accelerate the company's goal of increasing its automotive market share. The company is also evaluating building additional galvanizing lines at its other sheet mills as part of Nucor's initiative to further expand its sheet business.

08:56 EDT GameStop trading halted, news pending

08:38 EDT IsoRay announces upcoming release of Build-Blu delivery system - IsoRay announced the upcoming release of its Build-Blu delivery system for real-time prostate brachytherapy. The Build-Blu delivery system is a disposable, next-generation, seed stranding device that will allow prostate brachytherapists to affordably build custom-configured strands with Cesium-131 in the operating room, thereby allowing clinicians to individualize the procedure to the patient's anatomy in real time. This new product will provide an alternative solution to the approximately 25% of treatment facilities for the prostate market that are using intra-operative techniques.

08:34 EDT AirMedia receives minimum bid price notice from NASDAQ - AirMedia received a notification letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department on May 8 notifying the company that the minimum bid price per ADS, each representing two ordinary shares of the company, was below $1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days. The company has a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until November 5, to regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement. In the event that the company does not regain compliance by November 5, the company may transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market where it may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar day compliance period if it meets the initial listing requirements, with the exception of bid price, of the Nasdaq Capital Market, and provides written notice to Nasdaq of its intention to cure the deficiency.

08:16 EDT Voya Financial to acquire Pen-Cal Administrators, terms not disclosed - Voya Financial announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Pen-Cal Administrators. As a result of the transaction, Pen-Cal will become part of Voya's Retirement business operating unit. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and are not material to Voya's financial position. Through this deal, nonqualified services will be available across all of Voya's 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plan markets and offered as an integrated solution when Voya is administering an employer's core defined contribution retirement plan. These best-in-class services will also be available when an employer is looking for nonqualified plan support on a stand-alone basis. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to customary closing conditions. As part of the arrangement, Pen-Cal will re-brand to Voya and clients will have access to an integrated enrollment and website experience.

08:04 EDT Advaxis says data shows potential of ADXS-NEO as anti-cancer immunotherapy agent - Advaxis (ADXS) provides an update on recently presented preclinical data demonstrating the anti-cancer potential of their Lm vector that presents tumor neoantigens, and is being evaluated in the ADXS-NEO program. ADXS-NEO is derived from the Company's proprietary Lm Technology and is being developed in partnership with Amgen (AMGN). These preclinical findings were discussed in poster presentations at the recent American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Additionally, portions of these data were presented by Amgen at a podium presentation during the European Neoantigen Summit 2018. The first study, as discussed in a poster presentation at AACR entitled "Neoantigens that fail to elicit measurable T cell responses following peptide immunization can control tumor growth when delivered using a Listeria-based immunotherapy platform," showed that ADXS-NEO generates T cell responses against neoantigen peptides that control tumor growth, even when they were identified as "non-immunogenic" using a conventional peptide-adjuvant immunization. In the second study, discussed in a poster presentation at AACR entitled "Targeting frameshift mutations with a Listeria monocytogenes immunotherapy drives neoantigen-specific antitumor immunity in MC38 and CT26 mouse tumor models," Advaxis' Lm platform was shown to target frameshift mutations and generate T cells to multiple neoantigens per frameshift in MC38 and CT26 mouse tumor models.

08:01 EDT VICI Properties files resale shelf registration statement - VICI Properties announced that it has filed a resale shelf registration statement on Form S-11 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to approximately 54.1 million shares of its common stock held by certain of its investors. This resale shelf registration statement, which may be used from time to time by these investors, has been filed pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into by the Company in connection with its private placement completed in December 2017. To the extent any sales of common stock are made under the resale shelf registration statement, the Company will not receive any proceeds. The resale shelf registration statement has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective.

07:49 EDT Boston Scientific pelvic mesh lawsuits to be highlighted by 60 Minutes - In a preview of its Sunday, May 13 broadcast, CBS' 60 Minutes stated that Scott Pelley will have a report on the 48,000 American women suing Boston Scientific over gynecological mesh in "what has become the largest multi-district litigation since asbestos." Reference Link

07:34 EDT Arrowhead presents preclinical data on expanding cardiometabolic pipeline - Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals announced the presentation of new preclinical data on its expanding pipeline of RNA interference therapeutics for cardiometabolic diseases, including ARO-ANG3, which targets angiopoietin-like protein 3, and ARO-APOC3, which targets apolipoprotein C-III. The invited lecture, titled "The promise of RNA interference as a therapeutic approach for treatment of cardiovascular diseases," was presented at the Vascular Discovery: From Genes to Medicine - Scientific Sessions 2018, a symposium organized by the American Heart Association. Arrowhead intends to file clinical trial applications (CTA) for ARO-ANG3 and ARO-APOC3 before the end of 2018. In the presentation, Dr. Given discussed the recent progress achieved using RNA interference as a therapeutic modality for the development of new drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases. The new preclinical data presented on ARO-APOC3 and ARO-ANG3 included the following:: A single 2 mg/kg dose of ARO-APOC3 in ApoC3 transgenic mice led to the following observations: Serum ApoC3 levels were reduced by approximately 90%, maximum knockdown was sustained for over three weeks. the lipid profiles improved with large reductions in serum triglycerides and cholesterol and large increases in HDL and in dose ranging studies of ARO-ANG3 in wild type mice, reductions in serum ANGPTL3 and liver mRNA were similar, indicating that the observed knockdown of serum ANGPTL3 is a direct result of the expected RNAi effect. The following mouse disease models were also interrogated: LDL receptor knock-out mice, leptin receptor defective db/db mice and diet-induced obese mice. A single 3 mg/kg dose in LDLr-/- mice and in db/db mice led to: a maximum reduction of ANGPTL3 of 98% and substantial decreases in serum triglycerides and LDL. A single 3 mg/kg dose in DIO mice led to: a maximum reduction of ANGPTL3 of 99.7% and approximately 50-60% reductions in serum triglycerides and LDL.

07:29 EDT Barclays CEO Staley charged with financial penalties by FCA, PRA - As previously reported by Barclays April 20, the FCA and PRA had issued confidential draft warning notices to Jes Staley, Group Chief Executive Officer of Barclays, in relation to an attempt by Staley in 2016 to identify the author of an anonymous letter. The bank reports that these regulatory processes have now concluded, and today the FCA and PRA have published final notices confirming their finding that Staley's actions in relation to this matter represented a breach of Individual Conduct Rule 2, a requirement to act with due skill, care and diligence. The FCA and PRA have imposed financial penalties on Staley of GBP 321,200 and GBP 321,230 respectively, or in aggregate GBP 642,430. There were no findings by the FCA or PRA that Staley acted with a lack of integrity nor any findings that he lacks fitness and propriety to continue to perform his role as Group CEO. Following the resolution of the FCA and PRA processes, the Barclays Board has determined to reduce the awarded value of Staley's variable compensation for 2016 by GBP 500,000 in respect of this matter. John McFarlane, the Chairman of Barclays, said: "The Board takes Barclays' culture and the integrity of its controls extremely seriously. The Group's whistleblowing processes are fundamental to ensuring that individuals feel comfortable raising concerns and are encouraged to do so. Having considered the findings of the FCA and PRA, the Board remains satisfied with its conclusions as set out in the Group's announcement of 10 April 2017. Accordingly, the Board has now confirmed its decision of April 2017 and has made a very significant adjustment to Jes's variable compensation on the recommendation of the Board Remuneration Committee. The Board is pleased that the FCA and PRA's investigations have concluded and are now behind us. The Board has reiterated its support for Jes, as have shareholders at last week's Annual General Meeting. As a business, we remain focused on executing our strategy and delivering greater returns for shareholders."

07:08 EDT SJW Corp. sends shareholder letter regarding Connecticut Water merger - SJW (SJW) announced that its board will be sending a letter to its fellow SJW Group stockholders regarding SJW Group's Merger of Equals with Connecticut Water (CTWS). The letter reads: "We are excited about the progress we have made towards completing the merger of equals with Connecticut Water Service, Inc. ("Connecticut Water"), which is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2018. We have already achieved significant momentum toward closing, including important federal anti-trust clearance, the filing of our applications with Connecticut and Maine public utility regulators, and progress in merger integration and transition planning. Our combined company will have the scale, geographic diversity, and financial strength to deliver what we believe will be immediate and long-term value to our stockholders. In the near future, you will be asked to vote at a Special Meeting of Stockholders to support our merger with Connecticut Water. This proposed combination of our two companies deserves your support. In addition to generating attractive value for stockholders, the merger will provide significant benefits to customers, all employees and the communities that we serve. As you might have heard, California Water Service Group ("Cal Water") has made an unsolicited, non-binding indication of interest to acquire our company for $68.25 per share in cash. Our Board of Directors carefully evaluated the non-binding indication and unanimously rejected it as neither a superior proposal nor reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal. The Board also unanimously reaffirmed its commitment to the merger of equals with Connecticut Water. Now, Cal Water has embarked upon an expensive and ill-advised campaign to break up our merger of equals by asking you to vote against the transaction. Here are the facts. Our merger of equals with Connecticut Water offers meaningful opportunities to generate not only immediate shareholder value, but value well into the future through: Highly attractive earnings and growth accretion. Demonstrated track records by both companies of producing meaningful total shareholder return (share price appreciation + dividends). A strong balance sheet that enhances financial flexibility to increase growth. A solid credit profile that supports future share repurchase. Enhanced equity value from the formation of a leading pure play national water company. Continued investment in a company that cares about the environment for our communities, customers and employees. In contrast, Cal Water's inferior non-binding indication asks you to forgo these compelling opportunities. How? Under Cal Water's non-binding indication you would receive cash for your stock. That means you would no longer be an SJW Group stockholder and would have no opportunity to share in what we believe is a very bright future for our company. By comparison, the substantial ongoing benefits that will only be available to stockholders in our stock-for-stock merger of equals with Connecticut Water far outweigh Cal Water's non-binding indication. Since Cal Water's non-binding indication is cash-for-stock, it would be a taxable transaction for SJW Group stockholders.1 For many stockholders, once you pay taxes on the transaction, you will have less than $68.25 per share. In contrast, our merger of equals with Connecticut Water is anticipated to be not taxable. Here's an example: Assuming a stockholder has held SJW Group stock for 15 years, that stockholder would have acquired the shares for around $14 each. After paying up to 20 percent capital gains tax on the difference between Cal Water's $68.25 per share and the $14 per share cost basis, the stockholder could be left with only $57 or so in cash per share. Over the past 15 years, SJW Group stockholders have enjoyed a dividend that has increased every year. In fact, SJW Group has paid its stockholders a dividend for the last 74 consecutive years and has increased its annual dividend in each of the last 50 years. Given our dividend track record, we believe SJW Group stockholders are best served by the proposed merger with Connecticut Water rather than trying to find another company in which to invest the money they would have left after paying taxes on the Cal Water non-binding indication. Clearly, we believe the merger of equals with Connecticut Water remains the best choice for SJW Group and its stockholders. This is really a choice between a concrete value-creation opportunity represented by the merger of equals with Connecticut Water versus illusory value and foregone opportunities if you believe Cal Water. In the near future, we will be sending you a detailed proxy statement describing our proposed merger of equals with Connecticut Water along with a GREEN proxy card. You should read the material carefully. We urge you to vote on the GREEN card FOR all proposals related to our merger of equals with Connecticut Water. If you receive any materials from Cal Water, there is no need for action on your part. We recommend that you recycle the white cards and any materials you might receive from Cal Water."

06:41 EDT xG Technology collaborates with K2 Unmanned Systems - xG Technology announced the collaboration between IMT Vislink and K2 Unmanned Systems on the launch of K2's new law enforcement tactical drone, the Knight Hawk. IMT Vislink is providing interoperable, encrypted HD video downlink technology for use with the Knight Hawk, which is the first U.S.-designed and assembled law enforcement tactical UAV.

06:06 EDT Univar expands agreement with BASF to include Care Chemicals - Univar announced the expansion of their agreement with BASF to include the Care Chemicals business for the U.S. Home, Industrial & Institutional, as well as Vehicle Care product lines.

05:20 EDT Symantec opens internal investigation after concerns raised by former employee - Symantec last night in its earnings release announced that the Audit Committee of its board has commenced an internal investigation in connection with concerns raised by a former employee. The Audit Committee has retained independent counsel and other advisors to assist it in its investigation. The company has voluntarily contacted the SEC to advise it that an internal investigation is underway, and the Audit Committee intends to provide additional information to the SEC as the investigation proceeds. Symantec added, "The investigation is in its early stages and the Company cannot predict the duration or outcome of the investigation. The Company's financial results and guidance may be subject to change based on the outcome of the Audit Committee investigation. It is unlikely that the investigation will be completed in time for the Company to file its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 30, 2018 in a timely manner."