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

18:14 EDT Regenxbio announces updated results from Phase I study of RGX-314 - REGENXBIO announced updated results from the ongoing Phase I study of RGX-314 for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. The results were presented by Jeffrey Heier, M.D., Co-President and Director of Retina Research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, and primary investigator for the trial, at the Retina Subspecialty Day program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2018 Annual Meeting. In August 2018, REGENXBIO presented an interim trial update on the first three dose cohorts, as of July 27, 2018, demonstrating that RGX-314 was well-tolerated and showed dose-dependent protein expression levels and dose-dependent reductions in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections, along with maintenance of central retinal thickness and vision. Of the subjects treated at the 6 x 10^10 (Cohort 3) genome copies/eye dose, 50% were free of anti-VEGF injections at six months. RGX-314 protein expression continues to be detected in all subjects in Cohort 3. At six months, Cohort 3 subjects demonstrated evidence of sustained RGX-314 protein expression levels, as measured from aqueous samples by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay after administration of RGX-314.

17:52 EDT Johnson & Johnson says court invalidates all claims on Zytiga patent - Johnson & Johnson announced that the United States District Court, District of New Jersey has issued a ruling invalidating all asserted claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,822,438 for Zytiga. The court held that the patent claims would be infringed if the patent were valid. The patent infringement case was filed against several companies who have submitted Abbreviated New Drug Applications for 250 mg and/or 500 mg tablets. Janssen strongly disagrees with the court's ruling and will continue to defend the patent. The company plans to appeal the decision. The court has ordered that the status quo be maintained through October 30, and no generic launch shall occur before October 31, so that Janssen's preliminary injunction motion to enjoin defendants from launching their generic products pending the appeal process can be decided. Janssen has filed a motion for rehearing with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in connection with the prior Inter Partes Review decisions related to the '438 patent. Commercial launch of generic abiraterone acetate prior to the outcome of the appeals would be considered an at-risk launch. In Europe, Zytiga is protected by regulatory exclusivity through September 2022. Janssen will continue to defend intellectual property rights relating to its innovative medicines.

17:29 EDT Wasserstein Debt Opportunities reports 5.23% passive stake in ION Geophysical

17:24 EDT Pacific Premier announces $100M stock repurchase program - The stock repurchase program may be limited or terminated at any time without prior notice. The stock repurchase program is intended to replace and supersede the company's prior stock repurchase program, which was approved in June 2012 and authorized the repurchase of up to 1M shares of the company's common stock. An aggregate of 237,455 shares of the company's common stock were repurchased under that program.

17:01 EDT Williams-Sonoma appoints Anne Mulcahy to board of directors - Williams-Sonoma (WSM) announced today that Anne Mulcahy has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Mulcahy is a 30-year veteran of Xerox (XRX), where she served as CEO from 2001 to 2009 and as Chairman from 2002 to 2010.

16:34 EDT Zions Bancorp approves plan to purchase up to $250M of shares in Q4 - The Board approved a plan to purchase up to $250M of common shares during the fourth quarter of 2018.

16:02 EDT Aduro Biotech presents preclinical data for anti-APRIL antibody BION-1301 - Aduro Biotech announced preclinical data for its first-in-class anti-APRIL antibody BION-1301 supporting its use in the treatment of IgA nephropathy at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2018 in San Diego, CA. IgAN is a progressive kidney disease characterized by an autoimmune antibody response against endogenous IgA. Preclinical studies demonstrated that BION-1301 binds to a specifically defined epitope on APRIL, resulting in complete blockade of APRIL induced receptor activation, and is expected to lead to suppression of IgA and the autoimmune response to IgA associated with the disease. Dosing of BION-1301 in non-human primates led to a significant reduction of blood IgA levels and established a favorable safety profile. "Based on strong scientific rationale, BION-1301 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical study for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The preclinical data presented today further indicate BION-1301's potential in the treatment of IgAN," stated Andrea van Elsas, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Aduro. "Chronic exposure to BION-1301 was shown to significantly reduce serum IgA levels in non-human primates, suggesting this novel antibody may be instrumental in the reduction of IgA immune complexes deposited in the kidneys of patients with IgAN. We look forward to advancing the development of BION-1301 for this progressive kidney disease for which there currently is no approved therapy with curative intent."

15:56 EDT Microsoft President defends work on technology for U.S. military - In a post to Microsoft's corporate blog, President Brad Smith stated in part: "Over the last few months there has been a debate in our industry about when and how technology companies should work with the government, and specifically whether companies should supply digital technology to the military, including here in the United States. Yesterday, Satya Nadella and I addressed this issue in a conversation with our employees at the company's monthly Q&A session. Given public interest in this question, we want to be transparent both internally and externally on where Microsoft stands on these issues...First, we believe in the strong defense of the United States and we want the people who defend it to have access to the nation's best technology, including from Microsoft. Second, we appreciate the important new ethical and policy issues that artificial intelligence is creating for weapons and warfare. We want to use our knowledge and voice as a corporate citizen to address these in a responsible way through the country's civic and democratic processes. Third, we understand that some of our employees may have different views. We don't ask or expect everyone who works at Microsoft to support every position the company takes...Recently Microsoft bid on an important defense project. It's the DOD's Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud project - or "JEDI" - which will re-engineer the Defense Department's end-to-end IT infrastructure, from the Pentagon to field-level support of the country's servicemen and women. The contract has not been awarded but it's an example of the kind of work we are committed to doing." Reference Link

15:14 EDT Adage Capital Partners GP reports 9.62% passive stake in Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

14:43 EDT Amphenol discloses receipt of subpoena from DOD Inspector General - In a regulatory filing, Amphenol stated: "The Company has been named as a defendant in several legal actions arising from normal business activities. The Company records a loss contingency liability when a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Although the potential liability with respect to certain of such legal actions cannot be reasonably estimated, none of such matters is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company's legal costs associated with defending itself are recorded to expense as incurred. The Company has also received a subpoena from the Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, requesting documents pertaining to certain products manufactured by the Company's Military and Aerospace Group that are purchased or used by the U.S. government. The Company is cooperating with the request. The inquiry is in the early stages and the Company is unable to estimate the timing or outcome of the matter."

13:38 EDT Entergy boosts quarterly dividend to 91c from 89c - Entergy said its board has declared a quarterly dividend of 91c per common share. The payment date is Dec. 3, 2018, to stockholders of record on Nov. 8, 2018. The dividend is 2c above last quarter's 89c per share dividend.

13:34 EDT NBC says Megyn Kelly Today show is not returning - NBC News, citing a spokesperson, said via Twitter: "Megyn Kelly Today is not returning. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors." NBC is owned by Comcast.

13:26 EDT Sabby Management reports 8.26% passive stake in Neuralstem

13:04 EDT Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count up 1 to 1,068 rigs - Baker Hughes reports that the U.S. rig count is up 1 rig from last week to 1,068, with oil rigs up 2 to 875 and gas rigs down 1 to 193. The U.S. Rig Count is up 159 rigs from last year's count of 909, with oil rigs up 138 and gas rigs up 21. The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is down 1 rig to 19 and down 1 rig year-over-year. The Canada Rig Count is up 9 rigs from last week to 200, with oil rigs up 1 to 124, gas rigs up 8 to 76, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0. The Canada Rig Count is up 9 rigs from last year's count of 191, with oil rigs up 28, gas rigs down 18, and miscellaneous rigs down 1.

12:38 EDT President Trump says 'America must unify' after bomb suspect apprehended - President Trump is speaking on the arrest of the mail bomb suspect in the White House.

12:32 EDT Muddy Waters comments on former short position Proofpoint - Short-seller Muddy Waters Research tweeted, "Interesting to see $PFPT hammered. We shorted in Dec. 2015. Clearly wasn't a good short. But it's incredible how in 3 years since, PFPT still has not had a quarter of positive earnings or EBITDA. We got growth wrong (or early), but nailed inability to cut sales & marketing %."

12:00 EDT TimkenSteel rises 9.6% - TimkenSteel is up 9.6%, or $1.08 to $12.31.

12:00 EDT Standard Motor rises 12.1% - Standard Motor is up 12.1%, or $5.35 to $49.40.

11:44 EDT RedDiamond Partners reports 6.1595% passive stake in Alliance MMA

11:35 EDT Tesla issues safety update - In a post to Tesla's corporate blog, Laurie Shelby, VP, Environmental, Health and Safety, stated in part: "On Wednesday, Elon invited me to share the safety improvements we've made this past year with investors on our quarterly earnings call because this is so important to him personally." The blog posted noted that "This summer, Cal-OSHA completed a comprehensive four-month investigation into our OSHA recordkeeping practices for the entire Fremont factory. This included multiple onsite visits and meetings, and seven documentation requests, including a review of legally mandated records, injury logs, Tesla's safety policies, and more. After this extensive review, we're pleased that Cal-OSHA identified only two minor issues: an extension cord connected to a fan that created a potential trip hazard (which was addressed immediately during the inspection), and one small discrepancy in the date of when a single injury occurred, though it was logged correctly in our 2018 records. This was promptly clarified as an administrative error with Cal OSHA and confirmed by the medical provider. We recognize we're not perfect, but this is further proof of Tesla's focus on accurate reporting and transparency." Reference Link

11:31 EDT EU approves Sony taking full control over EMI - The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of EMI Music Publishing by Sony Corporation of America. The Commission found the deal raises no competition concerns, in particular as it will not increase Sony's market power vis-a-vis online platforms. EMI Music Publishing, a music publishing company, is since 2012 jointly owned and controlled by Sony Corporation of America and Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, an investment fund based in the United Arab Emirates. Under the proposed transaction, Sony would now acquire sole control and ownership over EMI MP.

11:05 EDT Justice Department confirms person in custody over suspicious packages - Sarah Isgur Flores, Director of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice, said via Twitter, "We can confirm one person is in custody. We will hold a press conference at the Department of Justice at 2:30pm ET."

10:33 EDT The Intersection: Crypto and Wall Street This Week - As bitcoin, ethereum and other cryptocurrencies get increasing attention from investors, Wall Street and its traditional banks continue to adjust to the shift. Catch up on this week's top stories highlighting the intersection of these old guard and new school areas of finance with this recap compiled by The Fly. 1. JAPAN APPROVES SELF-REGULATION FOR CRYPTO INDUSTRY: On Wednesday, Japan's Financial Services Agency gave the cryptocurrency industry self-regulatory status, allowing the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association to police and sanction exchanges for any violations, Reuters reported. The agency's approval gives the association the authority to establish rules to safeguard customer assets, prevent money laundering, and give operational guidelines. The FSA also published a set of guidelines for those applying to run crypto exchange. 2. COINBASE, CIRCLE FORM JV: On Tuesday, Circle announced that it has partnered with Coinbase to form the CENTRE Consortium, a joint venture aimed at establishing a standard for fiat on the internet and providing a governance framework and network for the global, mainstream adoption of fiat stablecoins. The first major initiative from CENTRE is USD Coin, a stablecoin technology and network scheme. Circle recently became the first issuer of USDC and Coinbase is making it available to customers on Coinbase Pro and Coinbase.com. Customers can tokenize dollars into USDC and redeem USDC into dollars through both Circle and Coinbase, making USD Coin the industry's first open, fungible and interoperable fiat stablecoin. Additionally on Tuesday, the New York State Department of Financial Services announced it has approved the application of Coinbase Custody Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinbase, to operate as a limited purpose trust company. 3. AMD SLIDES AMID CRYPTO SLOWDOWN: Shares of AMD (AMD) dropped after the chipmaker announced third quarter earnings Wednesday and guided to Q4 revenue below Wall Street's expectations. On the company's Q3 conference call, Chief Financial Officer Devinder Kumar said, "Channel GPU sales came in lower than expected, based on excess channel inventory levels, caused by the decline in blockchain-related demand that was so strong earlier in the year." Shares of competitor Nvidia (NVDA) also fell following the remarks. 4. OVERSTOCK SUBSIDIARY INVESTS IN MINDS, INC.: On Monday, crypto social network Minds, Inc. announced a $6M Series A investment from Medici Ventures, the wholly-owned blockchain subsidiary of Overstock.com (OSTK). Overstock.com founder and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Byrne will be joining the Minds board of directors. Minds recently launched the $MINDS crypto token on the Ethereum Mainnet as a way for users to boost their content, subscribe to media subscriptions and access exclusive content. 5. IDEANOMICS TO ADVISE ON DIGITAL FINANCING: Ideanomics (SSC) announced Wednesday that its commodities and energy division has signed its first project for a traditional financing and security token offering by entering into a financial advisory service agreement with Zhonjinhuifu Resources. Under the agreement, Ideanomics will advise and lead Zhonjinhuifu on its planned $200M capital raise over the next two years. CRYPTO STOCK PLAYS: Cryptocurrency revenues have been pointed to as reasons to be bullish on Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia in select research. Overstock, DPW Holdings (DPW), Kodak (KODK), Ideanomics, Riot Blockchain (RIOT), Pareteum (TEUM) and Social Reality (SRAX) are other stocks that have been touted, or promoted themselves, as a way to play the crypto theme. PRICE ACTION: As of time of writing, bitcoin dropped about 0.1% this week to $6,424 in U.S. dollars, according to CoinDesk. WANT BITCOIN NEWS ALERTS?: To receive alerts on stories relating to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, Fly subscribers can enter "Bitcoin" into the "Add symbols" box of their portfolios.

10:30 EDT Jack in the Box enters confidentiality agreement with Jana Partners - In a regulatory filing, Jack in the Box disclosed that on October 25, Jana Partners entered into a confidentiality and standstill letter agreement with the company. Jana owns 1,831,007 shares of Jack in the Box stock, representing a 6.7% stake, the filing shows.

10:04 EDT Regenxbio Treatment of CLN2 disease granted orphan designation - Regenxbio's treatment of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2, or CLN2, disease was granted orphan designation by the FDA, according to a post to the agency's website. Reference Link

10:00 EDT Arlo Technologies falls -15.8% - Arlo Technologies is down -15.8%, or -$2.29 to $12.18.

10:00 EDT Aquantia falls -30.2% - Aquantia is down -30.2%, or -$3.22 to $7.44.

10:00 EDT Vocera rises 14.4% - Vocera is up 14.4%, or $4.45 to $35.30.

09:47 EDT AK Steel falls -14.6% - AK Steel is down -14.6%, or -61c to $3.60.

09:47 EDT Ellie Mae falls -20.4% - Ellie Mae is down -20.4%, or -$16.22 to $63.38.

09:47 EDT Vocera rises 6.8% - Vocera is up 6.8%, or $2.09 to $32.95.

09:35 EDT Anavex presents three-year, longitudinal clinical efficacy data for Avanex 2-73 - Anavex Life Sciences presented new clinical data for ANAVEX 2-73 in a late-breaking oral presentation at the 2018 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease Meeting. At 148 weeks into the five-year extended Phase 2a clinical study of ANAVEX 2-73, data confirmed a significant association between ANAVEX 2-73 concentration and both exploratory functional and cognitive endpoints as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living evaluation and the Mini Mental State Examination, respectively. The cohort of patients treated with higher ANAVEX 2-73 concentration maintained ADCS-ADL performance compared to the lower concentration cohor. The patient cohort with the higher ANAVEX 2-73 concentration performed better at MMSE compared to the lower concentration cohort. A significant impact on the drug response levels of both the SIGMAR1 and COMT genomic biomarkers, identified and specified at week 57, was also confirmed over the 148-week period. ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrated continued favorable safety and tolerability through 148 weeks.

09:21 EDT Biogen, Eisai present Phase 1b aducanumab data at CTAD - Biogen (BIIB) and Eisai (ESALY) announced that Biogen presented results at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease, or CTAD, meeting from the recent 36- and 48-month analyses of the ongoing long-term extension, or LTE, of the Phase 1b study of aducanumab, an investigational treatment for mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, due to Alzheimer's disease, or AD. A late-breaking oral presentation and a poster included data from patients treated with aducanumab for up to 36 and 48 months. Data from both analyses showed a reduction in amyloid plaque levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as measured by positron emission tomography. In addition, analyses of exploratory clinical endpoints, Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes and the Mini-Mental State Examination, suggested a continued slowing of clinical decline over 36 months and 48 months. The results in each dosing arm were generally consistent with previously reported analyses of this study, and there were no changes to the risk-benefit profile of aducanumab.

09:13 EDT RumbleON to acquire Wholesale Inc., Wholesale Express for $23M - RumbleOn announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Wholesale, Inc. and Wholesale Express for total consideration of approximately $23M consisting of $16M of cash and the remaining balance in RumbleOn Class B shares, with the aggregate consideration subject to adjustment based on the stock price of the RumbleOn Class B Common Stock at closing. RumbleOn also announced the pricing of a $21.5M private placement of Class B shares, expanded its existing credit facility by $5M and reported preliminary third quarter financial results. Wholesale Inc. has been in business for over 27 years and is one of the largest independent distributors of pre-owned vehicles in the United States and Wholesale Express is its related logistics company. Wholesale buys and sells approximately 2,000 vehicles per month to dealers and consumers nationwide, with a historical five-year compounded growth in unit sales is in excess of 15%. Consistent with RumbleOn's strategy, Wholesale offers these vehicles to consumers for a limited time, while making them available to dealers. The company has grown into a well-respected brand and has an outstanding regional distribution platform that can be replicated to a national footprint. In 2018, Wholesale Inc. is expected to sell more than 21,000 vehicles and Wholesale Express is expected to transport more than 70,000 vehicles. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, Wholesale Inc. and Wholesale Expressgenerated $328.6M in revenue and $2M in Net Income. On a pro-forma basis, the combined company would have generated revenue of $350.6M and a net loss of $6.3M for the same period. Under the terms of the agreement, which have been unanimously approved by each company, RumbleOn will purchase Wholesale for $23M, consisting of $16M of cash and the remaining balance in RumbleOn Class B shares, with the aggregate consideration and number of shares issued subject to adjustment based on the stock price of the RumbleOn Class B Common Stock at closing. The acquisitions of the Wholesale entities are subject to customary closing conditions including the completion of the private placement, and are expected to close on Monday, October 29, 2018. Wholesale's management team and full staff will join RumbleOn and continue operations under the Wholesale brand, which will be co-branded with RumbleOn. RumbleOn intends to begin integrating the companies immediately after the closing and will roll out processes and integrations over the next several quarters.

08:57 EDT FBI confirms 11th package sent to Booker, says similar to others - The FBI said via Twitter, "The #FBI has confirmed an 11th package has been recovered in Florida, similar in appearance to the others, addressed to Sen. Cory Booker."

08:51 EDT Novo Nordisk says semaglutide trial achieved objective under primary approach - Novo Nordisk announced the headline results from PIONEER 8, a phase 3a trial with oral semaglutide for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Two distinct statistical approaches to evaluating the effects of oral semaglutide were applied in the PIONEER 8 trial; a primary statistical approach required by recent regulatory guidance evaluating the effect regardless of discontinuation of treatment and use of rescue medication, and a secondary statistical approach describing the effect while on treatment and without use of rescue medication. When applying the primary statistical approach, the trial achieved its primary objective by demonstrating statistically significant and superior reductions in HbA1c and body weight with all three doses of oral semaglutide compared to placebo, all in addition to insulin, at week 26. When applying the secondary statistical approach, from a mean baseline of 8.2%, people treated with 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide achieved reductions in HbA1c of 0.6%, 1.0% and 1.4% respectively, compared to no reduction in people treated with placebo, all in addition to insulin, at week 26, and 0.5%, 0.8% and 1.2% respectively, compared with 0.0% at week 52. "For people with type 2 diabetes and requiring insulin treatment, it can be challenging to reach optimal blood sugar control levels due to weight gain and risk of hypoglycaemia," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. "In PIONEER 8, oral semaglutide was able to improve blood sugar control for people with a long duration of diabetes and already treated with insulin, with the benefit of clinically meaningful weight reduction, and without increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia."

08:36 EDT Sphere 3D special shareholder meeting postponed to October 31 - Sphere 3D announces that it has postponed its upcoming special meeting of shareholders, originally scheduled for October 26, 2018. The postponement will allow more time for the tabulation of votes and for holders of shares which have not been voted to vote their shares, and allow the company's management to continue ongoing discussions with shareholders concerning the matters subject to a vote at the meeting.

08:31 EDT Conagra Brands completes acquisition of Pinnacle Foods - Conagra Brands (CAG) announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Pinnacle Foods (PF). The closing of the transaction follows the approval of Pinnacle Foods' shareholders and satisfaction of all terms and conditions.

08:28 EDT Citi reports Q3 projected stressed CET1 capital ratio 9% in 3Q20 under DFAST - Under the stress testing requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as implemented by the Federal Reserve Board, Citi is required to conduct a company-run Mid-Cycle Stress Test. Sees 3Q20 Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 10.8%.

08:23 EDT Spirit AeroSystems provides update on proposed acquisition of Asco Industries - Spirit AeroSystems and Asco Industries have been working with the European Commission in recent weeks in its review of Spirit's proposed acquisition of S.R.I.F. N.V., the parent company of Asco. During the course of its Phase 1 review, the Commission identified issues that it requires to be addressed regarding the transaction. Consequently, Spirit has decided to withdraw its notification of the transaction from the Commission in order to address those issues. This will interrupt the Commission's current review of the transaction. Spirit and Asco will work to refile the notification in a timely manner.

08:17 EDT Tenneco to restructure North America ride control operations - Tenneco announced it will close its original equipment ride control plants in Owen Sound, Ontario and Hartwell, Georgia as part of an initiative to realign its manufacturing footprint to enhance operational efficiency and respond to changing market conditions and capacity requirements. The company expects to begin transferring current customer business primarily to its ride control facility in Kettering, Ohio, later this year. Tenneco expects to complete the closure of the two facilities near the end of the second quarter of 2020. The company estimates that these restructuring actions will generate between $20M and $25M in annualized savings beginning by the end of 2020. Restructuring and related charges are expected to be in the range of $70M and $85M, with $20M to $30M occurring in Q4. The charges comprise between $40M and $50M of cash expenditures and between $30M and $35M of non-cash asset write-downs and other costs.

08:12 EDT Aeglea BioTherapeutics to present AEB5100 data at ASN - Aeglea BioTherapeutics announced that it will present preclinical data highlighting the discovery and activity of AEB5100 in an oral presentation. The company will at the American Society of Nephrology, or ASN. Cystinuria is a rare, debilitating genetic disorder characterized by frequent and recurrent kidney stone formation, which may require multiple surgical interventions with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. Patients with cystinuria have mutations in amino acid transporters that result in markedly increased urine cystine concentration leading to kidney stone formation. Medical need remains high as current therapies for cystinuria demonstrate limited effectiveness and are associated with an increased risk of serious complications. The presentation describes the engineering of the cystathionine gamma-lyase enzyme scaffold into a novel molecule with a unique specificity for degrading both cystine and cysteine. AEB5100 decreases cystine and cysteine in the plasma of mouse models of cystinuria. Reductions in plasma cystine and cysteine levels with a single dose of AEB5100 resulted in significant lowering of urine cystine levels and a decrease in urine cystine crystals. Furthermore, repeat dosing of AEB5100 reduced both the volume and number of kidney stones.

08:07 EDT Ultragenyx announces Phase 3 study of UX007 did not achieve primary endpoint - Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical announced its Phase 3 study of UX007 in patients with glucose transporter type-1 deficiency syndrome, Glut1 DS, experiencing disabling paroxysmal movement disorders did not achieve its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of paroxysmal movement events with UX007 treatment compared to placebo, and did not demonstrate a meaningful difference between treatment groups. The study also did not meet its key secondary endpoints. The safety profile observed in this study was consistent with what has been previously reported with UX007. Ultragenyx plans to discontinue the Glut1 DS development program, and will work with investigators and patients on a reasonable transition plan for patients with Glut1 DS who are still on UX007.Ultragenyx has a separate program evaluating UX007 in long-chain fatty oxidation disorders, LC-FAOD, which continues on track. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration,FDA, has accepted the Company's proposal to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for UX007 for the treatment of LC-FAOD based on existing data, and a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA will take place before the end of 2018. In the EU, Ultragenyx will discuss these data with the European Medicines Agency and expects to have an update this year."We had previously observed significant improvements in individual cases of Glut1 DS with UX007 and so we are particularly disappointed by the results of the Glut1 DS study in a larger group of patients that did not demonstrate this same effect. We are grateful for the commitment and dedication of patients, caregivers, and investigators as well as our employees to this program," said Emil Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Ultragenyx. "We continue to move forward with our UX007 program in long-chain fatty acid disorders which is not affected by this Glut1 DS outcome. We look forward to providing an update on UX007 regulatory discussions later this year."

08:02 EDT Agco appoints Eric Hansotia as COO - AGCO announced that Eric Hansotia, Senior Vice President, Global Crop Cycle and Fuse Connected Services, has been appointed COO, a new position within AGCO. Effective January 1, 2019, Hansotia will assume responsibility for all of AGCO's regional commercial operations as well as its global product management, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain functions.

07:58 EDT Ultragenyx trading halted, news pending

07:50 EDT Goodyear Tire down 4.7% to $19.60 after Q3 results miss estimates

07:48 EDT Goodyear Tire CEO says 'deteriorating market conditions in China' continue - "We continued to improve the operating performance in our key mature markets, driven by strong volume growth, including significant increases in the more profitable 17-inch-and-greater rim sizes in the U.S. and Europe," said Richard Kramer, chairman, CEO and president. "These gains contributed to the improving momentum in our two largest segments, as EMEA delivered operating income growth of more than 20 percent and Americas turned in its best year-over-year performance since 2016. We are pleased to see that in total, our operating performance was relatively stable in a period of increasing volatility. The issues that began to emerge in the second quarter have persisted - including a stronger U.S. dollar and deteriorating market conditions in China. Additionally, newly enacted emission standards in Europe, growing economic volatility in Latin America, and a changing global trade environment have added incremental challenges for the industry. We have successfully navigated through similar conditions in the past, and I am confident that our strategic plan and the investments we are making are improving our long-term competitive position."

07:33 EDT Colgate-Palmolive down 3.6% to $61.49 after Q3 revenue trails estimates

07:07 EDT Charter CEO says 'We are performing well through a very large integration' - "We are performing well through a very large integration, including completing all-digital and improving the quality and efficiency of our service operations. We have also significantly improved our products, including delivering faster Internet speeds with Gigabit speeds nationwide, and we have launched new products, like Spectrum Mobile," said Tom Rutledge, Chairman and CEO of Charter Communications. "At the end of 2018, our integration of legacy TWC and Bright House will be largely complete and we will operate as a single company, with a superior product and value proposition. With significantly less customer-facing change in 2019, we expect continued improving service metrics with higher demand and retention, faster growth and falling capital intensity, driving meaningful free cash flow growth."

07:06 EDT Charter reports 27.9M total customer relationships as of September 30 - As of September 30, 2018, Charter had 27.9M total customer relationships and 53M total PSUs. Third quarter total residential and SMB customer relationships increased 234,000, compared to 215,000 during the third quarter of 2017. Over the twelve months ended September 30, 2018, total residential and SMB customer relationships grew by 3.4%.

07:05 EDT LifePoint reports Q3 same-hospital revenues up 2.1%

06:57 EDT Colgate-Palmolive reports Q3 gross profit margin 59% vs. 60% last year - Gross profit margin was 59.0% in third quarter 2018 versus 60.0% in third quarter 2017. Excluding charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in both periods, Gross profit margin was 59.2% in third quarter 2018, a decrease of 120 basis points versus the year ago quarter as higher raw and packaging material costs were partially offset by cost savings from the Company's funding-the-growth initiatives and higher pricing.

06:52 EDT MPLX raises quarterly distribution by 1.6% to 63.75c per unit - The board of the general partner of MPLX has declared a quarterly cash distribution of 63.75c per common unit for the third quarter 2018. This represents an increase of 1c per unit, or 1.6%, over the second quarter 2018 distribution, and an increase of 5c per unit, or 8.5%, over the third quarter 2017 distribution. The distribution will be paid on Nov. 14, 2018, to common unitholders of record as of Nov. 5, 2018.

06:46 EDT Gorman-Rupp raises dividend 8%, announces $2.00 per share special cash dividend - The Board of Directors of The Gorman-Rupp Company has declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share on the common stock of the company, payable December 10, 2018, to shareholders of record November 15, 2018. The aggregate payment will be approximately $52M paid from cash on hand. The Board of Directors also has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 13.5c per share on the common stock of the company, payable December 10, 2018, to shareholders of record November 15, 2018. This cash dividend will represent an 8.0% increase over the dividend paid in the previous quarter. This will mark the 275th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by The Gorman-Rupp Company and the 46th consecutive year of increased dividends paid to its shareholders.

06:32 EDT Southside Bancshares announces 1.5M share repurchase program - The company has no obligation to repurchase any shares under the Stock Repurchase Plan and may suspend or discontinue it at any time.

06:22 EDT Trump criticizes CNN, 'and others,' again in overnight tweet - At 3:14 am EST, President Donald Trump tweeted, "Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, 'it's just not Presidential!'" CNN is owned by AT&T following its acquisition of Time Warner.

05:46 EDT OneSmart Education acquires strategic minority stake in Tus-Juren Education - OneSmart International Education Group announced that it has jointly acquired a 100% equity stake with a third-party investor in Beijing Tus-Juren Education Technology, a leading K-12 after-school education company in China. According to the share purchase agreement, OneSmart has agreed to acquire a strategic minority equity stake in Tus-Juren and will actively participate in the management of its daily operations to further expand the business and create greater synergies with OneSmart's existing businesses. As part of this long-term strategic transaction, OneSmart also entered into a strategic partnership with Tus-Education Group, a Tsinghua University-affiliated diversified education group.

05:41 EDT Weyerhaeuser sees Q4 Timberlands earnings, adj. EBITDA lower than Q3 - Weyerhaeuser expects Q4 Timberlands earnings and Adjusted EBITDA will be lower than the third quarter. In the West, the company anticipates lower average sales realizations, partially offset by moderately higher export log sales volumes. In the South, the company anticipates slightly higher fee harvest volumes and comparable average log sales realizations. In Real Estate, Energy & Natural Resources, Weyerhaeuser anticipates Q4 earnings and Adjusted EBITDA will be comparable to Q3. The company expects full year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA for the segment will be approximately $260M. For Wood Products, Weyerhaeuser anticipates Q4 earnings and Adjusted EBITDA will be significantly lower than Q3. Based on current pricing, the company anticipates average sales realizations for lumber and oriented strand board will be substantially lower than third quarter averages. This will be partially offset by lower Western and Canadian log costs, improved unit manufacturing costs for lumber, and higher sales volumes for oriented strand board due to completion of the Grayling press replacement.

05:23 EDT Alibaba enters global strategic partnership with Richemont - Richemont and Alibaba Group announce a global strategic partnership to bring the retail offerings of YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP S.p.A., or YNAP, to Chinese consumers. Under the partnership, YNAP and Alibaba will establish a joint venture to launch two mobile apps for YNAP's NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER multi-brand, in-season online stores for consumers in China. Alibaba will provide technology infrastructure, marketing, payments, logistics and other technology support to the JV. The partnership will also leverage YNAP's strong relationship with leading luxury brands, some 950 of them being currently distributed through YNAP in China. In addition, the JV will launch NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER online stores on Alibaba's Tmall Luxury Pavilion, an exclusive platform dedicated to the world's leading luxury brands. Launched in 2017, the Tmall Luxury Pavilion aims to create the same brand exclusivity and tailored shopping experience that customers shopping offline typically enjoy. It enables brands to deliver highly personalised shopping experiences through curated homepages, customised brand pages, product recommendations and exclusive VIP awards. YNAP and Alibaba will also explore future offerings that enable the JV's customers to enjoy unique and seamless online and offline shopping experiences through digitising and fully integrating the retail value chain from merchandising and marketing to payments and last-mile delivery. The JV will focus on serving consumers in China and will extend to Chinese consumers travelling abroad.

04:54 EDT DBV Technologies enrolls first patient in Part B of Epitope trial - DBV Technologies announced that the first patient has been enrolled in Part B of the Epitope trial. Epitope is a two-part, pivotal Phase III clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of Viaskin Peanut 250 microgram for the treatment of peanut-allergic toddlers one to three years of age. This trial is the second Phase III clinical program currently investigating the use of Viaskin Peanut for the treatment of patients with peanut allergy.