Stockwinners Market Radar for September 26, 2018 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:10 EDT Fly Intel: After Hours Movers - HIGHER: Histogenics (HSGX) up 20% after FDA granted type C meeting for NeoCart Phase 3 trial... AutoZone (AZO) up 0.8% after authorizing additional $1.25B stock buyback... Cenovus (CVE) up 0.7% after signing oil transport deal in the Gulf Coast... PayPal (PYPL) up 0.6% after being initiated at Outperform at BMO Capital. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Bed Bath Beyond (BBBY) down 13.7%... Comtech Telecom (CMTL) down 12.1%. ALSO LOWER: Veru (VERU) down 8.8% after equity offering... ChemoCentryx (CCXI) down 7.2% after equity offering... BJ's Wholesale (BJ) down 1.6% after selling holder pricing offering at $26.

18:44 EDT Northrop Grumman names Ann Addison as Chief Human Resources Officer - Northrop Grumman announced that its board of directors has elected Ann Addison corporate vice president and chief human resources officer, effective Jan. 1, 2019. Addison will succeed Denise Peppard, who has announced her intention to retire in March 2019. Addison joins Northrop Grumman from Leidos, where she was executive vice president and chief human resources officer. Addison will join Northrop Grumman on Oct. 22, 2018 in a transitional role as corporate vice president reporting to Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman's incoming chief executive officer. Addison will be a member of the company's corporate policy council.

18:05 EDT Abbott receives CE Mark for first troponin test to help predict chance of heart - Abbott announced that its High Sensitive Troponin-I blood test is the first troponin test with CE Mark that can more accurately predict the chances of having a heart attack or other cardiac event potentially months to years in advance in people who otherwise appear healthy. This life-changing technology has the potential to transform how doctors identify those at risk for developing heart disease because the diagnostic test uses a biomarker specific to the heart. European guidelines currently recommend that doctors look at indirect heart health factors, such as a person's cholesterol levels, blood pressure as well as if they have diabetes or are a smoker, to determine risk for developing heart disease. A substantial body of research has shown that measuring a person's troponin levels using Abbott's High Sensitive Troponin-I test provides better predictive information for determining a person's chances of developing future heart disease when added to the current standard of care.

18:02 EDT TCF Financial raises prime rate to 5.25% from 5.00%, effective September 27

18:01 EDT U.S. Bancorp raises prime lending rate to 5.25% from 5% - U.S. Bancorp announced it has raised its prime lending rate to 5.25% from 5%, effective tomorrow, September 27, 2018, at all U.S. Bank locations.

18:00 EDT Wells Fargo raises prime rate to 5.25% from 5% - Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., said it is increasing its prime rate to 5.25% from 5%, effective tomorrow, Sept. 27, 2018.

17:50 EDT HSBC raises prime, reference rate to 5.25% - HSBC Bank USA and its affiliates announced that they raised their prime and reference rate to 5.25% from 5.00%, effective Thursday, September 27, 2018.

17:41 EDT Citizens Financial raises prime rate to 5.25% - Citizens Financial announced that Citizens Bank, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania have raised their prime lending rates to 5.25% from 5.0%, effective Thursday, September 27, 2018.

17:34 EDT Valmont to acquire assets of New Zealand's CSP Coatings Systems, sees accretion - Valmont Industries announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of CSP Coatings Systems of Auckland, New Zealand. The transaction will be funded with cash on hand, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. After consideration for transaction costs, the company expects to achieve Year 1 EPS accretion of 6c. Founded in 1963, CSP is the most comprehensive steel coating service provider in New Zealand, offering a full range of coatings services, including hot dip galvanizing, zinc metal spraying, painting, and duplex anti-corrosion coatings. With facilities in Auckland and Christchurch, CSP serves a broad base of customers and end markets, and employs approximately 40 people. "The acquisition of CSP advances our strategy of geographic expansion, building on our existing presence in the New Zealand market," said Stephen G. Kaniewski, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The two CSP facilities provide a platform to further leverage our existing galvanizing operation on the North Island, while expanding our footprint to the South Island. In line with our addressable market expansion goals communicated at our 2018 Investor Day, the acquisition of CSP generates growth from an extensive portfolio of coatings services. We are excited to welcome the team to Valmont."

17:25 EDT PNC Financial raises prime lending rate to 5.25% - PNC announced an increase in its prime lending rate. The new rate of 5.25% is effective Sept. 27, 2018.

17:22 EDT Integrated Core Strategies reports 5.7% passive stake in ProPetro Holding

17:13 EDT Boeing awarded $198.9M U.S. Army contract - Boeing was awarded a $198,927,812 firm-fixed-price contract for performance-based logistics support of the Chinook H-47 forward and aft rotor blades and associated containers. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2023.

17:12 EDT Lockheed Martin awarded $1.36B U.S. Air Force contract - Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $1,362,089,314 contract for GPS IIIF Space Vehicles 11 and 12. This contract provides for the non-recurring engineering, space vehicle test bed and simulators, and production of GPS IIIF Space Vehicles 11 and 12 as well as options for the production of up to 22 GPS III Space Vehicles, Space Vehicle storage, and launch and on-orbit support. Work will be performed in Littleton, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2027.

17:06 EDT Deutsche Bank raises prime lending rate to 5.25% - Deutsche Bank announced that its New York Branch, Deutsche Bank New York, and its subsidiary Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas have raised their prime lending from 5.00% to 5.25% effective tomorrow, September 27, 2018.

16:52 EDT Huntington Bancshares increases prime rate to 5.25% - Huntington Bancshares announced that its prime rate is increasing from 5% to 5.25%, effective September 27. The rate was last changed on June 14, when Huntington increased its prime rate from 4.75% to 5%.

16:40 EDT Bed Bath & Beyond: Retail inventory reduction of approximately 1.7% at Q2-end - Says remains on track to reduce YOY inventory by approximately $150M, or 5% at the end of FY18. Capital expenditures of approximately $182M YTD through 2Q18 with approximately 70% related to IT investments.

16:35 EDT Sonic Automotive names David Bruton Smith CEO - Sonic Automotive announced that its board of directors has elected David Bruton Smith as CEO of the Company and Jeff Dyke as President of the company, both effective September 25. Mr. B. Scott Smith, the company's Co-Founder, resigned as CEO and President of the company and as a member of its board of directors, effective September 24, 2018to take on a new role with thecompany and to spend more time with his family after having served for over 21 years as a director and an executive officer of the company. Smith will remain an employee in his capacity as Co-Founder of the company to ensure a smooth leadership transition and to provide strategic advice to the company's leadership team. David Bruton Smith has a more than 20-year tenure with the company, most recently serving as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer of the Company since March 2018. Prior to that appointment, David served as Vice Chairman from March 2013 to March 2018, Executive Vice President from October 2008 to March 2013, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development from March 2007 to October 2008, Vice President of Corporate Strategy from October 2005 to March 2007, and as Dealer Operator and General Manager of several of the Company's dealerships prior to October 2005. David has also served as a member of the Company's board of directors since October 2008.Jeff Dyke has served as Sonic's Executive Vice President of Operations since October 2008, where he has been responsible for direct oversight for all of Sonic's automotive operations. Mr. Dyke joined the Company in October 2005.

16:34 EDT Eagle Pharmaceuticals appoints David Pernock as COO - Eagle Pharmaceuticals has approved the appointment of David Pernock to the position of COO, effective as of September 1. In addition to his new role as COO, Pernock will continue to serve as President. Pernock has served as President and Chief Commercial Officer of the company since January 2017. Previously, he served as a member of Eagle's Board of Directors from April 2015 to January 2017.

16:31 EDT Atento signs strategic agreement with T-Systems - Atento (ATTO) and T-Systems, a Deutsche Telekom (DTEGY) group company with a broad digital portfolio of IT solutions and services, announced a strategic agreement on Atento's data center operations in Brazil. The agreement includes a long-term contract for T-Systems to manage Atento's data centers operations in Brazil for the next 10 years. The agreement is subject to regulatory and customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the operation have not been disclosed.

16:29 EDT Amazon to open Amazon 4-star store in NYC tomorrow - Amazon said that, tomorrow, it is opening Amazon 4-star, a new physical store where everything for sale is rated 4 stars and above, is a top seller, or is new and trending on Amazon.com. The store is located in the New York neighborhood of SoHo, on Spring Street between Crosby and Lafayette Streets. Prime members pay the Amazon.com price in store. "We created Amazon 4-star to be a place where customers can discover products they will love," the company said in a blog post. "Amazon 4-star's selection is a direct reflection of our customers-what they're buying and what they're loving." Reference Link

16:22 EDT Bed Bath & Beyond down 13% to $16.35 after Q2 results miss estimates

16:20 EDT Artesian Resources announces 1.5% increase in common stock dividend - Artesian Resources announced that its board has approved a 1.5% increase in the company's class A and class B Common Stock dividend, raising the annual dividend to 96.92c per share. The quarterly dividend of 24.23c is payable November 21 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 14.

16:19 EDT One Liberty Properties sells land parcel in Illinois for $4.5M gain - One Liberty Properties announced that it sold a land parcel located in Lakemoor, Illinois, which is ground leased to the owner/operators of the multi-family complex located on this parcel. The company purchased this parcel for $9.6M in March 2015 and anticipates that it will recognize, during the three months ending September 30, an approximate $4.5M gain from this sale.

16:16 EDT Jefferson Financial to acquire three Synovus branches in Alabama - Synovus Financial and Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union announced that Synovus Bank, a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp., has entered into a purchase and assumption agreement to sell two branches in Mobile, Alabama, and one branch in Daphne, Alabama, to Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union. The purchase and assumption agreement provides for the transfer by Synovus Bank to Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union of $138M in loans, $107M in deposits, and other assets associated with two Synovus Bank branches located in Mobile, Alabama, and the one Synovus Bank branch located in Daphne, Alabama, in exchange for a deposit premium of $14,500,000. The purchase of the branches is subject to regulatory approval and satisfaction of customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019. The Synovus Bank branches will continue operating as Synovus Bank until the transaction is completed. At that time, the branches will operate under the name of Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union.

16:12 EDT Standard Financial appoints John Kline as Chief Lending Officer of Standard Bank - Standard AVB Financial Corp. announced that, effective September 28, John Kline will be appointed executive VP and Chief Lending Officer of Standard Bank. Kline has spent his entire career in Community and Regional Banks in western PA. He has most recently served as the Commercial Loan Regional Manager/Market Executive for S&T Bank in the Greater Westmoreland Market.

16:11 EDT Hope Bancorp announces new $50M stock buyback program - Hope Bancor announced that its board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program that authorizes the company to repurchase up to $50 million of its common stock.

16:09 EDT FDA grants type C meeting with Histogenics for NeoCart Phase 3 trial - Histogenics announced that the FDA has granted a type C meeting on October 30 to discuss the top-line results from the NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial and Histogenics' planned biologics license application, or BLA, submission. Histogenics submitted its briefing materials regarding the top-line data of the NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial to the FDA in mid-September 2018 and has been working closely with the FDA to schedule the meeting. Histogenics expects to provide an update following this meeting in early November, with meeting minutes expected by late November or early December. During the Q3, Histogenics has sold an aggregate of 3,550,416 shares of common stock in at-the-market offerings pursuant to Histogenics' equity distribution agreement with Canaccord Genuity for aggregate net proceeds of $2.72M after deducting sales agent fees and expenses. Histogenics believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its projected cash needs late into Q4.

16:08 EDT Maxim Integrated urges shareholders to reject mini-tender offer by TRC Capital - Maxim Integrated Products received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by TRC Capital for the purchase of up to 2 million shares of Maxim Integrated common stock at a price of $56.90 per share in cash, which is below the current market price. Maxim Integrated does not endorse TRC Capital's offer and furthermore, recommends that stockholders reject the offer and not tender their shares in response because the offer is at a price below the current market price for Maxim Integrated shares and is subject to several conditions. TRC Capital's offer price is approximately 4.4 percent below the closing share price of Maxim Integrated common stock on September 21, 2018, the last trading day prior to the date the offer commenced. The offer is for less than one percent of the outstanding shares of Maxim Integrated common stock. TRC Capital's offer states that it may terminate or amend the offer if, among other things, the market price of Maxim Integrated stock decreases or TRC Capital fails to obtain necessary financing. Maxim Integrated is not associated with TRC Capital, its offer or the mini-tender offer documentation. Maxim Integrated encourages investors to consult with their broker or financial adviser and exercise caution with respect to TRC Capital's offer. Maxim Integrated stockholders who have already tendered their shares may withdraw them by providing notice in the manner described in the TRC Capital offer documents prior to the expiration of the offer, which is currently scheduled at 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

16:07 EDT Parsley Energy names David Dell'Osso as COO - Parsley Energy announced the appointment of David Dell'Osso as Executive Vice President-COO, effective October 9. Dell'Osso will succeed Matt Gallagher, who will remain President of the company until his previously announced appointment as President and CEO, which is expected to occur on January 1, 2019. Dell'Osso will assume responsibility for company-wide development, production, and engineering functions. Prior to joining Parsley, Dell'Osso was employed by Southwestern Energy Company.

16:05 EDT Hingham Institution declares 3% increase in regular quarterly dividend - Hingham Institution announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 36c per share. This represents an increase of 3% over the previous regular quarterly dividend of 35c per share. The dividend will be paid on October 17, to stockholders of record as of October 9.

16:02 EDT Hologic to acquire Focal Therapeutics for $125M in cash - Hologic announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Focal Therapeutics, a privately-held company, for $125M in cash. In conjunction with Hologic's recent acquisition of Faxitron Bioptics, Focal strengthens the company's position in the rapidly growing market for breast conserving surgery. Focal generated approximately $16M of revenue in the last 12 months. The acquisition, which is expected to close in early October, is estimated to be neutral to Hologic's non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal 2019, and accretive thereafter.

15:53 EDT FS, Anchor Bancorp announces receipt of regulatory approvals for proposed merger - FS Bancorp (FSBW), the parent company of 1st Security Bank of Washington, and Anchor Bancorp (ANCB), the parent company of Anchor Bank, jointly announce that the required regulatory approvals have been received from the Washington Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in connection with the proposed merger of Anchor with and into FS Bancorp as well as the merger of Anchor Bank into 1st Security Bank. The Federal Reserve Board also granted FS Bancorp's requested waiver from its application filing requirements. The completion of the proposed merger remains subject to approval from Anchor shareholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Anchor's special meeting of shareholders is scheduled for November 13 and a proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders on or about October 4.

15:03 EDT First Connecticut stockholders approve acquisition by People's United - Stockholders of First Connecticut Bancorp (FBNK) approved the proposed merger of First Connecticut and People's United Financial (PBCT) pursuant to the previously disclosed agreement and plan of merger, the bank announced. First Connecticut also announced the receipt by First Connecticut and People's United of all required regulatory approvals to move forward with the merger of First Connecticut with and into People's United. The merger remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on October 1, 2018.

14:56 EDT M&T Bank to increase prime lending rate to 5.25% - M&T Bank announced it will increase its prime lending rate from 5.00% to 5.25% effective Thursday, September 27.

14:36 EDT BriaCell initiates combination study of Bria-IMT with Keytruda or Yervoy - BriaCell Therapeutics announced that it has achieved proof of concept in the Phase IIa study of its lead clinical candidate, Bria-IMT, in advanced breast cancer. To further enhance the anti-tumor activity of Bria-IMT, the company said it will focus on the combination study of the candidate with pembrolizumab, or Keytruda, manufactured by Merck (MRK), or ipilimumab, marketed as Yervoy by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY). "We are delighted with these positive clinical findings that confirm our HLA Matching Hypothesis in the Phase I/IIa trial in advanced breast cancer showing significant tumor shrinkage without serious side effects. We believe that combination studies with immune checkpoint inhibitors should create even more potent anti-cancer immune responses, leading to our strategy of combination studies of Bria-IMT with Keytruda or Yervoy," stated BriaCell's President and CEO Bill Williams.

14:13 EDT FirstEnergy settlement agreemtent approved in FES bankruptcy case - FirstEnergy announced that the bankruptcy court has approved the company's definitive settlement agreement in the Chapter 11 proceedings of FirstEnergy Solutions, or FES, its subsidiaries and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, or FENOC. The definitive settlement agreement was filed with the bankruptcy court in the FES Chapter 11 proceeding in late August and approved on September 25. Parties to the settlement include FirstEnergy, the Debtors, the Ad Hoc Noteholders Group, the Bruce Mansfield Certificateholders Group and the Unsecured Creditors Committee.

13:45 EDT Spartan Emergency Response, Calgary Fire Department extend multiyear contract - Spartan Emergency Response, a business unit of Spartan Motors, has announced its longtime customer, Calgary Fire Department, has purchased five new Spartan pumpers, as part of an expanding long-term contract. This addition of five Spartan pumpers brings Calgary Fire Department's total Spartan count to 107 units, a fleet comprised of 39 Spartan pumpers, 10 Smeal Aerials, and another 63 complete apparatus built on Spartan's cab and chassis. The Calgary Fire Department serves the City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.

13:34 EDT Facebook trades higher after announcing Oculus Quest - Shares of Facebook moved to a session high after announcing that it introduced the "first all-in-one VR system" Oculus Quest at Oculus Connect 5, OC5. Shares of Facebook are up over 2% to $168.38 in afternoon trading.

12:41 EDT OGE Energy increases quarterly dividend to 36.5c from 33.25c - OGE Energy Corp. announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the company's quarterly dividend to 36.5c per share from 33.25c per share. That represents an approximately 10% increase and equates to $1.46 per share annually. The increase is effective with the fourth quarter 2018 dividend and will be paid Oct. 30, 2018, to shareholders of record Oct. 10, 2018.

12:27 EDT United Security Bank increases quarterly dividend to 10c per share - On September 25, the board of United Security Bancshares, the parent company of United Security Bank, declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 10c per share on the company's common stock, an increase from 9c per share. The dividend is payable on October 19 to shareholders of record as of October 9.

12:17 EDT Sony launches 'Fortnite' cross-play beta on PS4 starting today - Sony (SNE) announced in a blog post that, following a comprehensive evaluation process, it has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content. "We recognize that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community's continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution," the company said. The first step will be an open beta beginning today for Epic Games' "Fortnite" that will allow for cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce across PlayStation 4, Android (GOOG), iOS (AAPL), Nintendo Switch (NTDOY), Xbox One (MSFT), Microsoft Windows, and Mac operating systems. Epic Games, the creator of "Fortnite," is 40% owned by Tencent (TCEHY) and is part of Disney's (DIS) Accelerator Program. Reference Link

12:00 EDT Actuant falls -7.4% - Actuant is down -7.4%, or -$2.20 to $27.55.

12:00 EDT Pioneer Energy falls -9.9% - Pioneer Energy is down -9.9%, or -34c to $3.06.

12:00 EDT Intelsat rises 6.3% - Intelsat is up 6.3%, or $1.71 to $28.77.

11:55 EDT JetPay names Larry Stone as chairman, succeeding Bipin Shah - JetPay Corporation announced the appointment of Laurence L. Stone as chairman of the company's Board of Directors. He assumes the role held by Bipin C. Shah since 2010.

11:45 EDT K2M to 'showcase' MOJAVE PL 3D Expandable Interbody System at NASS - K2M Group Holdings announced that it will showcase its first-to-market MOJAVE PL 3D Expandable Interbody System featuring Lamellar 3D Titanium Technology and several of its newest spinal solutions at the North American Spine Society 33rd Annual Meeting, NASS, in Los Angeles, CA, September 26-29. The company also announced that MOJAVE PL 3D Expandable received a 2018 Spine Technology Award from Orthopedics This Week, which recognizes the best new spine technologies, engineering teams and inventors for 2018, and in the process, rewards excellence in innovation. The MOJAVE PL 3D Expandable Interbody System is a first-of-its-kind fusion device allowing for independent control of the anterior and posterior heights in the lumbar spine-a new capability not available with any other product on the market today. Featuring infinite adjustment within its expansion range, the implant can be locked at any desired height and lordosis to help restore sagittal balance.

11:04 EDT Lockheed Martin's Sniper ATP secures Bahrain, Taiwan delivery orders - Lockheed Martin's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod recently received two Foreign Military Sale delivery orders for Bahrain and Taiwan. The Royal Bahraini Air Force continues to order Sniper ATPs with this most recent 19 pod delivery order for the F-16 Block 70 platform. The second FMS order was placed by Taiwan in the United States for 18 pods to be implemented on the mid-life upgraded F-16 platform. The orders were placed through the FMS Production Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract extension.

10:59 EDT Metallica to deploy Salesforce Marketing Cloud - Salesforce announced that Metallica is deploying Salesforce to transform the way they engage with their fans across every digital touchpoint. Metallica recently partnered with Salesforce to take fan experiences to new heights as they geared up for their WorldWired Tour, currently playing across North America. Metallica is deploying Salesforce Marketing Cloud to get a single view of fans across email, mobile and social media. This will allow them to create personalized content and experiences for different types of fans, and deepen relationships with the entire Metallica family on social media. Metallica also launched its new website on Salesforce Commerce Cloud, which provides improved merchandising tools and functionality, as well as AI-powered ecommerce. This will make it easier to shop online, with exclusive access to tickets, content and merchandise highly curated for each and every Metallica fanatic.

10:46 EDT USG shareholders approve acquisition by Knauf - USG Corporation announced that at the company's special meeting of stockholders held today, USG stockholders voted to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Gebr. Knauf KG, dated as of June 10, 2018. Approximately 99% of all votes cast voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, representing approximately 88% of all outstanding shares as of August 21, 2018, the record date for the special meeting. Under the terms of the merger agreement, in the event the merger closes, each share of common stock of USG, par value 10c per share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger automatically will be converted into the right to receive the closing consideration of $43.50 in cash. Additionally, stockholder approval of the merger agreement clears the way for the Company to pay the previously declared conditional special cash dividend of 50c per share of USG common stock on October 2, 2018. The conditional special dividend is payable to holders of USG common stock as of the August 21, 2018 record date. The company currently expects the merger to close in early 2019.

10:27 EDT Disney consents to 21st Century Fox decision to tender 39% stake in Sky - Disney (DIS) announced that it has consented to Twenty-First Century Fox's (FOXA) decision to tender or sell its 39% stake in Sky plc (SKYAY) as soon as allowable under terms of Comcast's (CMCSA) GBP17.28 per share offer for Sky. The current value of Fox's Sky stake is more than $15B, Disney noted. The transaction, coupled with the divestiture of the Fox Sports Regional Networks, will significantly reduce the amount of debt Disney will incur in acquiring 21st Century Fox, and enable Disney to maintain its strong balance sheet as it continues to invest in content creation for its direct-to-consumer platforms. Disney will expand its considerable investment in the Disney-branded direct-to-consumer offering launching in late 2019 and the new ESPN+ sports streaming service, and will seek to increase investment in Hulu's content offerings and international distribution. Disney and 21st Century Fox each currently hold 30% stakes in Hulu. The acquisition has received formal approval from shareholders of both companies, and Disney and 21st Century Fox have entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice that allows the acquisition to proceed, while requiring the sale of the Fox Sports Regional Networks. The transaction is subject to a number of non-U.S. merger and other regulatory reviews. "Along with the net proceeds from the divestiture of the RSNs, the sale of Fox's Sky holdings will substantially reduce the cost of our overall acquisition and allow us to aggressively invest in building and creating high-quality content for our direct-to-consumer platforms to meet the growing demands of viewers," said Disney Chairman and CEO Robert Iger.

10:19 EDT Fox intends to sell Sky stake to Comcast at GBP17.28 per share - 21st Century Fox (FOXA) announces that, pursuant to Note 1 on Rule 32.5 of the Code, the Panel has agreed to grant a dispensation to 21CF in respect of its obligation to send a revised offer document to Sky (SKYAY) shareholders setting out the revised 21CF offer. Sky has consented to such dispensation. Therefore, 21CF will not be sending a revised offer document to Sky shareholders. 21CF intends to either accept the revised Comcast (CMCSA) offer in respect of the existing 21CF stake or sell the existing 21CF stake to Comcast at the Comcast offer price. 21CF may accept the Comcast offer upon lapse of the 21CF Offer, or at such earlier time as the Panel and 21CF may agree. 21CF said it intends to lapse its offer at the earliest opportunity. This will occur on October 6, 2018, assuming 21CF does not receive sufficient acceptances of the 21CF offer. As previously reported, Comcast announced a revised cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Sky at a price of GBP17.28 for each Sky share. The Sky independent committee has recommended that Sky shareholders accept the Comcast offer.

10:12 EDT Banco Bilbao designates CEO Carlos Torres Vila as next chairman - The board BBVA approved the succession plan for the company's chairman. The plan establishes that CEO Carlos Torres Vila is to replace Francisco Gonzalez as group executive chairman when he leaves his post, which is expected to take place on Dec. 31, 2018. The company said in a statement, "The Board of Directors of BBVA, based on a proposal of the Appointments Committee, today unanimously approved the succession plan for the company's chairman, designating Carlos Torres Vila as his successor. The Board considers Carlos Torres Vila as the ideal person to continue with the Group's transformation strategy."

10:00 EDT Actuant falls -7.9% - Actuant is down -7.9%, or -$2.35 to $27.40.

10:00 EDT BBVA Banco Frances rises 5.4% - BBVA Banco Frances is up 5.4%, or 66c to $12.81.

10:00 EDT Irsa Inversiones y Representaciones SA rises 7.3% - Irsa Inversiones y Representaciones SA is up 7.3%, or $1.24 to $18.30.

09:56 EDT Helios and Matheson sinks as AMC's Stubs A-List surpasses 380,000 members - Shares of MoviePass parent Helios and Matheson Analytics (HMNY) dropped in morning trading after AMC Entertainment's (AMC) AMC Theatres said its own movie ticket subscription service has passed 380,000 members. STUBS A-LIST MEMBERSHIP: AMC Theatres announced this morning that membership for its movie ticket subscription service AMC Stubs A-List has passed 380,000 since its launch three months ago. The figure is a 120,000-member increase during the last six weeks, AMC added. AMC Stubs A-List "rewards guests with up to three movies per week, all for just $19.95 plus tax per month," it said in its statement. A-List members are seeing a "wide variety" of movies, it added as early program analysis indicates moviegoers have viewed more than 363 different movie titles in just under three months. "With 380,000 members enrolled in just three months, AMC Stubs A-List is demonstrating that it encourages moviegoers of all ages, locations and backgrounds to come to movie theatres more often, and they're bringing family and friends along with them," AMC CEO and President Adam Aron commented. He continued that the "early success of this program is evident as AMC is projecting an attendance increase at our U.S. theatres for the first time in three years. This is very good for AMC, and very good for our guests and movie studio partners." The popularity of A-List, along with other initiatives and "robust" film slate, has AMC in position to increase U.S. attendance year over year for the first time since 2015, excluding the positive impact from the Carmike acquisition, the company concluded. WHAT'S NOTABLE: While AMC appears to be having success with its movie ticket subscription service, MoviePass, which is majority owned by Helios and Matheson, is not having the same luck. Last week, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that the company will seek approval for an up to 1-for-500 reverse stock split. The filing follows Helios and Matheson's 1-for-250 reverse stock split in July and comes amid the financial bleeding of its earlier business model. In July, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing it had to borrow $5M in cash after the MoviePass app temporarily shut down. MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe announced in an all-hands meeting in late July that it would limit ticket availability to upcoming blockbuster movies during the first two weeks and implied that the practice of not offering tickets to major movies would continue for the foreseeable future. The company said other actions that have been implemented are currently cutting the monthly burn by 60% included a future increase of the standard pricing plan to $14.95 per month. In late August, MoviePass director Carl Schramm resigned from the company's board, alleging that management kept him in the dark about crucial information and made it impossible for him to do his job. Schramm cited "concerns about the corporate governance" at the company and said a "number of business decisions" were presented to the board without enough time for them to review documents. MOVIEPASS WOES AN 'OPPORTUNITY' FOR RIVALS: As MoviePass has struggled to quell the financial bleeding of its business model, theater companies and other competitors like AMC and Sinemia have sprung up to grab a share of users that have been disgruntled by the company's recent changes, The Wall Street Journal reported last week. PRICE ACTION: In morning trading, shares of Helios and Matheson are down 5.4% to just 1.8c per share. AMC Entertainment is also lower by 0.4% to $19.82.

09:47 EDT Chegg falls -7.5% - Chegg is down -7.5%, or -$2.43 to $29.90.

09:47 EDT Omnova Solutions falls -16.1% - Omnova Solutions is down -16.1%, or -$1.65 to $8.60.

09:47 EDT KB Home rises 5.3% - KB Home is up 5.3%, or $1.35 to $26.64.

09:43 EDT Henry Schein mentioned positively at Spruce Point Capital

09:41 EDT Bank of Commerce Holdings trading resumes

09:20 EDT Baxter announces FDA clearance of Altapore Bioactive Bone Graft - Baxter International announced FDA clearance of ALTAPORE Bioactive Bone Graft, a next-generation bioactive and osteoconductive bone graft substitute, for use as an autograft extender in posterolateral spinal fusion. Altapore had previously been cleared for use in orthopedic surgical procedures in the extremities and pelvis.

09:17 EDT Eldorado Resorts announces senior management transition - Eldorado Resorts announced that its board approved an executive management transition to position the company for its next phase of growth and the continued creation of shareholder value. Effective January 1, 2019, Thomas Reeg, who currently serves as the company's President and CFO, will assume the role of CEO for Eldorado Resorts. Reeg will assume his new role as Gary Carano, the company's current Chairman of the board and CEO, has been appointed to the new role of Executive Chairman of the board. Among other things, Gary Carano will assist the board and the CEO with regard to a wide variety of strategic matters, including the company's long-term initiatives to maximize its customer facing amenities and pursue additional acquisition opportunities. Anthony Carano will assume the role of President and remain COO. The company has commenced a search for a new CFO as Reeg transitions out of that role.

09:13 EDT AMC Theatres says AMC Stubs A-List has passed 380,000 members - AMC Theatres announced that AMC Stubs A-List, which was launched three months ago, "continues to deliver on its promise and potential." During the traditional "slow period" at movie theatres in late August and September, as the summer blockbusters give way to school schedules, AMC Stubs A-List membership signups continue to greatly outpace the company's expectations, as more than 380,000 moviegoers are now A-List members. That's a 120,000-member increase during the last six weeks. AMC also recently announced that its 12-month protection guarantee from the date of a member's enrollment against any increases in A-List monthly pricing has been broadened to further provide consumers with a sustainable value. The 12-month protection guarantee for members of A-List enrolling anytime in 2018 now includes no changes in the pricing or benefits from the program within a member's initial 12 months after joining the program. Adam Aron, AMC CEO and President said, ""With 380,000 members enrolled in just three months, AMC Stubs A-List is demonstrating that it encourages moviegoers of all ages, locations and backgrounds to come to movie theatres more often, and they're bringing family and friends along with them. The early success of this program is evident as AMC is projecting an attendance increase at our U.S. theatres for the first time in three years. This is very good for AMC, and very good for our guests and movie studio partners."

09:09 EDT Fly Intel: Pre-market Movers - HIGHER: Aldeyra (ALDX), up 28% after announcing results from a Phase 2b dry eye disease trial... GoPro (GPRO), up 9.5% after Oppenheimer analyst Andrew Uerkwitz upgraded the stock to Outperform from Perform, with a $9 price target. The analyst believes the company has done everything it can to position itself for success... Verastem (VSTM), up 8% after announcing an exclusive licensing agreement for CSPC to develop and commercialize duvelisib for the treatment of all oncology indications in China. UP AFTER EARNINGS: KB Homes (KBH), up 4%... CarMax (KMX), up 4%. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Nike (NKE), down 3%. ALSO LOWER: Digital Ally (DGLY), down 15% after filing to sell an undisclosed amount of common stock... CyrusOne (CONE), down 4% after its 8M share spot secondary offering priced at $62.00... Netlist (NLST), down 32% after announcing it is moving to OTCQX... Ciena (CIEN), down 3% after UBS analyst Tejas Venkatesh downgraded the stock to Neutral as he believes "increased expectations" leave less upside in the shares.

09:08 EDT Exxon Mobil starts new unit to increase ultra-low sulfur fuels production - ExxonMobil said that a new unit at its integrated Beaumont, Texas facility has started operations, increasing production of ultra-low sulfur fuels by about 45,000 barrels per day. The new unit relies on a proprietary catalyst system developed by ExxonMobil to remove sulfur and meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specifications while minimizing octane loss. The addition of the new unit, ExxonMobil's second major investment in Beaumont in less than two years, has supported more than 800 construction jobs. In 2016, the company increased the capacity of an existing crude unit by 20,000 barrels per day and added the flexibility to process light crudes. Both projects are components of ExxonMobil's Growing the Gulf initiative. The company is expanding its polyethylene manufacturing capacity by 650,000 tonnes per year by 2019 and is proceeding with front-end engineering, design and other preparatory work to further increase the refinery's crude refining capacity. Construction of the new crude unit, which is subject to a final investment decision, is scheduled to begin in 2019, with startup anticipated by 2022. The Beaumont facility has logistics advantages because of its proximity to nearby terminals, railways, pipelines and waterways. It also will benefit from Permian production growth. More than 2,000 employees support its refining and chemical manufacturing operations.

09:05 EDT AT&T announces suite of blockchain solutions to work with IBM, Microsoft - AT&T (T) has created a suite of blockchain solutions designed to work with technology from IBM (IBM) and Microsoft (MSFT). Enterprise customers can use these solutions as they automate and digitalize their business processes using blockchain technologies. Customers will have better resources to track and manage information across multiple parties. This applies across vertical industries like manufacturing, retail, healthcare and more.

09:03 EDT SEPTA selects Prudential Retirement to oversee $226M public retirement plan - The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority hired Prudential Retirement to serve as the new provider for its public sector retirement plan. Prudential Retirement, among the industry's largest record keepers, is a business unit of Prudential Financial. Prudential will oversee $226M in retirement assets covering 6,000 participants. Michael Courtney and Bruce Besecker of Courtney Investment Consulting Group - RBC Capital Markets are the advisors of the plan. The plan transitioned on August 3, 2018.

08:50 EDT Hi-Crush Partners announces temporary idling of Whitehall Dry Plant - Hi-Crush Partners announced that it has temporarily idled dry plant operations at its Whitehall facility. The facility's wet plant remains operational, and Hi-Crush continues to sell inventory from on-site storage to meet ongoing Northern White customer demand. Wet and dry plants remain operational at Hi-Crush's other Wisconsin mines, including Wyeville, Augusta and Blair.

08:41 EDT Elbit Imaging: Insightec receives FDA approval for Exablate Neuro compatibility - Elbit Imaging (EMITF) announced that Insightec informed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Exablate Neuro compatibility for the MRI Scanners from Siemens Healthineers (SIEGY) to treat patients with essential tremor Who do not respond to medication. The company holds approximately 84% of the share capital of Elbit Medical Technologies, which, in turn, holds approximately 22% of the share capital in Insightec.

08:38 EDT Actuant sees headwinds of about $3M-$4M from tariffs in FY19 - Estimated headwinds of approximately $3M-$4M from recently enacted Section 301 List 3 tariffs. Mitigation efforts to reduce these headwinds are currently being assessed.

08:35 EDT IntercontinentalExchange appoints Andrew Surdykowski as general counsel - Intercontinental Exchange announced that Andrew Surdykowski has been named the company's next general counsel, succeeding Johnathan Short, who intends to retire after 14 years in that role. Surdykowski, currently the company's SVP and associate general counsel, joined ICE's legal team in 2005, overseeing a range of matters for Intercontinental Exchange. In addition to Surdykowski's appointment, Elizabeth King, general counsel of the New York Stock Exchange, will add to her role that of ICE's chief regulatory officer, overseeing the company's global regulatory and legal affairs initiatives. ICE also announced that Octavia Spencer, a member of ICE's legal team since 2014, has been appointed as ICE's corporate secretary. The new roles for Surdykowski, King, and Spencer will take effect during a transition period leading to Short's retirement in early 2019.

08:33 EDT Medidata announces adoption of Medidata Cloud by Decibel Therapeutics - Medidata announced that Decibel Therapeutics is adopting Medidata Cloud, the Intelligent Platform for Life Sciences. The agreement will support the Boston biotech company's clinical development for hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. Decibel is advancing a portfolio of research programs addressing inner ear disorders with its discovery and development product engine. Decibel will incorporate key Medidata offerings as it advances its hearing and balance-related research programs: Edge eTMF: unify content, data, and workflows with comprehensive real-time, end-to-end TMF management and share with other clinical partners. Rave ePRO/eCOA: optimize data accuracy and patient engagement by automating the collection of patient-reported clinical trial information from mobile devices into the Medidata Cloud.

08:31 EDT Home Depot brings express delivery to 35 major U.S. markets - The Home Depot has rolled out express same-day and next-day local delivery for more than 20,000 of its most popular items to 35 major metros across the U.S. The new service is part of the company's overall five-year expansion of its delivery offerings for DIY and Pro customers. Qualifying products for the new express delivery option include everything from power tools to decor to garden supplies, with delivery options starting at $8.99.

08:27 EDT Valeritas starts process to register V-Go in China - Valeritas announced that it has started the process to register V-Go in China. As part of this process, Valeritas has signed an agreement with an international contract research organization, who has extensive experience in China, who will work directly with the China National Drug Administration to complete the necessary requirements to gain regulatory approval for V-Go in China. In 2016, China formally passed the framework for "Healthy China 2030," working towards the national goal of reaching a health standard on par with developed countries by 2030.

08:24 EDT SeaSpine announces launch of Regatta Lateral System - SeaSpine announced the launch of the Regatta Lateral System, featuring NanoMetalene technology. "Regatta is a comprehensive, minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion system designed to efficiently and reproducibly treat the spine through indirect decompression and the restoration of sagittal alignment," SeaSpine said. SeaSpine will be conducting initial cases through a limited launch over the coming months and expects a full commercial launch of the Regatta Lateral System in the first half of 2019.

08:21 EDT XBiotech announces EPO patent for bermekimab - XBiotech announced that the European Patent Office, or EPO, has granted XBiotech a patent that covers the use of bermekimab as a treatment for inflammatory skin diseases. The patent includes data from studies showing that antibodies which specifically neutralize the activity of interleukin-1alpha can reduce skin inflammation and treat inflammatory skin diseases. XBiotech has conducted a number of clinical trials in dermatology using bermekimab, including ongoing studies in hidradenitis suppurativa and atopic dermatitis. XBiotech has also published clinical findings for the use of bermekimab for treatment of psoriasis and acne. The development of bermekimab for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders is an important part of XBiotech's commercialization programs. This patent issuance further broadens XBiotech's patent portfolio as it relates to bermekimab and its potential to treat inflammatory skin disorders through IL-1a blockade. XBiotech previously conducted clinical studies with bermekimab to treat dermatological conditions including psoriasis, acne and hidradenitis suppurativa. The company is currently conducting two separate open label, phase 2, multi-center studies evaluating a subcutaneous formulation of bermekimab in pre-filled syringes for treatment of atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa. The grant of this patent in Europe is in addition to patents granted in the U.S., Australia, and Japan. The company's patent portfolio also includes several pending U.S. and foreign applications directed to dermatologic pathologies. The company plans to continue to pursue inflammatory skin disorder indications as it further strengthens its clinical pipeline.

08:14 EDT Amazon's Alexa reported down across Europe - Amazon's Alexa is down in parts of the U.K., Spain, Germany and Austria, according to Down Detector, which said the problem began surfacing around 8am local time. Some users are reporting the issue is isolated to Echo Dot 2 models, while other reports indicate everything is down. Reference Link

08:12 EDT CarMax up 4.7% after reporting quarterly results

08:09 EDT Brunswick announces partnership with MRAA - Brunswick's services program, Brunswick Dealer Advantage, and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, or MRAA, have announced a partnership which will provide Brunswick marine dealers with access to healthcare options through MRAA Health, while providing MRAA dealers with access to extended service contract sales through Brunswick Product Protection.

08:07 EDT Cooper Tire partner in GTP JV to change as share transfer agreement is signed - Cooper Tire announced that its partner in the China-based Qingdao Ge Rui Da Rubber, or GRT, truck and bus radial, or TBR, tire production joint venture will change. Sailun Jinyu Group Co., Ltd. has signed a share transfer agreement with Qingdao Yiyuan Investment, or (QYI, to acquire QYI's 35% interest in GRT, subject to government approval. Cooper owns 65% of GRT and has been a partner in the joint venture since 2016.

08:06 EDT iPass partners with Tech Data to serve Latin American market - iPass Inc. (IPAS) announced that it is partnering with Tech Data (TECD) to expand distribution of its wireless connection management and Wi-Fi connectivity service to the Brazilian market. In a release issued by Tech Data on September 19, Patricia Hume, COO of iPass said: "We are seeing great demand in the Latin American market for the intelligent connection management and secure Wi-Fi access that we can provide through the iPass SmartConnect platform. We are delighted to expand our partnership with Tech Data to Latin America, where they can significantly bolster our local presence and insight into the region."

08:05 EDT Infinera says breaks real-time subsea spectral efficiency records over MAREA - Infinera announced the successful completion of a series of record-breaking submarine field trials over MAREA, a 6,600-kilometer submarine cable between Virginia Beach, Virginia and Bilbao, Spain. The trials used Infinera's fourth-generation Infinite Capacity Engine advanced coherent technology to achieve new records for trans-Atlantic real-time spectral efficiency: 6.21 bits per second per hertz over 6,644 km, translating to a fiber capacity of 26.2 terabits per second; 4.46 b/s/Hz over 13,210 km for 18.6 Tb/s fiber capacity.

08:03 EDT Joi Scientific grants first technology license to MarineMax - Joi Scientific has signed the first-ever license agreement for its Hydrogen 2.0 production technology with MarineMax. The license agreement grants MarineMax the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and sell propulsion and auxiliary boat power systems capable of running on hydrogen extracted from seawater using Joi Scientific's Hydrogen 2.0 technology for the worldwide marine industry. MarineMax and Joi Scientific will undertake joint development to bring hydrogen-based energy solutions to leading vendors in the marine industry. Hydrogen 2.0 is the world's first hydrogen production process based on the clean and affordable extraction of hydrogen directly from untreated seawater, on-demand, at the point of use. Hydrogen 2.0 technology will allow MarineMax to power boats, yachts, and ships using direct combustion, hybrid electric, or fuel cells to convert the hydrogen to power. It is planned that the development of on-board power systems using Hydrogen 2.0 technology will be undertaken jointly by MarineMax, Joi Scientific, and their co-development partners who will work with vendors across the industry to develop complete solutions. Development work will initially focus on auxiliary power systems for yachts and for use in slow-speed cruising propulsion.

07:54 EDT Unisys selected by State of Kansas for $40M IT government platform - Unisys was selected as the winning bidder of an open request for proposals by the State of Kansas - a new client for Unisys - to provide a hybrid cloud solution designed to help the state establish a secure and modern IT infrastructure for the state's executive branch. The primary goal of the contract is to upgrade to a modern, secure environment while providing a lower overall operating cost for IT. Valued at approximately $40M, the contract spans 62 months, followed by two one-year option periods.

07:46 EDT C2K Partners awarded contract for NYCT's R211 new subway car program - C2K Partners, a joint venture between LTK Engineering Services of New York LLP and CH2M Hill New York, Inc. - now Jacobs Engineering Group - has been retained by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's New York City Transit to provide post award consulting services for new, state-of-the-art R211 subway cars. C2K will provide technical and program management support services to NYCT during the design, manufacturing, delivery, testing and acceptance of the new cars that will feature expanded doors designed to reduce delays and increase train movement by speeding the boarding process and reducing the amount of time trains wait in stations. R211 cars will be equipped with monitoring systems that will have the capability to transmit information about performance to the wayside, making it possible to examine the trains before equipment failure and mitigate incidents which are critical to safety and service performance of the subway. The cars will also include digital displays providing improved information about service, enhanced grab rails, brighter lighting and improved signage.

07:38 EDT Zai Lab presents results of PK study for ZL-2306 - Zai Lab (ZLAB) presented results of its open-label study to evaluate the pharmacokinetic, or PK, profile of ZL-2306 made in China in Chinese ovarian cancer patients. Results from the study show comparable PK profile of the Chinese patients administered ZL-2306 to that of patients evaluated in Tesaro's (TSRO) global PK study. These data were presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology, or CSCO. The open-label PK Study enrolled 36 Chinese patients with stage III or IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. Patients had received no more than two lines of platinum-based therapy and were responsive to the most recent platinum-based treatment. Subjects were randomly assigned to dose levels of 100mg, 200mg and 300mg. The primary objective of the study was to assess the PK profile of ZL-2306 in Chinese patients following both single and multiple doses. The secondary objective was a safety assessment. There were no unexpected safety issues noted during the trial. All key PK and safety parameters were comparable to those in global studies. The study results and population PK data did not identify ethnicity differences between Chinese and non-Chinese patients. The positive outcome of this PK study will further enhance ZL-2306 application package in China.

07:34 EDT RA Pharmaceuticals announces results from Phase 1b study of zilucoplan - Ra Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from the Company's Phase 1b pharmacokinetic study evaluating zilucoplan in patients with renal impairment. The Company has received International Nonproprietary Names clearance for use of the name zilucoplan from the World Health Organization. The Phase 1b, multi-center, open-label trial was designed to evaluate the PK profile of zilucoplan in patients with severe renal impairment as a lead-in to studying zilucoplan in complement-mediated renal disorders. The trial enrolled 16 subjects, including eight patients with severe renal impairment matched with eight healthy control subjects with normal renal function. Each patient received a single, subcutaneous dose of 0.3 mg/kg of zilucoplan. The PK profile of zilucoplan was consistent across both groups, with exposures similar in renally-impaired patients and healthy volunteers. There were no adverse events reported. Overall, the data indicate that zilucoplan can be used in clinical studies of patients with renal impairment without any need for dose adjustment. Zilucoplan is currently being studied in a Phase 2 study in generalized myasthenia gravis with a top-line data read-out expected around year-end 2018. The Company also recently completed interactions with regulators, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for its global Phase 3 program of zilucoplan for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Based on these interactions, Ra Pharma plans to initiate a global, pivotal, single-arm Phase 3 trial in treatment-naive PNH patients during the first half of 2019.

07:33 EDT Kelly Services makes equity investment in Business Talent Group - Kelly Services announced it has made an equity investment in Business Talent Group, a marketplace for on-demand consultants, experts, and executives. As the lead investor in BTG's Series C funding, Kelly Services will hold a minority stake in BTG; other terms of the investment were not disclosed.

07:31 EDT Allergan says FDA accepts sNDA for VRAYLAR - Allergan announced that the U.S. FDA has accepted for review the company's supplemental New Drug Application for VRAYLAR, seeking to expand the indication to include the treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults in the current product label. The sNDA is supported by data from three pivotal trials, including RGH-MD-53, RGH-MD-54 and RGH-MD-56. In all three pivotal studies, cariprazine demonstrated greater improvement than placebo for the change from baseline to week 6 on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating scale total score. Both cariprazine 1.5 mg and 3 mg demonstrated superiority to placebo in reducing depressive symptoms associated with bipolar I depression.

07:09 EDT T2 Biosystems new data suggests T2Lyme Panel is more accurate than other tests - T2 Biosystems announced new data suggesting the T2Lyme Panel is more accurate than other diagnostics for identifying Borrelia infections for patients suspected of having early Lyme disease. Run on the fully automated FDA-cleared T2Dx Instrument, the T2Lyme Panel is designed to detect Lyme disease-causing bacteria in 3 to 5 hours. The data from a 2017 pre-clinical study evaluated 21 patients enrolled with an erythema migrans, or EM, rash with suspected early Lyme disease and assessed with multiple Lyme diagnostics. The study compares various diagnostic methods with the T2Lyme Panel, in determining a definitive Borrelia infection, using tissue biopsy culture from the EM rash. Of all the diagnostics tested, the T2Lyme Panel blood test was the most accurate compared to tissue culture with a 78% positive percent agreement, or PPA, and 100% negative percent agreement, or NPA. Two-tier serology, the currently recommended diagnostic, had a 56% PPA and 92% NPA compared to tissue culture, while blood polymerase chain reaction did not correctly identify any positives. Eight patients were negative for all diagnostics. The 100% NPA of the T2Lyme Panel indicates greater specificity over serology resulting in less incidence of false positive results. Overall, the T2Lyme Panel has been evaluated against 558 negative samples with no false-positive results.

07:07 EDT Sonoma announces licensing of antimicrobial hypochlorous acid solution - Sonoma Pharmaceuticals announced it has licensed its antimicrobial hypochlorous acid eye solution for management of blepharitis to Brill Pharma, S.L. in the Spanish and Portuguese markets. The formulation, marketed in the United States as Acuicyn Eyelid and Eyelash Hygiene solution, is a safe and efficacious method to keep areas around the eye and eyelids/eyelashes clean. Sonoma's performance-stabilized 100% hypochlorous acid, which is at the heart of Acuicyn, can be used safely around eyes, ears, nose and mouth without concerns about toxicity or stinging. The Spanish/Portuguese formulation, to be branded as Ocudox, will be marketed as a pre-surgical antimicrobial for use in eye surgery, intraoculus injections and any eye manipulation that requires sterile conditions. Ocudox is expected to become available in Spain and Portugal beginning early 2019.

07:05 EDT GasLog Partners to sell 2.25M common units for $53.1M - GasLog Partners announced an agreement to sell 2.25M common units to funds managed by Tortoise Capital Advisors for gross proceeds of $53.1M. The common units are being sold at a price of $23.60 per common unit through the partnership's at-the-market common equity offering program. The partnership plans to use the net proceeds from the sale for general partnership purposes, which may include future acquisitions, debt repayment, capital expenditures and additions to working capital. We currently expect that this will include future acquisitions from GasLog.

07:03 EDT Central Pacific names Paul Yonamine as Chairman and CEO - Central Pacific Financial announced that, effective October 1, 2018, Paul Yonamine, a current outside director of CPF and CPB, will assume the positions of Chairman and CEO of CPF, and Executive Chairman of CPB. Yonamine joined the Boards of Directors of CPF and CPB in June 2017, and his new appointments were approved by both boards on September 25, 2018.

07:02 EDT Aldeyra announces 'positive' results from Phase 2b dry eye disease trial - Aldeyra Therapeutics announced positive results from its Phase 2b clinical trial of topical ocular reproxalap in patients with dry eye disease. "The early onset and broad activity observed in the Phase 2b clinical trial suggests that reproxalap could be an important treatment option relative to existing therapies," commented John Sheppard, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology, Eastern Virginia Medical School. "The results announced today confirm the potential of reproxalap, a drug with a novel mechanism of action, as a promising and differentiated therapeutic agent for dry eye disease, which remains a persistently challenging condition for large numbers of patients worldwide." The randomized, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center, double-masked Phase 2b clinical trial investigated 0.1% and 0.25% concentrations of reproxalap topical ophthalmic solution versus vehicle. Relative to patients treated with vehicle, patients treated with the 0.25% concentration of reproxalap had statistically significant and clinically relevant reductions in the Four-Symptom Ocular Dryness Score and the Overall Ocular Discomfort Symptom Score. Symptom improvement greater than that of vehicle was consistently observed across all measures, and activity versus vehicle was demonstrated as early as two weeks (the first assessment following initiation of therapy). The early onset of symptomatic improvement is consistent with the Phase 2a clinical trial of topical ocular reproxalap in dry eye disease, and is supportive of a differentiated product profile relative to current standard of care. Patients treated with the 0.25% concentration of reproxalap also demonstrated reductions in ocular fluorescein staining score that were statistically superior to those of patients treated with vehicle. Both 0.1% and 0.25% reproxalap concentrations demonstrated activity relative to vehicle, and a clear dose response was observed. Consistent with previous clinical trials, topical ocular reproxalap was well tolerated, and reported adverse events were generally mild. Three hundred patients with dry eye disease were randomized equally to receive 0.1%, 0.25%, or vehicle for 12 weeks. The primary objective of the trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of reproxalap for the treatment of the symptoms and signs of dry eye disease in order to select a drug concentration, confirm endpoint selection, and determine sample size for a pivotal Phase 3 clinical program.

06:47 EDT Wex partners with Moneris in Canada - WEX has integrated with Moneris Solutions, Canada's largest processor of debit and credit payments. The partnership will allow petroleum-based businesses to accept WEX fleet cards using Moneris' PetroTrak point-of-sale and fleet management solution. The PetroTrak host certification provides national merchants with a comprehensive fleet management solution to process WEX Fleet Cards, as well as commercial, credit and debit card payments. Moneris is the first acquirer in Canada with a direct host connection to WEX.

06:40 EDT Tenneco to supply suspension technology on Jaguar E-PACE SUV - Tenneco will supply suspension technology for the Jaguar E-PACE compact SUV. Tenneco's conventional front strut and rear shock absorber will be standard equipment on the vehicle, while the Continuously Variable Semi-Active suspension system from its Monroe Intelligent Suspension portfolio will be included in the adaptive dynamics package. Tenneco's CVSAe dampers are integrated in the Jaguar Land Rover Adaptive dynamic system. The company supplies the Jaguar E-PACE front strut and rear shock from its manufacturing facilities in Gliwice, Poland and Hodkovice, Czech Republic and the CVSAe suspension system from its facility in Ermua, Spain.

06:35 EDT Amag Pharmaceuticals acquires orphan drug candidate for preeclampsia - Amag Pharmaceuticals has acquired global rights to develop and market digoxin immune Fab, a polyclonal antibody in development for the treatment of severe preeclampsia in pregnant women. Amag and Velo Bio, a privately held life sciences company located in North Carolina, entered into an option agreement in July 2015 to develop DIF. The companies have amended the agreement, enabling Amag to exercise its option to acquire the program for an upfront fee of $12.5M. Amag will now manage and complete the Phase 2b/3a study that Velo initiated in mid-2017. The company expects to announce topline data in 1H20 and to submit a new drug application to the FDA in 2H20. DIF has been granted both orphan drug and fast-track designations by the FDA for use in the treatment of severe preeclampsia. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for preeclampsia or severe preeclampsia. Approximately 200 antepartum women with severe preeclampsia between 23 and 32 weeks gestation will be enrolled in the Phase 2b/3a study. The study's primary endpoint is to demonstrate a reduction in the percentage of babies who develop severe intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis or death by 36 weeks corrected gestational age between the DIF and placebo arms. Secondary endpoints include the maternal incidence of pulmonary edema during treatment and the period of time between treatment and delivery. In addition to the upfront $12.5M that Amag will pay in connection with the option exercise, Amag will be responsible for a $35M milestone payment upon FDA approval. Amag will also pay sales milestone payments of an aggregate of $240M, triggered at various annual net sales thresholds of $300M and above, and a $10M payment to a previous licensor of the AMAG-423 program on the first $100M of sales. AMAG will also pay mid-single digit royalties based on net sales. The expected incremental research and development costs associated with advancing AMAG-423 in 2018 does not impact the financial guidance issued.

06:25 EDT Nissan cites 'low awareness' in report on misconduct in sample testing - The company said, "Nissan Motor submitted a detailed investigation report to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on misconduct in sample testing within the final vehicle inspection process at plants in Japan. On July 9, Nissan reported the following two areas of misconduct in exhaust emissions and fuel economy sample testing discovered as a result of voluntary internal checks: 1) deviations from the test environment; 2) rewriting of measurement values. The report was submitted in line with MLIT's direction to do so after establishing dedicated teams to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation of new facts and considering appropriate countermeasures following confirmation of any other potential nonconformities in the kanken process...Following the investigations into the factors and background that have caused misconduct in sample testing, Nissan's view is that the root of the issue is the same as last year's kanken issues. As a company -executives, managers to plant supervisors - Nissan had extremely low awareness of the gravity of violating kanken standards and rules. Nissan recognizes that the nature of the issue is the same, and that as a company Nissan must thoroughly reinforce the understanding of the importance of kanken, reduce the distance between the gemba and managers,supervisors in this particular case, and ensure that managers have a sufficient grasp of the gemba. Nissan believes that a style of management that causes organizational fatigue is not sustainable. Nissan does not pursue such a style of management, even though healthy striving for improvement and achievement is encouraged. As a manufacturer, however, ceaseless effort to reduce costs is essential, and therefore the discovered issues should not be directly linked with such effort. On the other hand, if Nissan's focus on cost effectiveness indeed caused factors such as the lack of gemba management and sample testing personnel as the third-party investigation report states, Nissan must recognize that priorities were misjudged and the company lacked an understanding of what was happening in the gemba since the beginning of this issue. If the issues are due to a lack of situational understanding, Nissan recognizes that management must lead the effort to understand the realities and align that with employees...Nissan will continue to carry out comprehensive checks of frameworks, organizations and processes related to regulatory compliance, within functions not limited to those directly involved in manufacturing. Strict adherence to compliance is a top priority for Nissan's management, and if issues are discovered, appropriate measures will be taken. Nissan is committed to promoting and enforcing compliance and awareness thereof in all operational areas." Reference Link

06:09 EDT Delta Air Lines: All IT systems have been restored following 'technology issue' - Delta said in a statement that its teams have "restored all IT systems after a technology issue briefly affected some systems this evening. Delta employees are now working diligently to accommodate customers whose travel plans have been affected. Booking, check-in and flight status are now available on delta.com... During the technology issue, Delta issued a mainline groundstop in the U.S. until systems could be brought back up. There was no disruption or safety impact on any Delta flights in the air." Technology problems forced Delta to temporarily halt all of its departing domestic flights on Tuesday night. The airline issued a statement around 8:30pm that said "Delta IT teams are working diligently to address a technology issue impacting some of our systems. We have issued a Delta groundstop as we work to bring systems back up as quickly as possible. There has been no disruption or safety issue with any Delta flight currently in the air. We apologize to all customers for this inconvenience." Reference Link

06:05 EDT Daimler: Zetsche to succeed Bischoff in supervisory board

06:02 EDT CAE USA awarded $200M Air Force training system contract - CAE USA has been awarded a United States Air Force contract to provide comprehensive C-130H aircrew training services. CAE USA will be the prime contractor on the C-130H Aircrew Training System program that supports the training of U.S. Air Force C-130H aircrews. CAE USA will provide simulator instruction, maintenance support services, and deliver modifications and upgrades for C-130H aircrew training devices. The eight-year contract, awarded as a three-month transition effective October 1, 2018 with a one-year base period and seven additional option periods, is valued at a total of more than US$200M.

05:32 EDT Brooks Automation acquires GENEWIZ Group for $450M - Brooks Automation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GENEWIZ Group, a global genomics service provider headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The total cash purchase price for the acquisition will be approximately $450M, subject to working capital and other adjustments. The transaction is expected to close by the end of this calendar year upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The company provides gene sequencing and synthesis services for more than 4,000 institutional customers worldwide supported by their global network of laboratories spanning the United States, China, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. GENEWIZ, founded in 1999, is privately-held. Management expects GENEWIZ to exceed $140M in revenue in the next twelve months, which corresponds to Brooks' fiscal year, and expects the acquisition will immediately be accretive to non-GAAP earnings. The company will fund the acquisition from cash on the balance sheet supplemented with incremental debt. Dr. Amy Liao is a co-founder and the CEO of GENEWIZ, and will continue to lead the business under Brooks' ownership.

05:28 EDT iClick Interactive Asia enters collaboration with Ctrip - iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited (ICLK) announced it is collaborating with Ctrip.com (CTRP) to create an e-commerce platform that allows retailers to directly target China's 130 million-plus foreign travellers and provides them tools to maximise sales closure. The platform, expected to launch in China in the fourth quarter 2018, utilizes iClick's proprietary technology capable of gathering precise data from its 750 million profiled Chinese consumers, including which websites these individuals typically visit to shop for certain products and services. iClick will power new tools on the collaborative platform that increase the capability to identify and target travellers from China. All travellers purchasing flights on Ctrip will be given access to the platform and subsequently have the chance to pre-order products through the Duty-Free operator at their destination airport before leaving China. The travellers will have access to hundreds of globally renowned brands and "must-have" local products. The shopping experience for travellers will further be improved through personalized messaging, flexible real-time pricing and payment options, prior to and during their trip. Participating retailers on the platform will be able to establish an online storefront for selling their products while accessing anonymous but comprehensive data on relevant travellers. As a result, these retailers are expected to significantly increase their sales volumes without an appreciable increase in expense. iClick will distribute the new platform to thousands of travel retailer brands, including both Chinese and international brands that traditionally market to the more lucrative segment of Chinese outbound travellers. iClick expects to derive revenue from the platform through subscription fees paid by participating retailers and via ad placement by brands that may or may not be the subscribers of the platform.

05:25 EDT Omnova Solutions acquires Resiquimica, terms not disclosed - Omnova Solutions announced that it has acquired Resiquimica, S.A., a Portugal-based producer of resins and binders for the coatings and building and construction industries. Resiquimica's aqueous polymer emulsions and solvent-borne alkyd and acrylic resins are key elements used in a wide variety of residential and industrial coatings. Additionally, unsaturated polyester resins from Resiquimica are targeted at demanding applications in marine, food storage tanks, and more. Geographic markets served by Resiquimica include Portugal, Spain, France, and North Africa.

05:21 EDT NeoTract announces results from 5 real-world studies of UroLift System - NeoTract, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex, announced the presentation of new clinical data at the World Congress of Endourology 2018 Annual Conference from five studies of the company's novel UroLift System for patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH. "The real-world results from these studies of diverse patient populations on three continents reaffirm the sustained benefits of the UroLift System as an accepted standard of care treatment for patients with BPH," said Dave Amerson, president of the NeoTract Interventional Urology business unit. "We are pleased that we continue to see results from real-world studies in line with our randomized pivotal study, demonstrating that the UroLift System is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment that offers men long-term relief from the symptoms of BPH." The "Real-World Experience" study, which enrolled 156 patients at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital in the U.K., compares outcomes of patients with BPH who received treatment with the UroLift System in a real-world setting to those seen in clinical studies. The data, presented by Mark Rochester, M.D., consultant urological surgeon of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust U.K., demonstrates International Prostate Symptom Score, or IPSS, improvement for patients treated with the UroLift System in a real-world setting, as well as improved quality of life, or QoL, and peak flow rate, or Qmax, at both the three and six-month follow up timepoints. At three months, patients experienced an average improvement of 10.0 points in IPSS, 2.2 points in QoL and 4.8 mL/s in Qmax. These results were statistically not different from those observed in the pivotal L.I.F.T. study. "The excellent results of this large study were consistent with the pivotal L.I.F.T study," said Dr. Rochester. "These outcomes demonstrate that the UroLift System can be used to treat patients with BPH in the real world safely and effectively."

05:17 EDT TechnipFMC signs strategic collaboration agreement with Equinor - TechnipFMC has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Equinor. The agreement states that the two parties will collaborate in continuous improvements to enable developing Equinor's offshore projects globally, and covers the full scope of TechnipFMC products and services, from early phase, through project execution, including installation and subsea operations services. It reflects the ambition of the parties to engage early through pre-FEED and Concept development in order to obtain sustainable cost reductions. This agreement builds on the long relationship between the two companies, including the recent successes of the company's integrated EPCI delivery on the Trestakk and Visund Nord projects to Equinor.