Stockwinners Market Radar for October 02, 2018 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:48 EDT Air Lease announces delivery of Boeing 787-9 with EVA Air - Today Air Lease Corporation announced the delivery of one new Boeing 787-9 aircraft on long-term lease to EVA Air (Taiwan). This Dreamliner aircraft, powered by GEnx-1B74/75 engines, is from ALC's order book with Boeing and adds to numerous Boeing aircraft already on lease to EVA Air. EVA Air now operates four Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on lease from ALC, with three additional B787-9 and two B787-10 aircraft set to deliver from the lessor through 2020, and will have a total of ten Boeing widebody aircraft on long-term lease.

18:55 EDT Fly Intel: After Hours Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: NovaGold Resources (NG) up 3.7%. ALSO HIGHER: Endologix (ELGX) up 35.5% after reporting preliminary Q3 revenue... JC Penney (JCP) up 11.5% after naming new CEO. ALSO LOWER: David's Tea (DTEA) down 20.7% after saying it had nothing to disclose to justify the 63% during market hours... Kala Pharma (KALA) down 9.5% after equity offering... Epizyme (EPZM) down 7.4% after equity offering... Nike (NKE) down 0.6% after being downgraded to Hold at HSBC.

18:38 EDT Paratek Pharmaceuticals announces FDA approval of NUZYRA - Paratek Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. FDA has approved NUZYRA for the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute skin and skin structure infections. NUZYRA, a modernized tetracycline, is a once-daily IV and oral antibiotic that exhibits activity across a spectrum of bacteria, including Gram-positive, Gram-negative, atypicals, and drug resistant strains. The company plans on making NUZYRA available in the first quarter 2019.

18:02 EDT Peabody Energy provides update on North Goonyella Mine - "Initial steps taken in early days to extinguish the fire and contain impacts at Peabody's North Goonyella Mine have yielded visible results, with only a slight amount of what appears to be either steam or white smoke emanating at this time from only the one mine shaft. The mobile GAG unit has continued to run, increasing the amount of high-moisture inert gases in the mine to displace oxygen and reduce conditions for a fire; Temporary seals using a fire-resistant expandable material have been completed in three of the five primary mine openings to reduce air flow into the mine; Additional drilling has been under way in advance of sealing the completed longwall panel area from the surface; and Air quality monitoring equipment is in place around the perimeter of the mine with good results.The company's first priority is safety as we work to address the complex situation through a deliberate, staged process. At the appropriate time, the company will initiate a formal review of the event, with the involvement of independent third parties, and intends to share learnings with the industry and other stakeholders. Peabody continues to engage in direct communications with the workforce of the mine. We appreciate the ongoing work of the team at the mine, the Queensland Mine Inspectorate, Queensland Mines Rescue, the union and technical experts who are assisting with a safe response. The company also appreciates the ongoing support of the community and others in the industry. Peabody continues to work closely with landholders, neighbors and others to ensure stakeholders have access to up-to-date information about the continuing situation."

17:31 EDT AeroVironment awarded $13M Air Force contract for SUAS - AeroVironment has been awarded a $13M, single-award, indefinitedelivery/indefinite-quantity contract, for Raven RQ-11B small unmanned aircraft systems, or SUAS. This contract satisfies recurring requirements for RQ-11B SUAS, spares kits, ancillary equipment, and recurring related training. The location of performance is U.S. southern command area of responsibility which includes Central America, South America and the Caribbean nations. The work is expected to be completed by September 28, 2023. This award is the result of a non-competitive acquisition and one offer was received. fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2.8M is being obligated at the time of award.

17:14 EDT Point 72 Asset Management reports 5.2% passive stake in Nevro

17:04 EDT Resolute Forest to sell Catawba, SC paper and pulp mill for $300M - Resolute Forest Products announced that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with New-Indy Containerboard, LLC for the sale of its Catawba, South Carolina, paper and pulp mill, for a total purchase price of about $300M, consisting of $260M in cash, subject to customary closing adjustments, and the assumption of approximately $40 million of balance sheet liabilities, largely net pension benefit obligations. Catawba's operation includes a kraft mill and a pulp dryer to produce market pulp, a thermomechanical pulp mill as well as a lightweight coated paper machine. The facility currently employs 460 people. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, New-Indy will offer employment to Catawba employees effective upon closing of the transaction, which is expected at or around year-end.

16:59 EDT Neil Gagnon reports 5.5% passive stake in Lumber Liquidators

16:53 EDT J.C. Penney shares spike over 11% following its announcement of a new CEO

16:36 EDT KKR completes acquisition of BMC Software - BMC announced the completion of the acquisition of BMC by KKR, a leading global investment firm. The company was acquired from a private investor group led by Bain Capital Private Equity and Golden Gate Capital together with GIC, Insight Venture Partners, and Elliott Management. The terms of the agreement, which was previously announced in May, were not disclosed.

16:31 EDT Babcock & Wilcox announces completion of CFIUS review - Babcock & Wilcox announced that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has completed its review of the company's previously announced sale of its MEGTEC and Universal businesses to Durr AG and determined that there are no unresolved national security concerns with respect to the sale. All required regulatory reviews for the transaction are now complete, and B&W and Durr are making final closing preparations. The parties expect to close promptly.

16:30 EDT Microsoft announces all-new Surface Pro 6 - At a company event, Microsoft (MSFT) announced the all-new Surface Pro 6, the latest edition of its tablet/PC device. The Surface Pro 6, which the company calls "faster than ever" includes the latest 8th Generation Intel (INTC) Core processor and comes in Black and Platinum. Other features include a full friction hinge, 12.3" PixelSense Display, all day battery life, and an 8.0MP autofocus HD camera. Reference Link

16:25 EDT Honeywell declares spin-off dividend of Resideo shares - Honeywell announced that its Board of Directors has declared a pro rata dividend of Resideo Technologies common stock, to be made effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 29, 2018, to Honeywell's shareowners of record as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on October 16, 2018, the record date. Each Honeywell shareowner of record will receive a distribution of one share of Resideo common stock for every six shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Honeywell that it holds on the record date. The distribution is subject to certain conditions. It is anticipated that when-issued trading on the New York Stock Exchange in Resideo common stock will begin on or about Monday, October 15. On Monday, October 29, Resideo common stock will begin regular-way trading on the NYSE under the symbol, "REZI."

16:16 EDT J.C. Penney names Jill Soltau as new CEO - The J. C. Penney Company Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Jill Soltau as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective Oct. 15, 2018. Soltau is a 30-year retail veteran who most recently served as President and CEO of JOANN Stores, the nation's largest fabric and crafts retailer, after serving as President of Shopko Stores. Ms. Soltau most recently served as CEO of JOANN Stores, a specialty retailer that offers fabrics and crafting supplies in over 850 stores in 49 states. A highly accomplished retail merchant and former general merchandise manager, she was brought to JOANN Stores to reinvigorate the brand and bolster its market position through a consumer-centric approach that offers compelling assortments, helpful advice and memorable experiences to be digitally shared with others. Under her leadership, the company has undergone a revitalization of branding, expanded digital and omnichannel capabilities and forged strategic partnerships to build meaningful relationships with its customers.

16:09 EDT Celadon Group to sell 49.9% equity interest in 19th Capital Group - Celadon Group announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its approximately 49.9% equity interest in 19th Capital Group to an affiliate of Element Fleet Management for nominal value. The sale is expected to close during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

16:07 EDT Novanta acquires remaining 24% outstanding shares of Laser Quantum for $45.7M - Novanta announced that it has acquired the remaining approximately 24% of the outstanding shares of Laser Quantum for an aggregate consideration of $45.7M in cash and restricted stock. Laser Quantum, based in Manchester, U.K., is the leading supplier to original equipment manufacturers of solid state continuous wave lasers, femtosecond lasers, and optical light engines for the medical market.

16:07 EDT Quench acquires Quality Water Services, sells Atlas High Purity Solutions - Quench, an operating segment of AquaVenture Holdings, announced that it has acquired substantially all of the rental assets of Quality Water Services, a point-of-use water filtration company based in Seattle, Washington. This acquisition adds approximately 1,200 rental and service units and more than 500 new clients to Quench's installed asset base in the important Seattle market, a top 12 U.S. Metro area. Quench also announced the sale of substantially all of the assets of its Atlas High Purity Solutions unit to East Range Partners, LLC. Atlas High Purity Solutions was acquired in connection with the Atlas Watersystems transaction in June 2014, and is included within the Quench segment.

16:06 EDT CSG Systems closes acquisition of Forte Payment Systems - CSG announced that it has closed the acquisition of Forte Payment Systems, Inc. CSG will provide more details regarding the anticipated impact of the acquisition to its financials on its third quarter earnings call.

16:04 EDT Sellas Life Sciences to present data from Phase 2b trial of NeuVax + Herceptin - Sellas Life Sciences Group announced that data from the Phase 2b trial of nelipepimut-S, NeuVax, in combination with trastuzumab, Herceptin, for the treatment of women with triple-negative breast cancer, TNBC, will be presented in a poster presentation at the 2018 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, SITC, Annual Meeting, taking place November 9-11 in Washington, D.C.

16:03 EDT Shutterfly names Mickey Mericle as Chief Marketing Officer - Shutterfly announced the appointment of Mickey Mericle as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Mickey is a seasoned executive with deep experience in marketing and analytics. In her roles leading Marketing and Customer Insights at Adobe, and Global Customer Insights and Analytics at Walmart, Mickey has led large teams of engineers, machine learning scientists, data scientists, PhD economists and statisticians, all in the pursuit of driving exceptional performance marketing and advanced analytics. At the same time, Mickey has extensive skill in campaign development, focused on brand and creative. Prior to Adobe and Walmart, Mickey held roles at Target Corporation, Kinko's Inc., Monitor Company and the US Department of State. She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, an MS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Iowa State University.

16:00 EDT Alnylam launches ONPATTRO in Germany - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals announced that ONPATTRO is now available in Germany. ONPATTRO has been developed to meet a significant unmet need for patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis, a devastating, chronic and often fatal disease. ONPATTRO is based on Nobel Prize-winning science and is the first-ever RNAi therapeutic to be approved in the European Union. Alnylam plans to launch ONPATTRO in additional markets in Europe throughout 2018 and 2019.

15:17 EDT Penn National says FTC clears pending acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment - Penn National Gaming (PENN) announced that the Federal Trade Commission has cleared its pending acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment (PNK), subject to the previously agreed divestitures of four Pinnacle properties to Boyd Gaming (BYD). The completion of the proposed transaction is contingent on the receipt of approval from one jurisdiction, as well as certain other customary conditions. The company continues to expect to complete the transaction early in the fourth quarter. In addition to clearance by the FTC, Penn National has received approvals from thirteen gaming regulatory bodies in connection with its proposed acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment. In addition, on March 29, shareholders of both Penn National and Pinnacle Entertainment approved the proposed merger, with over 99% of all votes cast in favor of the transaction.

15:09 EDT Finjan files complaint against Rapid7 for patent infringement - Finjan Holdings announced that -- "after more than two years of good faith efforts to resolve a patent dispute with Rapid7," its subsidiary Finjan has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Rapid7, a Delaware corporation with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. "Since 2014, Finjan has been committed to our Best Practices, which are posted on our website along with a list of our patents, all of which serve to inform players in the security space of our patent rights and how we intend to preserve the value of our patents," stated Julie Mar-Spinola, CIPO and VP, Legal Operations for the Finjan companies. "Time and again the Federal Circuit, District Courts, and the USPTO, including its Patent Trial and Appeal Board, have validated the enforceability of Finjan's patents, which have generated licensing and settlement fees of more the $350M to date. It is perplexing, at best, to understand why a prospective licensee would rather ignore our efforts to negotiate a fair valued license and choose the costlier risk of a patent lawsuit with Finjan."

14:54 EDT Mercedes-Benz September U.S. car sales down 9.8% - Mercedes-Benz USA reported September sales of 26,169 Mercedes-Benz models, a decrease of 9.8% from September 2017. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported best-ever month of 4,448 units and smart reported 98 units, bringing MBUSA to a grand total of 30,715 vehicles for the month. On a year-to-date basis, sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles totaled 225,384, with an additional 28,023 units for Vans and 959 vehicles for smart, bringing the sales volume to 254,366, a decrease of 5.8% from last year. September sales of Mercedes-AMG high-performance totaled 1,378 units, with 20,738 vehicles sold year-to-date.

14:23 EDT Tandy Leather announces resignation of CEO Shannon Greene - Tandy Leather Factory announced the resignation of CEO Shannon Greene and President Mark Angus while appointing Janet Carr as its new Chief Executive Officer. Carr will also become a member of the Board of Directors.

13:45 EDT Aytu BioScience granted U.S. patent for method of determing fertility potential - Aytu BioScience was granted a U.S. patent for methods and systems for measuring and using the oxidation-reduction potential of a biological sample for the determination of fertility potential, according to a post to the USPTO website. Reference Link

13:19 EDT Facebook launches Premieres, expands live video polls and Top Fans features - "In a blog post Facebook announced earlier, "Three New Ways to Engage Fans" The company stated: "We're thrilled to be releasing three new super interactive tools to help you engage your fan community. With the launch of Premieres, you can spark conversations and reactions around your newly released videos in real time and with a live audience. Plus, you can ask your fans to vote on questions with interactive video polls and celebrate your most loyal followers with Top Fans. Premieres are all about making videos a must-see event. Creators can release pre-recorded videos as a live moment in an appointment-viewing window, with a live audience to interact with. For the first time on Facebook, fans can interact and experience new videos together...We're also rolling out Video polls to more Pages. Right now, live polls are available to all Pages through the Live API, live publishing tool, and we'll soon be making it possible to add polls to your regular pre-recorded videos. Hopefully you've heard about Top Fans, a feature that highlights a creator's most loyal fans by displaying a badge next to their name. Today, we're launching it to all eligible Pages globally!" Reference Link

13:07 EDT Inovio spikes higher after positive data published - Shares of Inovio (INO) are spiking higher after the company announced the publication of results in a major cancer journal, from a study of MEDI0457. TREATED WITH MEDI0457: According to an earlier statement from Inovio, a paper published in a major cancer journal detailed results of a patient with head and neck cancer treated with MEDI0457 achieved a sustained complete response on treatment with a subsequent PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. In the Inovio-sponsored study of 22 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the company reported 91% showed T cell activity in the blood or tissue. MEDI0457 -- formerly called INO-3112 -- was in 2015 licensed to MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca (AZN). These immune data, as well as the financial terms of the license agreement, have been previously reported by Inovio. STUDY SUPPORTS HPV AND ONCOLOGY PROGRAMS: Inovio CEO Dr. J. Joseph Kim said, "We are buoyed by the study as it lends support to all of our HPV and oncology programs. These data demonstrated that Inovio's technology based in MEDI0457 can generate durable HPV16/18 antigen-specific peripheral and tumor immune responses. The study supports our belief that this approach may be used as a complementary strategy to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition in HPV-associated head and neck and other types of cancer to improve therapeutic outcomes. Inovio is collaborating with MedImmune as well as Genentech (RHHBY) and Regeneron (REGN) in efficacy trials coupling Inovio's DNA-based cancer immunotherapies with checkpoint inhibitors designed to increase response rates with data expected in 2019." ANALYST RAISES PRICE TARGET: Stifel analyst Stephen Willey resumed coverage of Inovio with a Buy rating and $8 price target, citing his favorable view of the clinical risk underlying the ongoing Phase 3 VGX-3100 development program in patients with HPV+ cervical HSIL. He sees the company's earlier-stage immuno-oncology development efforts and externally-funded infectious diseases programs as additional sources of longer-term upside. PRICE ACTION: Shares of Inovio Pharmaceuticals are up over 16% to $6.22 per share in afternoon trading.

12:34 EDT Game On: Google unveils Project Stream, will test streaming 'Assassin's Creed' - Welcome to "Game On," The Fly's weekly recap of the stories powering up or beating down video game stocks. NEW RELEASES: Among this week's major releases is Microsoft's (MSFT) racing sim "Forza Horizon 4," which launches today on Xbox One and PC. Also out this week is Ubisoft's (UBSFY) "Assassin's Creed Odyssey," the latest in its series of open-world action games. The game comes out October 5 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 (SNE). In addition, Capcom's (CCOEY) new sidescrolling action game "Mega Man 11" rolls out today for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch (NTDOY), while Nintendo's party game "Super Mario Party" launches October 5 exclusively on the Switch. PROJECT STREAM: Yesterday, Google (GOOG) announced Project Stream, a technical test to solve "some of the biggest challenges of streaming." The service is designed to give video game players the ability to stream video games directly to the Chrome browser on a laptop or desktop. Google noted that it has partnered with Ubisoft to stream "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" to the Chrome browser, with a limited number of participants being able to play the game at no charge for the duration of the Project Stream test starting October 5. "The technology and creativity behind these AAA video games is extraordinary-from incredible detail and life-like movement of the characters' skin, clothing, and hair, to the massive scale of the world in which the game unfolds, down to every last blade of grass," Google said. "Every pixel is powered by an array of real-time rendering technology, artistry, visual effects, animation, simulation, physics and dynamics. We're inspired by the game creators who spend years crafting these amazing worlds, adventures and experiences, and we're building technology that we hope will support and empower that creativity." PS4 CROSS-PLAY: Last week, Sony said that it was taking steps toward having the PS4 support cross-platform features for select third party games. As a result, the company launched an open beta on Wednesday for Epic Games' "Fortnite" that will allow for cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce across PlayStation 4, Android, iOS (AAPL), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, 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. NO PLAYSTATION EXPERIENCE: According to media reports, Sony said that its annual PlayStation conference, known as PlayStation Experience, has been canceled this year due to a lack of announcements. This marks the first time PlayStation Experience will not be held in North America fort he first time since its launch in 2014, according to Business Insider.

12:17 EDT India Globalization Capital rallies 51% despite Citron 'all hype' tweet - Shares of India Globalization Capital remain higher despite short-seller Citron Research calling the shares a "gift" to those that can short it. Citron just tweeted, "$IGC. If you are able to short, it is a gift. No product. All hype. Raised Money 2 weeks ago at $1.15 Finger traders will get burned. This hype stock is the poster child of a cannabis bubble. Always cautious but nothing but air. Could write pages about this scheme." India Globalization Capital says it has two lines of business: a legacy infrastructure business and a cannabis pharmaceutical business that has developed a lead product for Alzheimer's patients. The stock in midday trading is up 51%, or $4.61, to $13.63.

12:13 EDT comScore brings audience intelligence tool to four new international markets - comScore announced that its real-time box office and polling solution, PostTrak has expanded internationally and will now be available in four new markets: Australia, Germany, Mexico and the United Kingdom. PostTrak offers the theatrical community greater insight into who attends movies to help execute current marketing efforts, understand audience demographics and plan future strategies. PostTrak combines comScore's robust box office intelligence with Screen Engine/ASI's advanced research capabilities to provide market-level audience information that powers decision-making in a global marketplace. These insights inform market efforts and offer early direction on how audiences engage with and respond to films. comScore's aggregated box office insights show that international receipts grew 7.5% year-over-year in 2017. "As the movie industry's trusted partner for actionable intelligence, we are excited to expand PostTrak to key international markets to deliver additional analytics to our partners," said Jim Zak, senior vice president, movies at comScore. "Leveraging more than six years of history for all wide release films, PostTrak is the industry currency for demographic and moviegoer insights within the US. Its domestic success has given us the opportunity to bring the same audience insights to our partners in the international space. These four territories - Australia, Germany, Mexico and the UK - further extend audience representation and we look forward to expanding to additional markets from all corners of the globe."

12:06 EDT Porsche report September U.S. sales up 0.8% to 5,102 vehicles - Porsche Cars North America announced September retail sales of 5,102 vehicles. This was 0.8% higher than the previous September. For the first nine months of 2018, U.S. retail sales were up 3.4% compared to the same period last year, totaling 42,626, the company said. It explained, "September sales were driven by demand for two model lines in particular. The arrival of the new- generation Cayenne in U.S. showrooms boosted its sales by 26.9 percent year-over-year. The iconic Porsche 911 remained a draw for customers, increasing sales by 37.8 percent."

12:05 EDT Xilinx unveils Versal,delivering 'innovation' with software programmability - Xilinx Developer Forum - Enabling a new era of rapid innovation for any application by any developer, Xilinx, CEO Victor Peng unveiled Versal - the industry's first adaptive compute acceleration platform. Versal ACAPs combine Scalar Processing Engines, Adaptable Hardware Engines, and Intelligent Engines with leading-edge memory and interfacing technologies to deliver powerful heterogeneous acceleration for any application. But most importantly, the Versal ACAP's hardware and software can be programmed and optimized by software developers, data scientists, and hardware developers alike, enabled by a host of tools, software, libraries, IP, middleware, and frameworks that enable industry-standard design flows.

12:00 EDT Retailers falter after Amazon calls on peers to follow wage hike lead - Shares of retail stocks, both online and brick and mortar, are under pressure at midday on Tuesday after Amazon (AMZN) announced it was raising its minimum wage to $15 and advocating for a broader rise in the minimum wage to that level. ADVOCATING FOR WAGE HIKES: "We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and CEO. "We're excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us." The change applies to Whole Foods and all other subsidiary Amazon employees, the e-commerce giant noted in its announcement of the change, which will be effective November 1. PRICE ACTION: Near noon, Amazon is slightly higher, up 0.4% to 2,012 per share. RETAIL COMPETITORS FALL: Shares of Nordstrom, (JWN), Kohl's (KSS), Gap (GPS), Macy's (M) and Wayfair (W) are all lower at midday.

12:00 EDT Jupai Holdings falls -10.3% - Jupai Holdings is down -10.3%, or -85c to $7.42.

12:00 EDT Gol Linhas rises 9.5% - Gol Linhas is up 9.5%, or 50c to $5.78.

12:00 EDT Pyxus rises 23.4% - Pyxus is up 23.4%, or $5.42 to $28.59.

11:31 EDT Stitch Fix CEO says 'lots of addressable market' out there - Stitch Fix CEO Katrina Lake is speaking on CNBC.

11:26 EDT 'FOX' appoints Steve Tomsic as CFO for new company - Lachlan Murdoch, the future chairman and CEO of "FOX," the company to be spun-off in connection with the merger with The Walt Disney Company (DIS), announced key leadership appointments across the company's sports, distribution, ad sales operations and corporate functions. Key appointments include: Eric Shanks, elevated to CEO of FOX Sports from his current role of president, COO & executive producer, FOX Sports; Mike Biard, elevated to president, operations and distribution for FOX from president, distribution for Fox Networks Group; Paul Cheesbrough, promoted to chief technology officer and head of direct to consumer platforms for FOX, currently serves as 21CF's CTO; Marianne Gambelli, elevated to president of ad sales for FOX, currently serves as president of ad sales for FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network; Steve Tomsic, promoted to FOX's CFO ; currently serves as 21CF's EVP, Finance and Deputy CFO. The appointments are effective upon the close of 21CF's (FOX, FOXA) Disney transaction and the creation of FOX. As previously announced, John Nallen will be appointed COO of FOX, Suzanne Scott will continue to serve as CEO of FOX News and FOX Business Network, and Jack Abernethy will remain Chief Executive Officer of Fox Television Stations. In addition, Viet Dinh was recently named the chief legal and policy officer of FOX.

11:20 EDT Rexahn presents preliminary data from ongoing Phase 2a trial of RX-3117 - Rexahn Pharmaceuticals announced earlier that preliminary safety and efficacy data from the ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial of RX-3117 in combination with Abraxane in patients newly diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer were being presented in a poster presentation at the fifth NCI Pancreatic Cancer Symposium held October 2-3, 2018 at the National Institutes of Health. "These preliminary data are encouraging, showing that the combined administration of RX-3117 and Abraxane in newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic cancer patients appears to be safe and well tolerated and showing evidence of clinical activity. As of September 19, 2018, there was one complete response and three partial responses from the first 14 evaluable patients. In addition, there were eight patients with stable disease who had tumor reductions of up to 16% and who are still being actively dosed. We are encouraged by this preliminary data reflecting a disease control rate of 86% and an overall response rate of 29%. We look forward to completing the study enrollment and plan to report the final data in 2019," said Dr. Ely Benaim, M.D., chief medical officer of Rexahn. "The safety profile of RX-3117 continues to be encouraging as it can be administered at its recommended Phase 2 dose together with the maximal labeled dose of Abraxane without producing an increase in severe adverse events. This differs from current standard of care where the doses of both gemcitabine and Abraxane, when given in combination, may have to be reduced to avoid grade 3 and 4 dose limiting toxicities," added CEO Peter Suzdak.

11:04 EDT Volkswagen report September U.S. sales down 4.8% to 30,555 units - Volkswagen of America reported sales of 30,555 units delivered in September, a decrease of 4.8% over September 2017. With 266,228 units year-to-date in 2018, sales have now risen 5.5% this year to date, the company added. It said, "September sales were impacted by delays in the certification process caused by a backlog in meeting new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure standards. Certification delays pushed back the arrival of some model year 2019 vehicles, limiting inventory for the month."

11:02 EDT Honda reports September U.S. sales down 7% to 132,668 vehicles

10:42 EDT RBC Capital, Wolfe Research say buy GE following CEO change - Both RBC Capital analyst Deane Dray and Wolfe Research analyst Nigel Coe upgraded General Electric (GE) to Outperform after the company announced that H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. was named chairman and CEO, replacing John Flannery. But not all were as bullish on the stock after the news, with Moody's Investors Service placing the ratings of General Electric and GE Capital Global on review for downgrade, and JPMorgan analyst Stephen Tusa saying that the CEO change is a "negative surprise" that raises questions as to whether there are "serious issues at play." BUY GE: Following the CEO change, RBC Capital's Dray upgraded General Electric to Outperform from Sector Perform and raised his price target on the stock to $15 from $13. While acknowledging that there is "still much to fix" and it will take time to assemble a team/triage the problems and put an imprint on the breakup plan, the analyst argued that a "floor has now been put in." Dray would not be surprised to see Culp try to persuade his longtime CFO at Danaher (DHR), Dan Comas, to join him at GE, and also anticipates seeing some senior-level departures at GE as part of this management shakeup. Meanwhile, Wolfe Research's Coe also upgraded General Electric to Outperform from Sector Perform and raised his price target on the stock to $16 from $15. The analyst noted that the appointment of Culp is a "game changer" in a number of respects, since it is a definitive signal of cultural change, performance accountability and that current problems are fixable. With Culp at the helm, the analyst told investors he "can have more confidence in strategic and tactical execution." Nonetheless, the analyst acknowledged that there are "still plenty of uncertainties." Also commenting on the news, Citi analyst Andrew Kaplowitz told investors in a research note of his own that he believes this is "a new beginning" for General Electric. While the Power business is "dramatically worse" than he thought, a "proven outside leader" can immediately accelerate the pace of change and execution, he contended. The analyst argued that the management change is bigger and more forward looking than the $23B non-cash impairment the company will take on its Power business. Kaplowitz reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. NEGATIVE SURPRISE: More bearish on the news, JPMorgan's Tusa said the timing and format of GE's CEO change announcement is a negative surprise that raises questions as to whether there are "serious issues at play." While the selection of ex-Danaher CEO Larry Culp is a positive for investor confidence and the change brings the company a step closer to a real reset, the details on how potentially bad things actually are have not been shared and Tusa sees a dividend cut and potential equity raise as likely. The analyst reiterated an Underweight rating and $10 price target on GE shares. Meanwhile, Moody's Investors Service placed the ratings of General Electric and GE Capital Global on review for downgrade, including the A2 senior unsecured debt rating and the P-1 short-term rating. A potential downgrade of the long-term ratings of GE and GE Capital may not be limited to one notch. This rating review was prompted by GE's announcement that it will fall short of its guidance for free cash flow and EPS for 2018 and that it expects to take a goodwill impairment charge related to the Power business that is likely to constitute substantially all of Power's current goodwill balance of approximately $23B. The change in GE's CEO and chairman was an additional consideration for the review. WHAT'S NOTABLE: Emerson (EMR) announced it has agreed to acquire Intelligent Platforms, a division of General Electric. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of fiscal 2019, subject to regulatory approvals, GE's consultation with employee representatives where required and other customary closing conditions. PRICE ACTION: In morning trading, shares of GE have dropped almost 2% to $11.90.

10:31 EDT General Motors says Q3 U.S. sales declined 11% y/y, cites impact of hurricanes

10:30 EDT General Motors says delivered nearly 700,000 vehicles in Q3

10:20 EDT JetBlue says 'on track' to achieve $171M in run-rate savings by 2020 - Bonny Simi, president, JetBlue Technology Ventures, says 40% of what JTV does is for the near-term, or over the next two years, while 60% is for over two to ten years. Says focuses on five areas: seamless customer journey, technology to support crew, future of maintenance and operations, innovation in distribution, revenue and loyalty, and evolving regional travel. Joanna Geraghty, president and COO, says believes fleet and costs could add 40c-55c of EPS growth through 2020. Says critical that company controls costs through Structural Cost Program and beyond 2020. Says systematically improving returns on all fleet types. Says currently restyling A320s, expects to restyle 60 more in 2019. Says will take first A321 NEO in 2019. Says will be taking first A220 in 2020. Says expects A320 restyling will improve margins and returns. Says will start seeing ASM impact in 2019. Says A321 is a margin builder in both mint and all-core. Says will have 35 mint-configured aircraft by year-end. Says anticipates seeing more all-core A321 over the next two years. Says biometrics is the future. Says has plenty of opportunity to renegotiate business partner contracts. Says on track to achieve $171M target of run rate savings by 2020.

10:06 EDT Ford sees total September industry SAAR in mid-17M vehicle range - Sees total September industry SAAR was in mid-17M vehicle range. Says September a "very unique month," with Hurricane Florence affecting business to some extent along the eastern seaboard. Says recovery efforts "well underway" in the Carolinas with all dealers back up and running, hopes to get back to normal soon. Notes that damage was minimal vs. hurricanes last year. Says September was a "tale of two hurricanes." Comments taken from September's August U.S. sales conference call. Ford is down 1.1% to $9.22 in morning trading.

10:05 EDT Nissan reports September U.S. sales down 12% to 122,819 vehicles - Nissan announced total U.S. sales for September 2018 of 122,819 units, a decrease of 12% compared to the previous year. Combined sales of Nissan crossovers, trucks and SUVs set a September record, up 6%.

10:01 EDT Target, Shipt expand same-day delivery to inland Southern California markets - Shipt, a same-day delivery marketplace, and Target, announced it will begin same-day delivery of more than 55,000 groceries, essentials, home, electronics, toys and other products in eight inland Southern California markets. Same-day delivery will also include beer and wine from participating Target stores.

10:00 EDT Invitae falls -6.5% - Invitae is down -6.5%, or -$1.06 to $15.32.

10:00 EDT Sabesp rises 7.9% - Sabesp is up 7.9%, or 47c to $6.33.

10:00 EDT Centrais Electricas rises 9.8% - Centrais Electricas is up 9.8%, or 37c to $4.14.

09:58 EDT Moody's places ratings of GE, GE Capital under review for downgrade - Moody's Investors Service has placed the ratings of General Electric Company and GE Capital Global Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries on review for downgrade, including the A2 senior unsecured debt rating and the P-1 short-term rating. A potential downgrade of the long-term ratings of GE and GE Capital may not be limited to one notch. Moody's intends to address this review within the next few weeks. This rating review was prompted by GE's announcement that, due to weaker performance in the Power business, the company will fall short of its guidance for free cash flow and EPS for 2018 and that it expects to take a goodwill impairment charge related to the Power business that is likely to constitute substantially all of Power's current goodwill balance of approximately $23 billion. The change in GE's CEO and chairman was an additional consideration for the review.

09:47 EDT Fiat Chrysler reports September U.S. sales up 15% to 199,819 vehicles - FCA US LLC today reported U.S. sales of 199,819 vehicles, a 15% increase compared with sales in September 2017 of 174,266 vehicles. FCA US total sales and retail sales both achieved new records for September. The last September total sales record was in 2000 when sales reached 219,966 vehicles. Retail sales of 149,713 vehicles were the highest level since 2000 when sales hit 189,794. Sales were driven by Ram pickup trucks, Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Compass. Fleet accounted for 25% of total sales. "Our Ram and Jeep brands propelled both our retail and total sales to their highest levels in 18 years," said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales.

09:47 EDT MiX Telematics falls -5.1% - MiX Telematics is down -5.1%, or -71c to $13.11.

09:47 EDT Copel rises 5.9% - Copel is up 5.9%, or 31c to $5.56.

09:47 EDT Gol Linhas rises 7.4% - Gol Linhas is up 7.4%, or 39c to $5.67.

09:33 EDT JetBlue says still 'actively looking' aat transatlantic flights

09:30 EDT Toyota reports September U.S. sales down 10.4% to 203,098 units

09:26 EDT PepsiCo CFO says will look at cannabis 'very critically' - PepsiCo CFO Hugh Johnston says the company looks at "every opportunity" and will look at cannabis "very critically," but has no plans to share. He also noted that while recreational cannabis is set to become legal at the federal level in Canada, it is still not legal at the federal level in the U.S. Johnston made the comments during an interview on CNBC.

09:19 EDT Atomera, STMicroelectronics enter license agreement for MST technology - Atomera (ATOM) announced that STMicroelectronics (STM) has signed an integration license for Atomera's MST technology. This license gives STM certain rights to integrate MST technology into their products and is the first of a three-phase licensing process with the next two being manufacturing and distribution phases. The licensing agreement adds to Atomera's growing customer base, revenue, and further validates Atomera's silicon enhancement intellectual property, or IP, strategy. Mears Silicon Technology, or MST, is a patented, quantum-engineered material which can enhance transistors to deliver better performance in electronics.

09:16 EDT Kratos Defense receives contract award for six unmanned aerial drone systems - Kratos Defense announced that its unmanned systems division, or USD, has recently received a new contract award from a national security related customer for the production and delivery of six high performance, jet powered unmanned aerial drone system aircraft and related mission support kits. Work under this new contract award will be performed at secure KUSD manufacturing facilities, customer sites, and other locations. Due to the nature of the work being performed, customer related, competitive and other considerations, no additional information will be provided related to these contract awards.

09:14 EDT Seanergy Maritime to acquire one vessel, sell two - Seanergy Maritime announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with unaffiliated third parties for the purchase of a modern secondhand Capesize vessel and the sale of two Supramax drybulk vessels. The transactions are expected to be completed in Q4. Following these transactions, Seanergy will be the only pure-play Capesize vessel owner listed in the U.S. public markets. The company has agreed to acquire a modern secondhand Capesize vessel from an unaffiliated third party, built in 2010 at Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea with a cargo-carrying capacity of approximately 180,000 deadweight tons for a gross purchase price of $28.7M. The delivery of the new vessel is scheduled to take place in Q4. The vessel is currently on time charter to a major European drybulk operator at a gross daily rate of $17,150 with latest redelivery date in January 2019. Additionally, the company has entered into two separate definitive agreements with unaffiliated third parties for the sale of its only two Supramax vessels, the 2010-built M/V Gladiatorship and the 2011-built M/V Guardianship. The aggregate gross sale price is approximately $23M and the vessels are scheduled to be delivered to their new owners in October. Finally, the company has reached an in-principle agreement with the existing lender of the two Supramax vessels pursuant to which it expects that the loan secured by these vessels will remain available to fund the majority of the acquisition cost of the new Capesize vessel under substantially the same terms. The definitive documentation for such agreement is currently under negotiation with the company's lender. The balance of the acquisition price of the Capesize vessel is expected to be funded through cash on hand.

09:13 EDT Delta Air Lines sees Q3 system capacity 3.9% y/y - Sees Q3: CASM-Ex approximately flat y/y; average fuel price per gallon, adjusted $2.22-$2.27; tax rate ~ 23%.

09:11 EDT Delta Air Lines sees Q3 pre-tax margin approximately 13%

09:10 EDT Kinder Morgan announces binding open season for Plantation Pipe Line System - Kinder Morgan announced the start of a binding open season to solicit commitments for the Roanoke Expansion project on the Plantation Pipe Line System. The Roanoke Expansion will provide for approximately 21,000 barrels per day of incremental refined petroleum products capacity on the Plantation Pipe Line System from the Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Collins, Mississippi origin points to the Roanoke, Virginia area. The expansion will primarily consist of additional pump capacity and operational storage on the Plantation system. With enhancements made to the existing system, the Roanoke Expansion project offers a safe and secure energy supply solution for the area. Pending a successful open season and the receipt of regulatory approvals, the project will be in service by April 1, 2020.

09:09 EDT Delta Air Lines sees Q3 total unit revenue up 4%-4.5% y/y - Driven by strong demand and improving yields.

09:08 EDT Baxter, Mayo Clinic announce collaboration to establish renal care center - Baxter International and Mayo Clinic announced a new collaboration to develop a renal care center of excellence in the U.S. The center will serve patients across the continuum of renal care - from chronic kidney disease management through transplant - and drive better patient outcomes. The center is being established at the Mayo Clinic Dialysis Center at the campus in Jacksonville, Florida, where Mayo Clinic's recognized excellence in care will be integrated with Baxter Renal Care Services' proven clinical service model and CKD management program. The Mayo Clinic Dialysis Center in Jacksonville provides state-of-the-art dialysis services in a comfortable, home-like facility. The collaboration will also allow for the trial of potentially new, codeveloped products and services.

09:06 EDT EnviroStar to acquire Worldwide Laundry - EnviroStar announced that it executed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire substantially all the assets and certain liabilities of Miami, Florida based Worldwide Laundry, Inc. using a combination of cash and EVI stock. The transaction is expected to close upon the satisfaction of closing conditions. EVI expects the addition of Worldwide to be accretive to its fiscal year ended June 30, 2019.

09:03 EDT Deere announces senior leadership changes - Deere & Company announced changes to its leadership team in response to the planned retirement of a member of senior management later this year. The following changes are effective November 15: Max A. Guinn will retire as President, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division. James M. Field is appointed President, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division. John C. May is appointed President, Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division - Global Harvesting and Turf Platforms, Ag Solutions, Americas and Australia. Mark von Pentz is appointed President, Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, Global Tractor and Hay & Forage Platforms, Europe, CIS, Asia, Africa. Raj Kalathur is appointed Senior Vice President, CFO and Chief Information Officer.

09:01 EDT Delta Air Lines reports September traffic up 3.7%, capacity up 4.7% - Load factor was down (0.8) points.

08:50 EDT Paratek Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Seysara - Paratek Pharmaceutical (PRTK) announced that the FDA has approved Seysara for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of non-nodular moderate to severe acne vulgaris in patients 9 years of age and older. Paratek has exclusively licensed U.S. development and commercialization rights of Seysara for the treatment of acne to Allergan (AGN), who has assigned such rights to Almirall. Paratek retains development and commercialization rights in the rest of the world. Seysara is a once-daily, oral, narrow spectrum tetracycline-derived antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties for the potential treatment of moderate to severe acne in the community setting. Under the parties' agreement, Paratek earned a $12M milestone payment upon FDA approval and is now entitled to receive tiered royalties at rates ranging from high-single to low double digits on net sales of Seysara.

08:48 EDT PayPal, Phoenix Suns announce multi-year global partnership - The Phoenix Suns and PayPal Holdings announced a first-of-its-kind global partnership built on elevating fan experiences through innovation. PayPal will be the first-ever jersey patch partner of Arizona's original professional sports franchise starting in the 2018-19 regular season, which tips off on Oct. 17. Jersey sponsorships were approved by the NBA as part of a three-year pilot program and PayPal's logo will appear prominently on the front left of Suns jerseys, opposite the Nike logo. As part of the partnership, PayPal will also be designated the Official Payment Partner of the Phoenix Suns, the Phoenix Mercury and Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, which is also owned by Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver and plays in Spain's La Liga Segunda Division.

08:47 EDT TimeSquare urges RenaissanceRe board to review strategic alternatives - TimesSquare Capital Management, an institutional asset management firm with a significant stake in RenaissanceRe Holdings, announced that it has delivered the following letter to the Company's Board of Directors: "We trust that you and the Board have given serious consideration to the perspectives raised in our letter that was sent on September 7, 2018. We have decided to publicly release this earlier letter in order to outline our views for shareholders and to ensure that our thoughts on maximizing shareholder value are as explicit as possible. We remain steadfast in our belief that an immediate review of strategic alternatives, including an exploration of a potential sale of the Company, is imperative. As always, we appreciate your willingness to engage in dialogue with us and look forward to the efforts of the Board and management to further evaluate pathways to unlock value for the benefit of shareholders."

08:45 EDT Puma Biotechnology licensing partner submits NDA for Nerlynx in China - Puma Biotechnology has been advised that its licensing partner CANbridge Pharmaceutical received confirmation that China's National Medical Products Administration, or NMPA, has accepted its New Drug Application, or NDA, for Nerlynx for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer, following adjuvant trastuzumab based-therapy. Nerlynx was approved in the United States for the same indication in July 2017 and in the European Union for the extended adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-positive HER2-positive early stage breast cancer in September 2018.

08:39 EDT Stifel Financial acquires Rand & Associates - Stifel Financial announced that 1919 Investment Counsel, its wholly-owned subsidiary and an SEC registered investment adviser, has acquired Rand & Associates. Rand, like 1919, provides wealth management and investment counsel services to individuals, families, and institutions. Combined, 1919 and Rand have more than $12B in assets under management. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Rand has approximately $1.3B in assets under management. Rand offers a wide range of financial services, including managing equity and fixed income portfolios, partnering with accountants, estate and tax attorneys, and advising clients on estate planning, financial decision analysis, and charitable giving programs. Rand designs tailored portfolios that seek to balance each client's income needs, growth objectives, and risk tolerances.

08:34 EDT Tesla: Delivery, outbound vehicle logistics were main challenges during Q3

08:34 EDT Tesla says accelerating construction of Shanghai factory

08:33 EDT Tesla: Demand for Model S, X 'remains high'

08:32 EDT Tesla says produced 80,142 vehicles in Q3, 50% more than prior all-time high - Tesla says: "In Q3, we produced 80,142 vehicles, 50% more than our prior all-time high in Q2, including: 53,239 Model 3 vehicles, which was in line with our guidance and almost double the volume of Q2. During Q3, we transitioned Model 3 production from entirely rear wheel drive at the beginning of the quarter to almost entirely dual motor during the last few weeks of the quarter. This added significant complexity, but we successfully executed this transition and ultimately produced more dual motor than rear wheel drive cars in Q3. In the last week of the quarter, we produced over 5,300 Model 3 vehicles, almost all of which were dual motor, meaning that we achieved a production rate of more than 10,000 drive units per week. 26,903 Model S and X vehicles, which was slightly higher than Q2 and in line with our full-year guidance. Q3 deliveries totaled 83,500 vehicles: 55,840 Model 3, 14,470 Model S, and 13,190 Model X. To put this in perspective, in just Q3, we delivered more than 80% of the vehicles that we delivered in all of 2017, and we delivered about twice as many Model 3s as we did in all previous quarters combined. Our Q3 Model 3 deliveries were limited to higher-priced variants, cash/loan transactions, and North American customers only. There remain significant opportunities to grow the addressable market for Model 3 by introducing leasing, standard battery and other lower-priced variants of the car, and by starting international deliveries. Demand for Model S and X remains high. In Q3, we were able to significantly increase Model S and X deliveries notwithstanding the headwinds we have been facing from the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. Those trade tensions have resulted in an import tariff rate of 40% on Tesla vehicles versus 15% for other imported cars in China."

08:31 EDT Pareteum announces new contracts totaling $15M - Pareteum announced that it has signed new contracts with Parallax Health Sciences in the U.S., oneCentral in the Netherlands, and Naledi in South Africa totaling $15M over three years. New customers will use Pareteum's cloud platform as a service offering to enable voice, mobile, and device and data-monitoring for their companies. These use cases are made possible through the recently-merged Artilium and Pareteum products.

08:29 EDT China Recycling Energy to acquire 20% of Xi'an Xinhuan Energy for $46.72M - China Recycling Energy announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, entered into an equity purchase agreement with Jihua Wang to acquire 20% of the equity interests of Xi'an Xinhuan Energy. Pursuant to the agreement, Shanghai TCH is acquiring 20% of the equity interests of Xinhuan for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $46.72M, which will be paid as follows: in cash in the amount of approximately $8.76M; in the form of 2.6M shares of the company's common stock using a value of $1.90 per share; and in the form of 17,376,950 shares of the company's preferred stock using a value of $1.90 per share, which such class of stock has not yet been authorized or designated. The preferred shares will have no voting rights but will have preferential dividend rights to participate in and receive a 15% premium on a per share basis for any dividends declared and paid by the company on its common stock. The holder of the preferred shares has the right to convert the preferred shares into shares of the company's common stock on a 1:1 basis after the 6 month anniversary of the issuance of the preferred shares, but the holder may only exercise the conversion rights to the extent that, after giving effect to the issuance of common stock after such conversion, the holder would beneficially own less than 20% of the company's issued and outstanding common stock. The payment of the purchase prices in the form of the 2.6M shares of common stock and 17,376,950 shares of preferred shares of the company is contingent on the company receiving shareholder approval at a special shareholders meeting for the share payment under the agreement, and to create the new class of preferred shares and increase the number of authorized shares of common stock.

08:20 EDT HP Inc., Smartpress announce multi-million dollar deal for fleet of HP Indigos - HP Inc. and Smartpress announced a multi-million dollar deal for a fleet of HP Indigo's most advanced commercial press, the HP Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press. The purchase of five high-definition HP Indigo 12000 HD digital presses by the all-digital Smartpress upgrades the HP Indigo footprint at the site of Minnesota-based commercial printer, as it sets to scale operations with higher automation and capacity. All five presses are scheduled for installation by the end of this month. The HD imaging system for the B2-sized HP Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press doubles image resolution, providing a new benchmark with print for HP Indigo LEP-technology based production. The press is also enabled for the new HP Indigo HDFM screening technology to reach finer, moire-free print for increased detail in high-end commercial and photo applications.

08:12 EDT Cellectar Biosciences updates interim overall survival data from CLR 131 trial - Cellectar Biosciences updates interim overall survival, or OS data from the company's ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating CLR 131 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, or MM. The results to date show that OS is currently at 19.4 months. Cellectar continues to monitor these patients and intends to update OS results as data become available. All 15 patients from the Phase 1b, single-dose cohorts were heavily pretreated, receiving an average of 5 previous lines of multidrug therapy including anti CD38, immunomodulating drugs and proteasome inhibitors. All patients were relapsed or refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor and IMiD. Most patients presented with advanced stage 2 or 3 disease and 67% had previously received at least 1 stem cell transplant.

08:09 EDT Magna, Altran create engineering services joint venture in Morocco - As Morocco emerges as a competitive export-focused production base for global automakers, a new resource for vehicle engineering services has also launched: a joint venture between Magna and Altran Technologies. Magna's complete vehicle engineering and manufacturing group and Altran each hold 50% of the joint-venture company. The joint venture, located in Casablanca, Morocco, under the name MG2 brings together Magna's complete vehicle know-how and process competence and Altran's strengths as a locally established partner. Approximately 500 engineers from the two companies will initially staff the joint venture. Morocco, 14 km south of the European continent, offers a low-cost base to produce vehicles for export to Europe. The country has a stated goal of building one million vehicles per year by 2025 and has been successful in attracting automakers and investment in new production plants to achieve that goal.

08:06 EDT Fossil and Citizen Watch announce global strategic licensing partnership - Fossil Group and CITIZEN Watch Company announced that the companies have entered into a global strategic technology licensing partnership designed to expand the worldwide reach and scale of hybrid smartwatches. The partnership leverages CITIZEN's globally-respected watch movement expertise while providing CITIZEN access to Fossil Group's hybrid smartwatch technology.

08:06 EDT Ascena Retail's Justice to launch Justice Studios entertainment division - Justice, a unit of Ascena Retail, is announcing the launch of a new entertainment division, Justice Studios. Justice says, "As consumers evolve and place greater emphasis on experiences, the new arm of the company will focus on enriching the relationship with the Justice girl by creating original content, including graphic novels, video series, music, documentaries and more. The clothing, accessories, and lifestyle product retailer is wholly invested in engaging and empowering girls in unique ways and believes in the importance of providing a positive platform." To bring Justice Studios to life, Justice has partnered with Elevate Pictures, a Columbus, Ohio-based entertainment and production company specializing in transmedia story building and multi-platform distribution. Justice and Elevate will collaborate on the development and production of the content and currently have three projects in the works including a graphic novel series, "Ultra Squad," a documentary, "Finding Clara," as well as the "Live Justice" Awards.

08:05 EDT Aspen Group signs MOU to establish nursing education center - Aspen Group announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, to establish a nursing education center to provide qualified HonorHealth employees and general population applicants with an on-site accredited pre-licensure BSN program from Aspen University. HonorHealth will provide the "clinical home" where nursing students will become embedded with staff and receive their clinical experiences. Both organizations will share responsibilities for making building improvements.

08:04 EDT Zscaler appoints Micheline Nijmeh Chief Marketing Officer - Zscaler announced that it has appointed Micheline Nijmeh as Chief Marketing Officer. Nijmeh will be responsible for global marketing with a focus on driving revenue and brand recognition for the company. An experienced marketing executive, Nijmeh brings more than 15 years of enterprise marketing knowledge to Zscaler. Nijmeh will report directly to Zscaler Chief Executive Officer, Jay Chaudry. Nijmeh was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Xactly Corporation.

08:04 EDT Entera Bio appoints two external independent members to board - Entera Bio Ltd. announced the appointment of Faith L. Charles and Miranda J. Toledano to the company's board of directors, effective immediately. The appointments of Charles and Toledano were approved by the company's shareholders at its annual meeting held on Thursday, September 27, 2018.

08:03 EDT Aqua America acquires Peotone Village's water and wastewater systems - Aqua America announced it has reached its 1 million customer-connection milestone with the purchase of Peotone Village's water and wastewater systems by subsidiary Aqua Illinois. The purchase was finalized Oct. 1 and will result in the company welcoming nearly 3,000 new customer connections.

08:03 EDT Kroger, Walgreens Boots Alliance collaborate on exploratory pilot - The Kroger Co. (KR) and Walgreens (WBA) announced that the companies are collaborating on an exploratory pilot with a new format and concept that combines Kroger's role as America's grocer and food authority with Walgreens global expertise in pharmacy, health and beauty. The two retail leaders have selected 13 Walgreens stores in Northern Kentucky, near Kroger's Cincinnati headquarters, to pilot the format. The companies will conduct this pilot over the next several months, listening closely to customer feedback. Initially, Kroger and Walgreens will develop and test a one-stop shopping experience where customers can access products and services from both companies. Customers will be able to order Kroger grocery items online and pickup orders at the participating Walgreens locations. Kroger's popular Our Brands grocery items, including America's largest natural and organic brand, Simple Truth, will also be available in-store at participating Walgreens locations. The diversified shopping assortment will complement Walgreens products and services across health and wellness, pharmacy and beauty.

07:47 EDT Jacobs awarded framework agreements by Dounreay Site Remediation - Jacobs Engineering Group has been awarded two four-year framework agreements by Dounreay Site Remediation, or DSRL, to provide design and engineering services, and safety case production and peer review services. Located in Caithness County, Scotland, the Dounreay site is one of the most complex nuclear decommissioning programs in Europe, with extensive remediation activities underway to return the site to as near its original condition as possible. Jacobs is one of six companies eligible to tender under both framework agreements. The scope of work under the $15M-19M design and engineering services agreement includes: design, construction management, specialist engineering services, environmental restoration, software modelling, commissioning support services and the development of waste strategy documents for DSRL.

07:38 EDT Briggs & Stratton enters into supply agreement with Walbro - Briggs & Stratton has entered into a supply agreement with Walbro, a global manufacturer of electronic fuel injectors and other OPE engine systems. The agreement gives Briggs & Stratton the exclusive right to use Walbro's EEM SHIFT electronic fuel injection systems on Briggs & Stratton's single- and twin-cylinder engines for riding lawn mowers and zero turn radius lawn mowers. The agreement will allow Briggs & Stratton to introduce industry leading, cost-efficient fuel injection technology to its line of residential-grade engines.

07:36 EDT Tesla shares could triple in three years, Ron Baron says - Ron Baron of Baron Capital Management is speaking on CNBC. He holds 1.66M shares of Tesla according to CNBC.

07:34 EDT Axon to unveil new TASER weapon and body Camera at IACP conference - Axon announced that it will unveil a new TASER weapon and body camera at the 125th International Association of Chiefs of Police, or IACP, Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The announcement will be made at Axon's 25th Anniversary Party, which will celebrate Axon's 25 year history of technology innovation in the public safety space. Axon CEO and founder Rick Smith will announce the new products to a sold-out audience of around 3,000 global law enforcement professionals on Saturday.

07:31 EDT Baron says Choice has $4B market value, getting paid on $70B of hotels - Ron Baron of Baron Capital Management, while speaking on CNBC, said Choice Hotels has a $4B market capitalization but is getting paid on $70B of hotels. Shares of Choice Hotels are up 31c to $81.87 in premarket trading.

07:31 EDT Frontdoor completes spinoff from ServiceMaster - Frontdoor (FTDR), the parent company of American Home Shield, began operating as an independent publicly traded company listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "FTDR" after completing its spin-off from ServiceMaster Global (SERV), the company announced yesterday. Under the terms of the previously announced separation agreements, ServiceMaster shareholders received one share of Frontdoor common stock on the distribution date of October 1, 2018, for every two shares of ServiceMaster common stock they held as of the close of business on the record date for the distribution, September 14, 2018. ServiceMaster retained approximately 19.8% of Frontdoor's common stock. As a result of the distribution, Frontdoor is an independent public company and its common stock is listed under the symbol "FTDR" on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

07:28 EDT Ron Baron says SEC settlement good for Musk, shareholders and Tesla - Ron Baron of Baron Capital Management is speaking on CNBC. He holds 1.66M shares of Tesla according to CNBC.

07:16 EDT Simply Good Foods announces expansion of SimplyProtein snacks in the U.S. - The Simply Good Foods announced the official expansion of SimplyProtein snacks in the United States. Founded in Canada, SimplyProtein has grown to a $10M snacking brand and is poised to appeal to U.S. consumers by offering satisfying protein and fewer ingredients than many other snacks without artificial sweeteners or unnecessary calories from sugar.

07:12 EDT Valeritas V-Go demonstrates benefits compared to MDI therapy for type 2 diabetes - Valeritas presented clinical and economic outcomes for V-Go compared to standard multiple daily injections, or MDI, insulin therapy for treating people with type 2 diabetes. The results were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, or EASD. This retrospective study was performed using administrative claims from the HealthCore Integrated Research Database during six years between July 1, 2011 to July 31, 2017 containing data from large U.S. commercial health plans. During 6-12 months of follow-up, both the V-Go and MDI cohorts experienced improvements in glycemic control relative to baseline. Importantly, the improvement in glycemic control for V-Go users was achieved with a 21% decline in insulin total daily dosage, as compared to MDI users. Additionally, the V-Go group spent an average of $1,287 less per patient in diabetes-related medication costs compared to the MDI group.

07:09 EDT Raven awarded $36.2M contract for air surveillance radar systems on Navy ships - Raven announced that Raven Aerostar has been awarded a five-year $36.2M contract for the delivery, installation, operation and sustainment support of air surveillance radar systems onboard the U.S. Navy's T-EPF class ships. The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. Under this contract, Raven Aerostar will deliver Vista F50ER1 Radar Systems and provide technical support, system operator support, and classroom and shipboard training. Raven expects revenues from this contract to be spread out over a period of five years, with deliveries beginning next year.

07:07 EDT Tesla is very close to being self funded, Ron Baron says - Ron Baron of Baron Capital Management is speaking on CNBC. He holds 1.66M shares of Tesla according to CNBC.

07:06 EDT Pyxus indirect subsidiary Goldleaf Pharm receives cannabis cultivation license - Pyxus International announced that its indirect Canadian subsidiary, Goldleaf Pharm, has received its Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, or ACMPR, cultivation license from Health Canada. The license, awarded September 28 permits Goldleaf Pharm to begin cultivating medicinal cannabis at its Simcoe, Ontario facility. Goldleaf Pharm is a subsidiary of Pyxus' indirect Canadian subsidiary, FIGR.

07:05 EDT Emerson to buy General Electric Intelligent Platforms unit, terms not disclosed - Emerson (EMR) announced it has agreed to acquire Intelligent Platforms, a division of General Electric (GE). Intelligent Platforms' programmable logic controller, or PLC, technologies will enable Emerson, a leader in automation for process and industrial applications, to provide its customers broader control and management of their operations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition expands opportunities for Emerson in machine control and discrete applications across process industries and target hybrid markets, such as metals & mining, life sciences, food & beverage and packaging. By interfacing Intelligent Platforms' PLC technology with Emerson's leading distributed control systems, customers will be able to connect "islands of automation" within the plant to further enhance operational performance, safety and reliability. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of fiscal 2019, subject to regulatory approvals, GE's consultation with employee representatives where required and other customary closing conditions.

07:05 EDT Synlogic appoints Aoife Brennan as president, CEO - Synlogic announced the appointment of Aoife Brennan, M.B., B.Ch., as president and CEO of Synlogic, effective immediately. Brennan joined Synlogic as CMO in 2016 and has served as interim president and CEO since May 2018.

07:04 EDT Ortho Dermatologics announces publication of Phase 3 data on Bryhali Lotion - Ortho Dermatologics and its parent company, Bausch Health Companies, announced that the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology has published results of two Phase 3 randomized controlled trials examining the safety and efficacy of BRYHALITM Lotion, 0.01%, an investigational potent to superpotent** corticosteroid, in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. BRYHALI Lotion has a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of October 5, 2018. In the studies, BRYHALI Lotion was consistently more effective than vehicle in achieving treatment success, which was defined as at least a two-grade improvement from baseline in an Investigator Global Assessment score, and 'clear' or 'almost clear' skin. By week eight, 36.5% and 38.4% of BRYHALI Lotion patients had achieved treatment success, compared to 8.1% and 12% of patients receiving vehicle. At four weeks post treatment, no rebound of symptoms was observed in patients using BRYHALI Lotion. BRYHALI Lotion was also found to be well-tolerated, with a similar number of patients in the BRYHALI Lotion and vehicle groups reporting adverse events (21.5% and 23.9%, respectively). The most common adverse reactions were upper respiratory tract infection, application site dermatitis and hyperglycemia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted the New Drug Application for BRYHALI Lotion with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of October 5, 2018.

06:57 EDT EyeGate announces excution of license agreement with SentrX Animal Care - EyeGate Pharmaceuticals announced the execution of a license agreement with SentrX Animal Care. Under the agreement, EyeGate will in-license the rights to trade-secrets and know-how related to the manufacturing of EyeGate's Ocular Bandage Gel, or OBG. The agreement will enable EyeGate to pursue a different vendor with a larger capacity for manufacturing and an FDA-inspected facility for commercialization of a product for human use.

06:47 EDT Fluor's joint venture selected for LNG Canada construction project - Fluor announced that LNG Canada has made the final investment decision to build its liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada. Fluor's joint venture with JGC Corporation will provide the engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction on the project. Fluor will book its $8.4B share of the about $14B contract value in the Q4. More than 4,500 workers will be employed at the peak of construction. The joint venture will focus on hiring locally and then throughout British Columbia and Canada. Fluor and JGC will begin site activities this year, with first LNG expected around the middle of next decade.

06:46 EDT GlaxoSmithKline: Albiglutude 'superior' to placebo in Harmony Outcomes study - GSK and the Duke Clinical Research Institute announced publication of results from the Harmony Outcomes study which assessed the cardiovascular safety and efficacy of albiglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Results were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes congress 2018 with simultaneous publication in The Lancet. The study was initiated in July 2015 and GSK remained committed to completing it following an announcement in July 2017 of GSK's intention to cease further R&D, manufacturing and sales activity for albiglutide. Prior studies of GLP-1 receptor agonists when used in patients with diabetes and CV disease had provided inconsistent results regarding the potential benefit, and GSK believed that the data generated from this study could contribute important new evidence to the field. The primary outcome showed that albiglutide, administered subcutaneously once-weekly in 9463 patients over a median period of 1.6 years, was superior to placebo in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 22% when used in addition to standard of care in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr John Lepore, Senior Vice President R&D Pipeline, GSK said: "Harmony Outcomes was an important study for us to complete to generate new data and insights about the role of the GLP-1 receptor agonist class in the management of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. GSK continued to invest in this study following a decision last year to cease all other activities on albiglutide, and we continue to explore opportunities to divest this medicine to a company with the right expertise and resources to realise its full potential for patients."

06:31 EDT Clementia Pharmaceuticals initiates Phase 1 clinical trial of palovarotene - Clementia Pharmaceuticals announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating an eye drop formulation of palovarotene in healthy volunteers. Palovarotene, an RARgamma agonist, is Clementia's lead product candidate and is also being developed as an oral therapy for the treatment of patients with ultra-rare bone disorders, including fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva and multiple osteochondromas. This study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of single and multiple ascending doses of palovarotene ophthalmic solution in healthy volunteers. Data from this trial are expected in the first quarter of 2019. Clementia will utilize the data obtained in this study to inform the design of a proof of concept efficacy trial evaluating palovarotene in dry eye disease, which is expected to begin in 2019.

06:16 EDT MYOS receives Medicare, Medicade reimbursement eligibility for enteral nutrition - MYOS announced that MYOS enteral nutrition formula, formulated with Fortetropin, has become eligible for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. Specifically, the formula has been approved as an HCPCS B4150 product after review by the pricing, data analysis, and coding contractor for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This HCPCS B4150 code is used to describe enteral formulas which are nutritionally complete with intact nutrients, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. A serving of MYOS enteral nutrition formula contains 6.6 grams of Fortetropin in addition to 23 grams of protein and 26 high quality vitamins and minerals. The term, "enteral nutrition" typically refers to a feeding method that makes use of the gastrointestinal tract to deliver some component of a patient's dietary needs.

06:14 EDT Google's advertising chief Sridhar Ramaswamy leaving to join Greylock - Google's longtime advertising chief is leaving after 15 years to join Greylock, the VC firm said in a post on Medium. Sridhar Ramaswamy is leaving to join the venture capital firm, and will be replaced by Prabhakar Raghavan, vice president of Engineering at Google. Reference Link

06:11 EDT Bright Scholar to acquire Bournemouth Collegiate School in the UK - Bright Scholar announced that it signed an agreement to acquire Bournemouth Collegiate School, or BCS, in the United Kingdom. BCS is an independent school located in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. It offers day and boarding education from age 2-18 on two campuses. It has a strong global inclusive philosophy based on a traditional UK education. The school currently caters to approximately 600 students, including local students and international boarders from more than a dozen countries. The consummation of the proposed acquisition is subject to corporate and regulatory approvals as well as other customary closing conditions.

06:08 EDT Shell Canada Energy gives green light to invest in LNG Canada - Shell Canada Energy, an affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, announced it has taken a final investment decision on LNG Canada, a major liquified natural gas project in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, in which Shell has a 40% working interest. With LNG Canada's joint venture participants also having taken FID, construction will start immediately with first LNG expected before the middle of the next decade. Shell's 40% share of the project's capital cost is within the company's current overall capital investment guidance of $25-$30 billion per year. "We believe LNG Canada is the right project, in the right place, at the right time," said Ben van Beurden, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell. "Supplying natural gas over the coming decades will be critical as the world transitions to a lower carbon energy system. Global LNG demand is expected to double by 2035 compared with today, with much of this growth coming from Asia where gas displaces coal. LNG Canada is well positioned to help Shell meet the growing needs of customers at a time when we see an LNG supply shortage in our outlook. With significant integration advantages from the upstream through to trading, LNG Canada is expected to deliver Shell an integrated internal rate of return of some 13%, while the cash flow it generates is expected to be significant, long life and resilient." LNG Canada is a long life asset that will initially export LNG from two processing units or "trains" totaling 14 million tonnes per annum, with the potential to expand to four trains in the future. It is advantaged by access to abundant, low-cost natural gas from British Columbia's vast resources and the relatively short shipping distance to North Asia, which is about 50% shorter than from the US Gulf of Mexico and avoids the Panama Canal. The LNG export facility will be constructed using proven industry technology on a large, partially developed industrial site with an existing deep-water port, roads, rail and power supplies.The project was planned and designed by working closely with local communities, First Nations and governments to ensure sustainable development was considered in every aspect of the project. For example, the project has been designed to achieve the lowest carbon intensity of any LNG project in operation today, aided by the partial use of hydropower.

06:04 EDT AudioEye announces partnership with Simpleview - AudioEye announced a new partnership with Simpleview. This partnership with Simpleview jumpstarts AudioEye's path to serving clients in an industry that has recently come under scrutiny by plaintiffs filing legal demand letters and lawsuits claiming accessibility impediments that block their access and full participation in accessing the information and services provided from travel and tourism web destinations. Through this partnership, Simpleview will be offering their clients partner pricing options to add-on AudioEye's accessibility technologies delivered in conjunction with the end-to-end ally managed service offering, which includes an always-on accessibility monitoring service and enterprise-grade remediation technology.

05:58 EDT Yahoo Japan to shut down GeoCities service in March 2019 - Yahoo Japan announced yesterday that it will shut down its GeoCities service in March 2019. Reference Link

05:16 EDT Insulet says Omipod now available for use in Europe with Fiasp - Insulet (PODD) announced that Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Fiasp has been tested and found safe for use in Insulet's Omnipod System in Europe. Fiasp is a new-generation, ultra fast-acting insulin developed by Novo Nordisk that enters the bloodstream two times faster, compared to NovoRapid, so it more closely matches a healthy body's insulin response to a meal, thereby improving glycemic control. Insulet will showcase its Omnipod System during the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting at the Messe Berlin Exhibition Halls in Berlin, Germany taking place 1st October to 5th October 2018.