Stockwinners Market Radar for November 16, 2018 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

17:57 EDT Aqua America CEO acquires over 25,000 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Aqua America CEO Chris Franklin disclosed the purchase of 25,421.23 common shares of the company at a price of $32.86 per share.

17:35 EDT Daktronics adopts new shareholder rights agreement - Daktronics announced that its Board of Directors adopted a new shareholder rights agreement that will take effect when the current plan, adopted in 2008, expires on November 19, 2018. In connection with the adoption of the rights agreement, the Board declared a dividend of one right for each share of common stock outstanding at the close of business on November 19, 2018 and for each share of common stock issued after that date and before the rights are triggered or redeemed. The rights are designed to enable Daktronics shareholders to realize the full long-term value of their investment and to provide for fair and equal treatment of all shareholders if an unsolicited attempt is made to acquire Daktronics. Daktronics believes that the rights agreement will enable its Board to be in a better position to perform its fiduciary duties and help the Board to protect shareholders against abusive takeover tactics that may be used to gain control of the company without paying a price that is in the best interest of all shareholders. The rights agreement was not adopted in response to any known offers for Daktronics and is similar to rights agreements adopted by other companies. The rights agreement, which was adopted by the Board of Daktronics after evaluation and consultation with advisors of Daktronics, has no immediate dilutive effect and does not prevent Daktronics or its shareholders from accepting a fair offer to acquire Daktronics in a negotiated transaction. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 20% or more of Daktronics' common stock or announces a tender offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the common stock. Each right will initially entitle shareholders to buy one-one thousandth of one share of preferred stock per common share owned at an initial exercise price of $25.00 per right, subject to adjustment. At that time, Daktronics' shareholders (other than the acquirer, whose rights will have become void and will not be exercisable) would have the right to purchase, at a price equal to 50% of the common stock's market value, a number of shares of Daktronics' common stock equal to (a) the exercise price of $25.00 multiplied by the number of one one-thousandth of a share of preferred stock for which a right was exercisable divided by (b) 50% of the then current market value of Daktronics' common stock. Daktronics' Board of Directors may redeem the rights for $0.001 per right at any time before the rights become exercisable. Unless the rights are redeemed, exchanged or terminated earlier, they will expire on November 19, 2021. At any time after any person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of Daktronics' common stock, the Board of Daktronics, at its option, may exchange each right (other than the rights owned by the acquirer, which will have become void), in whole or in part, for shares of Daktronics' common stock at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per outstanding right.

17:19 EDT Equinix's Lee sells 2,792 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Equinix Asia Pacific president Yau Tat Lee disclosed the sale of 2,792 common shares of the company at a price of $382.8639.

17:16 EDT Teligent receives notification of deficiency from Nasdaq - Teligent said that on November 13, 2018 it received a standard notice from NASDAQ stating that, as a result of not having timely filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018, Teligent is not in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5250c1, which requires timely filing of periodic financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As previously disclosed, additional time to file the Form 10-Q was required primarily due to the company's transition to its newly engaged audit firm, as well as the need to amend its second quarter results. The company intends to file its Quarterly Reports with the SEC as soon as possible and continues to work diligently to finalize its financial statements. Under the NASDAQ Listing Rules, the company has until January 14, 2019, to either file the Form 10-Q or submit a plan to NASDAQ in order to regain compliance with NASDAQ's Listing Rules. The Company intends to take all necessary steps to achieve compliance with NASDAQ's continued listing requirements. The NASDAQ notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of Teligent's common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

17:10 EDT Perceptive Advisors reports 5% passive stake in Athenex

16:58 EDT Ameren exec Nelson sells $690,000 worth of common shares - Ameren SVP, general counsel and secretary Gregory L. Nelson disclosed the sale of 10,000 common shares of the company at a price of $69 per share.

16:56 EDT Redmile Group reports 7.3% passive stake in Vapotherm

16:37 EDT Integrated Core Strategies reports 4.8% passive stake in Datawatch

16:30 EDT Pfizer confirms plan to increase list prices of 41 drugs - Pfizer shared its plans to maintain the current list prices for about 90% of its medicines, and effective January 15, 2019, to increase the list price of 10% of its entire drug portfolio - 41 medicines only. The increase in list price to this subset of the company's portfolio will be 5%. The only exceptions are three products that have a 3% increase and one product that is increasing 9% due to the completion of two extensive development programs that have led to the recent FDA approvals of two new medical uses that meet unmet patient needs. These list price increases are expected to be offset by higher rebates and discounts paid to Insurance Companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers and the net effect on revenue growth in the U.S. in 2019 is expected to be zero. Given the higher rebates and discounts, The company expects that the healthcare system will share those benefits with patients so they do not experience higher costs for their medicines. In 2018 the net impact of price increases on revenue growth is projected to be a negative 1% in the U.S compared with 2017.

16:19 EDT CommScope CFO acquires 40,000 common shares - In a regulatory filing, CommScope EVP and CFO Alexander W. Pease disclosed the purchase of 40,000 common shares of the company at a price of $18.6953 per share.

16:17 EDT Main Street executive chairman acquires 25,869 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Main Street Capital executive chairman Vincent D. Foster disclosed the acquisition of 25,869 common shares of the company at a price of $38.66 per share.

16:09 EDT Ship Finance to sell VLCC Front Falcon to unrelated third party for about $30.7M - Ship Finance announces that it has agreed to sell the 2002-built VLCC Front Falcon to an unrelated third party. Delivery to the new owner is expected later this quarter, and the net sales price will be approximately $30.7M. The company does not expect a material book effect from the transaction. Divesting of older vessels is part of Ship Finance's strategy to continuously renew and diversify its fleet. Following this transaction, the company has three VLCCs remaining on charter to a subsidiary of Frontline.

16:07 EDT Churchill Downs-Keeneland JV awarded racing license for Oak Grove, Kentucky - WKY Development, LLC - a joint venture between Churchill Downs and Keeneland Association - was awarded a racing license by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for twelve live Standardbred racing dates beginning in October 2019 at its racing venue proposed to be constructed in Oak Grove, Kentucky in Christian County. The proposed racing facility in Oak Grove represents a $150 million economic development project for Christian County, creating nearly 400 direct full and part time equivalent positions and an estimated 800 direct construction jobs. Aspects of the project include a historical racing machine facility featuring up to 1,500 machines, a 125-room hotel with event center and food/beverage venues, a 1,200-person seated capacity grandstand and event space for indoor events, a 3,000-person capacity outdoor amphitheater and stage, and a state-of-the-art equestrian center including indoor and outdoor arenas.

16:02 EDT Navigators shareholders approve merger with Hartford Financial - The Navigators Group (NAVG) announced that, at a special meeting of stockholders, Navigators' stockholders approved the adoption of the previously announced merger agreement relating to the proposed transaction between Navigators and The Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG), whereby Navigators will become a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hartford. Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, at the effective time of the merger, each eligible share of Navigators common stock will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $70.00 in cash. The merger remains subject to various closing conditions, including receipt of various regulatory approvals, and is expected to close during the first half of 2019.

15:33 EDT Haverty Furniture authorizes special dividend of $1.00 per share - HAVERTYS announced that its board of directors authorized a special cash dividend to be paid on the outstanding shares of the two classes of $1 par value common stock of the company at a rate of $1.00 per share on the common stock and $0.95 per share on the Class A common stock. The board also approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share on the common stock and $0.17 per share on the Class A common stock. The special cash dividend and regular quarterly dividend will be paid together on December 17, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2018. Havertys has paid a cash dividend in each year since 1935.

15:04 EDT TESARO trading resumes

14:56 EDT Connecticut Water shareholders approve SJW merger agreement - Connecticut Water Service (CTWS) announced that its shareholders overwhelmingly voted to approve the company's proposed merger agreement with SJW Group (SJW) at the Special Meeting of Shareholders held today. Approximately 92.5% of the shares voted at the Special Meeting were voted in favor of the SJW Group merger agreement, representing approximately 68.7% of Connecticut Water's outstanding common stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Connecticut Water will file the final vote results, as certified by the independent Inspector of Election, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on a Form 8-K. The transaction remains on track to close in the first quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. As previously announced, the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act was terminated early on April 27, 2018. Applications to obtain regulatory approvals of the merger were filed with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Maine Public Utilities Commission on July 18, 2018 and May 4, 2018, respectively. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Connecticut Water's shareholders will receive $70.00 in cash for each share of Connecticut Water common stock owned.

14:53 EDT Tesaro spikes after report of exploring potential sale - Shares of Tesaro are jumping in late day trading after Bloomberg said the company is working with advisors to explore a possible sale after receiving takeover interest. Following the report, Tesaro shares are up $2.58, or 9.7%, to $29.17.

14:49 EDT TESARO trading halted, volatility trading pause

14:22 EDT Alphabet's Verily, Novartis' Alcon put glucose-sensing contact lens work on hold - Verily, Alphabet's (GOOG) life sciences research organization, said that it and Alcon, Novartis' (NVS) eye-care division, have put their glucose-sensing contact lens work on hold. Verily partnered with Alcon in 2014 to leverage the team's expertise in lens development and manufacturing. "Our clinical work on the glucose-sensing lens demonstrated that there was insufficient consistency in our measurements of the correlation between tear glucose and blood glucose concentrations to support the requirements of a medical device," Verily said in a blog post. "In part, this was associated with the challenges of obtaining reliable tear glucose readings in the complex on-eye environment. For example, we found that interference from biomolecules in tears resulted in challenges in obtaining accurate glucose readings from the small quantities of glucose in the tear film. In addition, our clinical studies have demonstrated challenges in achieving the steady state conditions necessary for reliable tear glucose readings. We are at a point where we have decided, together with Alcon, to put the glucose-sensing lens work on hold, while continuing to focus on the smart accommodating contact lens and smart intraocular lens projects." Reference Link

13:47 EDT Cognizant sets mid-term goal of constant currency revenue CAGR of 7%-11% - In investor day presentation slides, Cognizant laid out its mid-term financial objectives, which it expects to "drive double-digit annual return." The company is targeting constant currency organic revenue CAGR of 6%-9% plus 1%-2% annual contribution from acquisitions for total constant currency revenue CAGR of 7%-11%. It is targeting 2019 adjusted operating margins of about 19%, with at least 10bps margin expansion annually over the mid-term thereafter. Cognizant plans to use about 50% of global free cash flow annually for dividends and share repurchases, the slides note.

12:38 EDT Definers says not hired by Facebook for opposition research - Definers Public Affairs said in a statement, "It was hard to miss, but this week the New York Times published a story about our work with Facebook. One big thing missing from that and subsequent reports is the nature of the work Definers actually did for Facebook on a day-to-day basis. To be clear: Definers was not hired by Facebook as an opposition research firm. That might be the sexy story for media outlets because several of us have spent years doing research and communications for high-stakes political campaigns, but that was not the scope of work we had for Facebook. In fact, Definers' main services for Facebook were basic media monitoring and public relations around public policy issues facing the company. We ran a large-scale news alert service keeping hundreds of Facebook staff informed on news stories about the company and its policy challenges. Our public relations professionals worked with Facebook and the media to help the company roll-out policy announcements regarding platform changes, policy initiatives, and company news. This included work on advertising and hate speech policies, addressing bias on the platform, and their efforts to crack down on inauthentic behavior on the platform. On all these efforts we worked closely and transparently with dozens of tech reporters on Facebook's behalf. Our hiring was public, and first reported by Axios in October 2017. Our relationship was no secret. A fraction of our work with Facebook included providing research and background information about critics - both on the left and the right. This practice, standard across many industries, is based on researching public records and databases available to anyone. When we do research, each item includes a link to the source material - a standard way to ensure information is communicated in facts, not innuendo." Reference Link

12:00 EDT Nordstrom falls -13.5% - Nordstrom is down -13.5%, or -$7.96 to $51.02.

12:00 EDT Fitch downgrades PG&E Corp and utility sub to 'BBB-' on negative watch - Fitch Ratings has downgraded PG&E Corporation's and Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings to 'BBB-' from 'BBB' and placed them on Rating Watch Negative. Fitch said: "The rating action reflects the enormous increase in the size, intensity and destructive power of wildfires in California during 2017-2018, the implications of potential, vastly increased third-party liabilities under inverse condemnation and uncertainties regarding full and timely recovery of such costs. The placement on Rating Watch Negative primarily reflects concerns regarding the enormity of potential liabilities given the magnitude and frequency wildfire activity in 2017 and 2018 and the utility's ability to fund such outsized liabilities. The Rating Watch Negative status also considers uncertainty in creating and implementing the regulatory mechanisms that are required under recently enacted legislation to achieve actual recovery of 2017 fire related liabilities and the fact that recently enacted wildfire legislation does not address 2018 wildfire-related liabilities."

12:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN rises 18.4% - VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN is up 18.4%, or $20.27 to $130.57.

12:00 EDT PG&E rises 35.3% - PG&E is up 35.3%, or $6.26 to $24.00.

11:49 EDT Toyota, Mazda break ground on new joint auto plant in Huntsville, Alabama - Toyota (TM) said that the first shovel of dirt was turned in Huntsville, Alabama, on what will become a jointly owned-and-operated automotive production plant that will have the capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year, beginning in 2021. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. is expected to create 4,000 jobs, with a $1.6B investment split by Toyota and Mazda (MZDAF). The plant will build Toyota's Corolla, whose all-new 2020 model was unveiled yesterday in California, and Mazda's yet-to-be revealed crossover model. "We are proud to be here with Toyota, with whom we share the bond of pride in manufacturing," said Kiyotaka Shobuda, Mazda's senior managing executive officer. "We are proud to be breaking ground on a new 'home' here in Huntsville - a city that believes in the possibilities of technology and manufacturing, and has striven to realize mankind's greatest dream."

11:32 EDT Asure Software, SPREO partner for workplace management solutions - Asure Software announced a new partnership with SPREO. The new partnership enables clients to add indoor navigation, room scheduling, real-time occupancy, and utilization data to their suite of workplace management solutions. SPREO uses 3D geo-fencing with Bluetooth beacons to deliver turn-by-turn navigation, and location-based notifications directly to employee's mobile devices as they move around the workplace - like Waze for the office. People can not only get around the office with more ease, but also share their location with colleagues to spur collaboration. With this new partnership, the companies aim to rapidly expand the presence and usefulness of indoor location-based services such as real-time occupancy indications on office maps, plus navigation and employee tracking for corporate offices. In addition to desk and room scheduling, SPREO users will have access to Asure's enterprise-level workflow design for complex room reservations, concierge services and visitor management, and robust analytics on workspace utilization.

11:02 EDT USA Technologies enters into second consent agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank - USA Technologies (USAT) announced that the company has entered into a second consent letter with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPM), relating to the company's Credit Agreement by and among the company, the Lender, and certain other parties. The Second Consent Agreement, among other things, further extends until December 31, 2018 the time period for delivery to the Lender of the company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 and the company's unaudited financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, as well as the related compliance certificates. The first consent letter previously entered into by the company and the Lender had, among other things, extended until November 15, 2018 the time period for delivery to the Lender of the company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, and the related compliance certificate. As previously reported, the company was unable to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018 due to an internal investigation being conducted by the Audit Committee of the company's Board of Directors into certain of the company's contractual arrangements, including the accounting treatment, financial reporting and internal controls related to such arrangements. The investigation remains ongoing, and the Audit Committee is working closely with its advisors to complete its investigation in as timely a manner as possible.

10:59 EDT Seattle Genetics announces FDA approval of ADCETRIS - Seattle Genetics announced a new approval for ADCETRIS in combination with CHP chemotherapy from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adults with previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas, including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and PTCL not otherwise specified. The approval is based on the successful outcome of the phase 3 ECHELON-2 clinical trial that compared ADCETRIS plus CHP to CHOP. The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review to this supplemental Biologics License Application and reviewed it under the Real-Time Oncology Review Pilot Program leading to approval less than two weeks after submission of the complete application. This is the sixth FDA-approved indication for ADCETRIS, which also has approval for adult patients with: previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma, in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine, HL at high risk of relapse or progression as post-autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation consolidation, cHL after failure of auto-HSCT or failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen, and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides who have received prior systemic therapy. The ECHELON-2 data will be presented at the American Society of Hematology 2018 Annual Meeting, on Monday, December 3, 2018, at 6:15 pm PT at the San Diego Convention Center in Room 6F in San Diego, Calif. Patients in ECHELON-2 were randomized to receive either a combination of ADCETRIS plus CHP or CHOP, a recognized standard of care for frontline PTCL. Results from the trial demonstrated that combination treatment with ADCETRIS plus CHP was superior to CHOP for progression free survival as assessed by a Blinded Independent Central Review facility. This corresponds to a 29 percent reduction in the risk of progression, death, or receipt of subsequent anticancer chemotherapy to treat residual or progressive disease. The ADCETRIS plus CHP arm also demonstrated superior overall survival, a key secondary endpoint, compared to CHOP. All other key secondary endpoints, including PFS in patients with sALCL, complete remission rate and objective response rate were statistically significant in favor of the ADCETRIS plus CHP arm. The safety profile of ADCETRIS plus CHP in the ECHELON-2 trial was comparable to CHOP and consistent with the established safety profile of ADCETRIS in combination with AVD. The most common adverse events of any grade that occurred in at least 20 percent of patients in the ADCETRIS plus CHP arm were peripheral neuropathy, nausea, diarrhea, neutropenia, lymphopenia, fatigue, mucositis, constipation, alopecia, pyrexia, vomiting and anemia. Serious adverse reactions occurring in at least two percent of ADCETRIS plus CHP-treated patients included febrile neutropenia, pneumonia, pyrexia and sepsis. Based on ECHELON-2 clinical trial results, prophylactic growth factors should be administered starting at cycle one for patients receiving ADCETRIS plus CHP for previously untreated PTCL.

10:25 EDT Airbus says Delta orders 10 additional A330-900s, defers 10 A350s - Delta Air Lines (DAL) has ordered 10 additional Airbus A330-900 widebody aircraft, expanding their A330neo order book from 25 to 35 aircraft, Airbus (EADSY) announced. "This latest order supports Delta's international growth strategy in the near to medium term," the company stated. Simultaneously, Delta and Airbus have agreed to defer 10 previously ordered A350 XWBs to 2025-26 in order to accommodate the airline's long-term growth strategy. Delta currently operates 11 A350-900 aircraft and expects a further four in 2019-2020. Delta's A330 fleet stands today 42 widebody aircraft, Airbus stated.

10:00 EDT Natus Medical rises as activist Starboard said to take stake - Natus Medical are rising in early training after Dealreporter said that a meeting had been set, but then cancelled, with activist investor Starboard Value in recent weeks after Natus learned that Starboard was a new shareholder. Starboard's intentions and the size of its stake could not be learned, the report stated, according to contacts. In early trading, Natus shares are up $1.67, or 5%, to $33.07.

10:00 EDT Williams-Sonoma falls -13.3% - Williams-Sonoma is down -13.3%, or -$8.04 to $52.52.

10:00 EDT Edison International rises 16.5% - Edison International is up 16.5%, or $7.80 to $54.99.

10:00 EDT PG&E rises 38.3% - PG&E is up 38.3%, or $6.79 to $24.53.

09:51 EDT Acadia trading resumes

09:47 EDT Nordstrom falls -14.4% - Nordstrom is down -14.4%, or -$8.49 to $50.50.

09:47 EDT VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN falls -16.0% - VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN is down -16.0%, or -75c to $3.95.

09:47 EDT VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN rises 19.8% - VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN is up 19.8%, or $21.79 to $132.09.

09:46 EDT Groupon names Melissa Thomas as CAO following resignation of Brian Stevens - In a regulatory filing on Thursday, Groupon said Melissa Thomas has been appointed as the Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of Groupon, effective November 30, 2018. Thomas will replace Brian Stevens, who notified the company on November 8, 2018 of his decision to resign as Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer in order to pursue a new opportunity. Stevens' resignation will be effective November 30, 2018 and is unrelated to any disagreement with the company. Thomas has served as the company's Vice President, Commercial Finance since May 2017.

09:33 EDT Visa announces minority investment in BillDesk platform in India - Visa announced a minority investment in BillDesk, a platform for online payments and bill payments in India. Visa's investment and collaboration will help BillDesk develop new product lines for its payments and loyalty businesses and also expand its footprint into other geographies. The investment will be subject to necessary statutory approvals and is expected to have no direct bearing on Visa's existing Indian business.

09:16 EDT AptarGroup to increase prices for beauty, personal care, home care products - AptarGroup announced that it will increase prices between 5% and 10% for its beauty, personal care and home care products in North America. The price increases will take effect January 1, 2019 and will be in addition to any price adjustments related to import tariffs. The increases are necessary due to sustained significant cost inflation on raw materials, freight and other inputs. Aptar sales representatives will communicate additional details of the price increase and the specific impacts to their customers directly.

09:03 EDT Fly Intel: Pre-market Movers - HIGHER: PG&E (PCG), up 44% after Bloomberg reports a California Public Utilities Commission official told investors on a conference call that the CPUC does not wish for the company to go into bankruptcy... BGC partners (BGCP), up 4% after Point72 Asset Management reports a 5% passive stake in the company. UP AFTER EARNINGS: Sonos (SONO), up 18%... Shoe Carnival (SCVL), up 12%... Viacom (VIAB), up 3%. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Nvidia (NVDA), down 18%... Applied Materials (AMAT), down 9%... Williams-Sonoma (WSM), down 12%... Nordstrom (JWN), down 11%... Rise Education (REDU), down 6%. ALSO LOWER: Chi-Med (HCM), down 15% after reporting that the Phase 3 FALUCA trial did not meet its primary endpoint... AstraZeneca (AZN), down 3% after reporting the Phase 3 MYSTIC trial did not meet its primary endpoints.

09:01 EDT Amgen receives positive CHMP opinion to expand use of BLINCYTO - Amgen announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion to expand the current indication for BLINCYTO monotherapy to include adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative CD19 positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease greater than or equal to 0.1%. The application included data from the Phase 2 BLAST study in frontline and relapsed/refractory ALL, the largest prospective trial for MRD-positive ALL ever conducted. BLINCYTO, a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T cell engager, is the first BiTE immunotherapy to receive regulatory approval globally.

08:51 EDT Denny's announces $25M accelerated share repurchase program - Denny's announced that the company has entered into a variable term, capped accelerated share repurchase, or ASR, agreement with MUFG Securities EMEA to repurchase an aggregate $25M of the company's common stock. The ASR agreement is part of the company's share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $200M of common stock as originally announced on October 31, 2017. The ASR agreement will be funded primarily through the company's existing $400M revolving credit facility. As of September 26, the Company had $278M of funded debt under its existing credit facility and approximately $159M remaining in existing share repurchase authorization. The total aggregate number of shares of company common stock to be repurchased pursuant to the ASR agreement will be based generally on the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of the company's common stock, less a fixed discount, over the term of the ASR agreement, subject to a minimum number of shares. The ASR agreement is expected to be completed no later than March 2019, although the completion date may be accelerated or, under certain circumstances, extended, at MUFG's option. All shares of the Company's common stock delivered under the ASR will be immediately converted to treasury shares.

08:39 EDT LaSalle Hotel says 'pleased' with ISS, Glass Lewis recommendations - LaSalle Hotel Properties (LHO) announced that independent proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis have recommended LaSalle shareholders vote "FOR" the pending merger with Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB). In recommending LaSalle shareholders vote "FOR" the merger, ISS stated in its November 15, 2018 report: "Support for the transaction is warranted in light of the compelling rationale, the premium to the unaffected share price and to that of the previous Blackstone (BX) offer, expected financial benefits to the combined entity, and the downside risk of non-approval." Michael Barnello, president and CEP of LaSalle Hotel Properties, said, "We are pleased that both ISS and Glass Lewis recognize the value of this strategic combination, which is the culmination of a thorough strategic alternatives process to maximize value for shareholders. We look forward to quickly completing this transaction and strongly urge shareholders to follow ISS and Glass Lewis' recommendations by voting "FOR" the Pebblebrook merger." The LaSalle Board recommends that LaSalle shareholders vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the pending merger with Pebblebrook in advance of the Special Meeting.

08:35 EDT Viacom says Paramount now on path for profitability in FY19 - Comment provided during Q4 earnings conference call.

08:34 EDT FlexShopper launches 10-store pilot program with tire, auto service retailer - FlexShopper announced the launch of a new 10-store pilot of its LTO "save the sale" program with a tire and auto service retailer with a 400-store footprint across multiple states. Brad Bernstein, CEO, stated, "We are pleased to announce this pilot with another large retailer, which points to the merits of our mobile LTO technology that provides a quick and seamless process for retailers and consumers to transact on an LTO basis. Today's retailers are looking for innovative ways to grow their business without the headache of integration or additional work for their employees. We meet these needs with our mobile application that enables consumers to apply for a spending limit, sign a lease and pay the retailer instantly at the point of sale. This process is very compelling, with no risk and significant upside to retailers who increase their sales with our LTO technology. Coming off our 3rd quarter, 730-store rollout with another retailer, we are excited about the retail momentum we are experiencing and look forward to making this pilot a great success."

08:16 EDT Novartis receives positive CHMP opinion to expand indication for Kisqali - Novartis announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion recommending an expanded indication for Kisqali, the CDK4/6 inhibitor with the largest body of first-line clinical trial evidence demonstrating consistent, superior and sustained efficacy compared to endocrine therapy alone. CHMP recommended Kisqali for the treatment of women with hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with fulvestrant as initial endocrine-based therapy and in women who have received prior endocrine therapy. The positive opinion also recommended approval of Kisqali in combination with endocrine therapy and a luteinising hormone-release hormone agonist, or LHRH, for pre- and perimenopausal women. This positive CHMP opinion is based on data from the Phase III MONALEESA-7 and MONALEESA-3 trials. These trials demonstrated prolonged progression-free survival, or PFS, for Kisqali-based regimens compared to endocrine therapy alone and showed improvements as early as eight weeks after start of treatment with Kisqali combination therapy. The European Commission will review the CHMP recommendation and usually delivers its final decision within two months. The decision will be applicable to all 28 European Union member states plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Additional regulatory filings are underway with other health authorities worldwide.

08:09 EDT CPUC to initiate rulemaking 'shortly' to implement Section 451.2 - The California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, issued the following statement from its President, Michael Picker, regarding the wildfires in California: "The tragic events of this past week are still unfolding, the details of which are to be investigated by the appropriate authorities. But it is already evident that the loss of life and property due to the wildfires in Northern and Southern California in November 2018 exceed historical marks by any measure. On behalf of the California Public Utilities Commission, I extend my condolences to the families and communities impacted by this tragedy...Senate Bill 901, which was signed by Governor Brown in September, establishes mechanisms to address cost recovery for wildfire-related expenses. Specifically, Public Utilities Code Section 451.2 requires the CPUC, when evaluating an application for recovery of wildfire-related expenses, to consider a utilities' financial status and determine the maximum amount the utility can pay without harming ratepayers or materially impacting its ability to provide adequate and safe service. The CPUC will initiate a rulemaking shortly to implement Section 451.2 by adopting a methodology for interpreting this provision that will be applied in subsequent applications for cost recovery. Furthermore, in the existing PG&E Safety Culture investigation proceeding, I will open a new phase examining the corporate governance, structure, and operation of PG&E, including in light of the recent wildfires, to determine the best path forward for Northern Californians to receive safe electrical and gas service in the future." California utilities include PG&E (PCG), Edison International (EIX) and Sempra Energy (SRE). Reference Link

08:06 EDT Vertex receives European CHMP positive opinion for ORKAMBI - Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion for ORKAMBI for the treatment of people with cystic fibrosis aged 2 to 5 years old who have two copies of the F508del mutation, the most common form of the disease. If the European Commission issues a favorable adoption of the EMA CHMP opinion for the extension of indication, lumacaftor/ivacaftor will be the first and only medicine approved in Europe to treat the underlying cause of CF for patients aged 2 to 5 years old who have two copies of the F508del mutation. The submission was supported by data from a Phase 3 open-label safety study in 60 patients that showed treatment with lumacaftor/ivacaftor was generally well tolerated for 24 weeks, with a safety profile in these pediatric patients generally consistent with that in patients aged 6 years and older. Lumacaftor/ivacaftor is already approved in Europe for the treatment of CF in patients aged 6 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation.

08:03 EDT Avon Products names David Hernandez as Chief Procurement Officer - Avon Products announced the appointment of David Hernandez as Chief Procurement Officer, effective January 7, 2019. He will report to Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain, Michael Watson. Hernandez joins Avon from Grupo Bimbo, where he served as Chief Procurement Officer for the past six years.

07:56 EDT LightInTheBox CEO Zhiping Qi resigns, Jian He to succeed - LightInTheBox announced the resignation of Zhiping Qi, CEO of LightInTheBox, effective immediately. Qi's resignation was one of the closing conditions for the acquisition of Ezbuy Holding Co. announced on November 8, 2018 and was not due to any disagreement with the company regarding its business, finances, accounting and/or any other affairs. Concurrently, and also as one of the closing conditions for the acquisition of Ezbuy, the company's Board of Directors has appointed Jian He CEO and Director and Meng Lian as Director, effective immediately. Qi will remain on the Board as a director and has been appointed as Vice Chairman of the Board. Prior to joining LightInTheBox, Jian He was the Founder and CEO of Ezbuy, a Singapore-based leading cross-border e-commerce platform founded in 2010.

07:46 EDT Pacira CMO Richard Scranton presents at FDA meeting on opioid-sparing outcomes - Pacira announced that CMO Richard Scranton was one of three industry representatives invited to provide insight and perspective during the FDA's Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee meeting held. The discussion centered on clinical trial design requirements and endpoints needed to demonstrate a clinically meaningful reduction in the use of opioid pain medications when used for acute pain. During a presentation, Scranton discussed the need to assess a range of clinical and patient-reported outcomes in order to appropriately characterize the clinical benefit of opioid reduction. In addition to overall decrease in opioid consumption, including opioid-free intervals, Scranton contended that clinical studies designed to support an opioid-sparing claim should also demonstrate: Adequate pain control versus the comparator and placebo arms for the duration of the study period; Improved functional outcomes, such as time to ambulation and discharge readiness; Improved patient well-being, including patient-reported satisfaction scores and reduction in opioid-related adverse events, which can range in severity from nausea and vomiting to urinary retention and respiratory depression and cause a host of negative consequences including delayed return to normal diet and time to mobility that can lengthen hospital stay.

07:30 EDT VBL Therapeutics reports results from GLOBE study at SNO - VBL Therapeutics reported results from its Phase 3 GLOBE study in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, or rGBM, which was designed to evaluate VB-111 in combination with bevacizumab, compared to bevacizumab. In March, VBL announced top-line data for the study, which did not demonstrate a benefit in overall survival, or OS, or progression-free survival for the treatment arm relative to the bevacizumab control. The GLOBE data are being presented at the Society for Neuro-Oncology, or SNO. The data include further analyses of the GLOBE data including baseline prognostic factors and subgroups analysis. Data show that the baseline tumor volume, which is a significant prognostic factor in rGBM, was higher in the treatment arm compared to the control arm. Overall, the subjects in the study had relatively high tumor volume, as large-volume tumors were not an exclusion criterion. It is of interest that patients with smaller tumors appeared to respond better to the treatment arm, with numerically higher response rate and overall survival observed. Furthermore, a trend towards greater survival was observed in patients treated with VB-111 who reported fever. VB-111 was well tolerated, with a similar early termination rate in both the treatment and control arms. Most frequent adverse event was self-limited fever, starting several hours post therapy and usually resolving by 24 hours. As expected, a higher rate of SAEs and grade greater than three AEs was reported in the combination treatment arm. Subsequent analyses have focused on the potential reasons for the major differences in outcomes between the positive VB-111 Phase 2 clinical trial in rGBM and the unsuccessful GLOBE results. The Phase 2 trial of VB-111 met the primary endpoint of OS benefit with median OS, or mOS, of 13.6 months upon treatment with VB-111 as a single drug followed by adding bevacizumab to VB-111 upon further progression, compared to mOS of 6.8 months for the treatment arm in GLOBE. Thorough analyses of the baseline risk factors of the Phase 2 and the Phase 3 treatment groups did not reveal any differences. Therefore, patient selection or different patient populations could not explain the difference between the results of the two studies. The only significant change between the Phase 2 and Phase 3 treatment cohorts was in the treatment regimen - the regimen for Phase 2 trial included priming with VB-111 whereas the regimen for GLOBE trial did not. To test the hypothesis that concomitant treatment with bevacizumab may have a negative effect on VB-111 activity, the company investigated this combination in a pre-clinical tumor model. The results indicate that treatment with VB-111 in combination with bevacizumab appears to block the anti-tumor the effect of VB-111, compared to VB-111 monotherapy. In addition, a retrospective analysis of a small cohort of 10 patients who were treated concomitantly with VB-111 and bevacizumab for safety evaluation, was inferior to what was observed with VB-111 priming in the Phase 2 study.

07:22 EDT GasLog, GasLog Partners to modify IDR - GasLog (GLOG) and GasLog Partners (GLOP) announced an agreement to modify the partnership agreement with respect to the general partner's incentive distribution rights, or IDR. The modification will have the effect of reducing the general partner's IDRs on quarterly distributions above 56.25c per unit from 48% to 23%. GasLog has further agreed to waive IDR payments resulting from any asset or business acquired by GasLog Partners from a third party. In exchange for these modifications, the partnership will pay $25M to GasLog which will be sourced from available cash. The board of GasLog, the board of GasLog Partners and the conflicts committee of the board have each approved the exchange of the IDRs and the modification of the partnership agreement described above, subject to execution of definitive documentation. The transaction is accretive to the partnership's estimated distributable cash flow per LP unit in 2019 and beyond and includes reduction in cost of capital for future acquisitions from the general partner.

07:16 EDT Agios Pharmaceuticals presents data from AG-881 study at SNO - Agios Pharmaceuticals presented updated data from the ongoing Phase 1 study evaluating single agent AG-881 in advanced glioma. The data were featured in an oral presentation at the Society for Neuro-Oncology, or SNO. AG-881 is an investigational, oral, selective, potent inhibitor of the mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase-1, or IDH1, and IDH2 enzymes and was designed for enhanced brain penetrance for development in IDH-mutant glioma. AG-881 is being evaluated as a single agent in an ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation trial in IDH1/2 mutant advanced solid tumors, including glioma. Enrollment was completed in June 2017. Dose escalation data as of March 29 were presented. Fourteen patients remain on treatment, including 13 patients with non-enhancing disease. Of the 38 patients who discontinued treatment, 76.3% discontinued for disease progression and 5.2% discontinued due to an AE. The median treatment duration was 6.3 months for all glioma patients, 15 months for non-enhancing glioma and 3.25 months for patients with enhancing disease. Thirty-seven percent of patients remained on treatment for greater than or equal to one year.

07:12 EDT BeiGene presents preliminary data from pamiparib trial at SNO - BeiGene announced the presentation of preliminary clinical data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of its investigational PARP inhibitor, pamiparib, in combination with radiation therapy, or RT, and/or temozolomide, or TMZ, in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent/refractory, or R/R, glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM. These data are being presented at the annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, or SNO. Discovered by BeiGene scientists in Beijing, pamiparib is currently in Phase 3 trials globally and in China as a monotherapy and in Phase 1/2 trials in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy for a variety of solid tumors. and clinical activity of the combination in patients with newly diagnosed or R/R GBM. Patients with newly diagnosed GBM with unmethylated MGMT promoter status, or Arm A, received pamiparib over escalating time periods in combination with RT over six to seven weeks. Patients with R/R GBM, or Arm C, received pamiparib continuously plus TMZ administered on Days 1 to 21 of each 28-day cycle. After evaluation of safety and tolerability from Arm A and C, Arm B will enroll patients with newly diagnosed GBM and treat them with the triple combination of RT, pamiparib, and TMZ. As of September 14, a total of 18 patients with newly diagnosed GBM were enrolled in Arm A. The median study follow-up duration is 19 weeks. Five grade greater than adverse events, or AE, were considered related to pamiparib or RT. Dose-limiting toxicities of fatigue, vertigo, and chills were reported. As of the data cutoff date, 15 of the 18 patients were evaluable for response per modified response assessment in neuro-oncology, or mRANO, criteria. Two of 15 patients achieved a partial response and six patients achieved stable disease, or SD; the disease control rate was 53.3%. In Arm C, eight patients received TMZ at a fixed dose of 40 mg for 21 of 28 days and seven patients received 20 mg TMZ. The median study follow-up duration is 12.9 weeks. Grade greater than3 AEs included anemia, fatigue and decreased lymphocyte, which were considered related to pamiparib or TMZ. Dose-limiting toxicities of nausea and neutropenia were reported. The combination of 21 days of 40 mg TMZ with pamiparib was not tolerable; a lower 20 mg TMZ dose evaluation in combination with pamiparib is ongoing.Ten of the 15 patients were evaluable per mRANO criteria and there were two PRs and three SD.

07:05 EDT Staffing 360 Solutions files documentation to regain Nasdaq compliance - Staffing 360 Solutions announced it has filed the required documentation with the Nasdaq Hearings Panel to demonstrate compliance under Listing Rule 5550. The company had until November 16, to regain compliance. The company filed the requisite documentation that it believes represents that compliance has been regained.

07:04 EDT Casi Pharmaceuticals to build GMP Manufacturing Site In Wuxi, China - CASI Pharmaceuticals announces that it has entered into framework agreements to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing site strategically located in the Wuxi Huishan Economic Development Zone in Jiangsu Province, China. The Wuxi Huishan Economic Development Zone is a leading science and technology innovation center in the region. The facility will be designed and constructed based on global cGMP requirements and is expected to have capacity for large scale production. The facility will be a key asset supporting CASI's growth and commercialization plans with further agreements to be finalized and site construction to begin in mid-2019.

07:02 EDT BGC Partners acquires Poten & Partners Group, terms not disclosed - BGC Partners announced that it has completed the acquisition of Poten & Partners Group, a ship brokerage, consulting and business intelligence firm specialising in LNG, tanker and LPG markets. Under the terms of the agreement, BGC acquired 100% of Poten, which includes operations in New York, London, Singapore, Houston, Athens, Guangzhou and Perth. Poten generated revenues of approximately $60 million in the financial year ended December 31, 2017. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive. In addition to brokerage, Poten provides value-added services including commercial advisory, technical consulting, project due diligence and multi-client reports. Poten will be recorded as part of BGC's energy and commodities business. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.

07:00 EDT Advanced Emissions announces $20M stock repurchase program - Advanced Emissions Solutions announced that its Board of Directors has approved the repurchase of up to $20M of the company's common stock in the open market. The repurchases will be funded from cash on-hand. The stock repurchase program will terminate on December 31, 2019, but may be extended by the company's Board of Directors. The company may suspend or discontinue the repurchases at any time.

06:51 EDT Chase, Visa partner for contactless credit cards - Chase (JPM) is teaming up with Visa (V) to bring tap to pay to the industry's largest portfolio of credit cards. In the coming months, millions of Chase customers will benefit from a fast, easy, and secure checkout experience, saving valuable time by completing a transaction with a single tap.Starting later this year, Chase customers will receive new contactless Visa cards on an ongoing basis as their cards are up for renewal or when they open a new account. Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Slate customers will be among the first to receive their new cards. All Chase Visa credit cards, including all co-brand cards, will have tap to pay functionality by the first half of 2019. Chase debit cards will offer the tap to pay feature in the second half of 2019. The contactless checkout process is simple and secure: a customer taps their card on the reader at millions of places that feature the Contactless Symbol, and the reader confirms payment, often with no signature required. Chase contactless Visa cards include secure EMV Chip technology, which has proven effective at reducing counterfeit fraud. Just like dipping, each contactless transaction produces a one-time code that securely protects payment information. Reference Link

06:05 EDT BioPharmX announces NYSE acceptance of plan to regain compliance - BioPharmX announced that NYSE accepted the company's plan to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards set forth in Sections 1003 of the NYSE American company guide. NYSE has reviewed the company's compliance plan and has granted a plan period through September 24, 2019. This notice from NYSE has no immediate impact on the listing of the company's common stock on the NYSE and the stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during the cure period, subject to the company's compliance with the NYSE American's other applicable continued listing standards.

05:47 EDT Facebook COO says allegations she hid info about Russian interference 'untrue' - Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg says allegations that she and CEO Mark Zuckerberg hid information about Russian interference are untrue. "On a number of issues - including spotting and understanding the Russian interference we saw in the 2016 election - Mark and I have said many times we were too slow. But to suggest that we weren't interested in knowing the truth, or we wanted to hide what we knew, or that we tried to prevent investigations, is simply untrue. The allegations saying I personally stood in the way are also just plain wrong. This was an investigation of a foreign actor trying to interfere in our election. Nothing could be more important to me or to Facebook... I also want to address the issue that has been raised about a PR firm, Definers. We're no longer working with them but at the time, they were trying to show that some of the activity against us that appeared to be grassroots also had major organizations behind them. I did not know we hired them or about the work they were doing, but I should have. I have great respect for George Soros - and the anti-Semitic conspiracy theories against him are abhorrent. At Facebook, we are making the investments that we need to stamp out abuse in our system and ensure the good things people love about Facebook can keep happening. It won't be easy. It will take time and will never be complete. This mission is critical and I am committed to seeing it through." Reference Link

05:21 EDT Chi-Med says Phase III FALUCA trial did not meet primary endpoint - Chi-Med announces the outcome of FALUCA, its Phase III trial of fruquintinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients in China who have failed two lines of systemic chemotherapy. The trial did not meet the primary endpoint to demonstrate a statistically significant increase in overall survival compared to placebo. Fruquintinib demonstrated, in FALUCA, a statistically significant improvement in all secondary endpoints including progression-free survival, objective response rate, disease control rate and duration of response as compared to the placebo. The safety profile of the trial was in line with that observed in prior clinical studies.